Chapter 1
1251 Words
Chapter 1: A Ring and a Stranger
The sound of laughter and clinking glasses fills the office as I push the door open. The Valentine’s Day decorations are everywhere—red hearts hanging from the ceiling, pink balloons tied to chairs, and roses on desks. It feels like the universe mocking me.
This was supposed to be my moment. I spent weeks planning the perfect proposal for Warren, complete with a Maldives holiday he’d been dreaming of. The ring is in my bag, carefully tucked away, and my heart is racing. Tonight is the night I ask him to marry me.
I take a deep breath and adjust my red dress, smoothing it over my hips. My heels click against the polished floor as I head to his office, excitement bubbling inside me.
But then I see them.
Warren is standing by his desk, leaning too close to his assistant, Clara. She giggles, her hand brushing his chest. And then it happens—he kisses her.
My heart stops.
It’s not a quick, meaningless kiss. It’s the kind of kiss that screams passion, the kind I thought was reserved for me. My legs feel like jelly, and I’m frozen in place.
“Warren?” My voice cracks as his name leaves my lips.
He spins around, his eyes wide. Clara steps back, her face turning red.
“Crystal, it’s not what it looks like!” Warren blurts, his hands held up like he’s trying to calm me down.
“Not what it looks like?” I laugh bitterly, my voice rising. “You’re kissing her in your office, Warren! How else am I supposed to see it?”
Clara mutters something about leaving and rushes past me, but I barely notice her. My eyes are locked on Warren, who looks like a deer caught in headlights.
“It was a mistake,” he says quickly. “I—she came onto me!”
I shake my head, disbelief and anger bubbling inside me. “Don’t even try to blame her. This is on you. You betrayed me.”
He steps toward me, but I take a step back, holding up my hand. “Don’t. Just don’t.” My voice trembles.
The ring in my bag feels like a cruel joke now. I reach for it, pulling it out, and Warren’s eyes widen when he sees the small velvet box.
“You were going to—”
“Yes, Warren,” I snap, cutting him off. “I was going to propose to you. On Valentine’s Day. But clearly, I made a mistake thinking you were worth it.”
The room feels like it’s spinning, and I can’t breathe. I turn and rush out of the office, ignoring Warren calling my name. Tears blur my vision, and I don’t care that people are staring as I storm through the hall.
Before I know it, I’m outside, the cold air biting at my skin. I clutch the ring box in my hand, anger and heartbreak twisting inside me.
“Are you okay?” a deep voice says, startling me.
I turn to see a man standing nearby. He’s tall, with dark hair, sharp features, and piercing blue eyes. He looks like he stepped out of a magazine, dressed in a tailored suit that screams wealth.
“Do I look okay?” I snap, my voice harsher than I intended.
He raises an eyebrow, clearly not used to being spoken to like that. “Fair point,” he says calmly. “But you look like you need to talk to someone before you explode.”
I glance at the ring box in my hand, my frustration boiling over. “You want to help? Fine. Here.”
Before I can think, I grab his hand and shove the ring onto his finger. “Congratulations. You’re my fiancé now.”
His eyes widen in shock, but then, to my surprise, he smirks. “Well, this is unexpected. I didn’t even get down on one knee.”
I blink, stunned by his reaction. Most people would think I’m crazy, but he seems amused.
“I’m serious,” I say, my voice shaking. “Just play along for a second. I need this.”
“Alright,” he says smoothly, slipping his hands into his pockets. “But you owe me an explanation later.”
Before I can respond, the office doors burst open, and Warren steps outside, his face pale. His eyes land on me and then on the man standing beside me.
“Crystal,” Warren says, his voice filled with desperation. “Can we talk?”
“No,” I say firmly, gripping the stranger’s arm. “I’m busy. Meet my fiancé.”
Warren’s jaw drops, and he looks between us, his expression shifting from shock to disbelief. “Fiancé? What are you talking about?”
The stranger steps forward, his presence commanding. “That’s right,” he says smoothly, holding up his hand to show the ring. “Crystal and I are engaged.”
Warren stares at him, recognition dawning in his eyes. “Boss?”
My stomach drops. “Wait, what?” I whisper, looking up at the stranger.
He smiles faintly, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Forgot to mention that part. I’m Roy—the CEO of this company.”
My heart sinks as Warren’s face turns a shade paler.
“You’re... you’re joking,” Warren stammers.
“Not at all,” Roy says, his tone casual. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, my fiancée and I have plans.”
Without waiting for Warren’s response, Roy wraps his arm around my shoulders and guides me down the street. I’m too stunned to resist, my mind racing.
When we’re far enough away, I finally stop and pull away from him. “What the hell was that?”
He shrugs, looking amused. “You started it. I just went along with your little game.”
“I didn’t know you were the CEO!” I hiss, my cheeks burning.
“And I didn’t know you were going to propose to me in the middle of the street,” he counters, his smirk widening.
I groan, running a hand through my hair. “This is a disaster.”
“Or,” he says, tilting his head, “it could be an opportunity.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He slips his hands into his pockets, his expression thoughtful. “You want to get back at your cheating ex. I could use a fake fiancée to keep certain... people off my back. It’s a win-win.”
I stare at him, my heart pounding. This has to be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. But as his words sink in, I realize he might be right.
“What’s the catch?” I ask warily.
He smiles, and there’s a glint in his eyes that makes me nervous. “No catch. Just don’t fall in love with me.”
I snort, crossing my arms. “Trust me, that won’t be a problem.”
“Good,” he says, holding out his hand. “Then we have a deal?”
I hesitate for a moment before shaking his hand. “Deal.”
As we walk away, I can’t help but feel like I’ve just made a deal with the devil. And yet, there’s a small part of me that’s curious to see where this wild ride will take me.
- Writer
