Nobody Dare Dumps This Curvy B*tch

Chapter 9

Nathan

The big TV screen in my corner office was supposed to be showing live stock market updates. Instead, it was tuned to a messy live news report from a street in Brooklyn.

BREAKING NEWS: NATHAN VANNY’S MYSTERY FIANCÉE FOUND.

I stood behind my desk with a cup of black coffee, watching a swarm of aggressive news reporters standing on the grass outside a small apartment building. The media had tracked Gabby down in less than twelve hours. By eight in the morning, dozens of journalists, camera crews, and curious neighbors were blocking the sidewalk right outside her front door. They were yelling, holding up long microphones, and pointing cameras at her second-floor window.

My head of security, Marcus, knocked once and walked into the room holding a tablet.

“Our company stock went up four percent as soon as the market opened,” Marcus said. “People love the story about you getting engaged at your cousin Joel’s wedding. But the media already found Miss Eni’s house. If she goes out there and tells them the truth—that yesterday was fake and she just paid you a thousand dollars for three hours of acting—the whole story falls apart. Investors will freak out, and our three-billion-dollar business deal will crash before lunch.”

“Get the truck,” I told Marcus, putting my coffee down. “We’re going to Brooklyn.”

—-

Ten minutes later, my black Tesla Cybertruck pulled right up to the curb, mounting the sidewalk just enough to block the cameras and cut off the reporters. I pushed the heavy door open and stepped out into a wall of bright camera flashes.

Ignoring the reporters shouting my name, I walked straight up the concrete steps. Before Gabby could say a word, I reached out, grabbed her firmly around the waist, and pulled her close against my chest.

I bent my head down near her ear and looked straight at the cameras.

“Back up,” I said firmly, my voice easily carrying over the crowd. “Let’s get one thing straight. This isn't an act, and there is no misunderstanding. Gabby Eni is my fiancée.”

Before she could argue or tell them I was lying, I scooped her up into my arms and carried her straight down the steps into the quiet back seat of my truck, leaving the screaming media behind us.

I helped Gabby into the passenger seat, closed the door tightly, and locked out the noise. Inside the truck, it was completely quiet.

Gabby sat straight up in her seat, her face red with anger, breathing hard as she glared at me. Her brown eyes were practically glaring daggers.

I reached over to the small fridge in the armrest and offered her a bottle of water. She didn't take it. Instead, she slapped her hand against the leather armrest with a loud smack.

“Are you crazy, Nathan?!” she shouted, her voice shaking with anger. “Why did you just lie to all those reporters? Our deal yesterday was supposed to cost one thousand dollars for three hours! It was just a quick trick to get back at my ex! I didn't sign up to be chased by news crews!”

I leaned back in my seat and looked at her carefully. She was strong, confident, and didn't seem cared at all about my money or power. It was a huge change from the fake people I usually dealt with at work.

“If you told those reporters the truth,” I said calmly, “they would have called you a liar and made me look like an i***t. Our fake engagement pushed my company's stock price up this morning. If anyone finds out it was a lie, it will ruin a multi-billion-dollar deal I’ve been working on for three years.”

Gabby narrowed her eyes. “Your company stock isn't my problem.”

“It is if you want to keep your catering business alive,” I replied smoothly. I pulled a simple black leather folder out of my jacket and handed it to her. “Open it.”

She glared at me for a second before opening the folder and scanning the front page.

“This is a legal contract,” I explained. “I’m asking you to play along with a fake engagement for six months. In return, my company will pay for everything you need to grow your catering business into a top-tier restaurant, including buying you a brand-new kitchen in Soho.”

Gabby paused, looking at the paper. “What’s the catch?”

“You’ll also get a cover story so the media leaves you alone,” I said. “Starting today, I’m giving you a job as Executive Director of Special Projects at my company. You’ll get a great salary, your own office, and real authority. Your office will be on the 48th floor—which is exactly three floors above the department where your ex, Joel, works.”

I saw her eyes shift as she realized what that meant. Joel was just a mid-level manager on the 45th floor. Making her a director three floors above him meant he would have to report to her level every day.

“Read the rules,” I added. “It’s strictly business. No touching, no taking over your personal business, and you get complete control of your catering company once the six months are over.”

Gabby went quiet for a few minutes, carefully reading through every single page. She was smart, weighing the risks against a massive opportunity to build her career and get payback on Joel.

Without saying another word, she pulled a pen out of her purse and signed her name at the bottom.

She closed the folder and handed it back to me. When I took it, her hand brushed against mine, sending a sudden spark right through me.

I kept a straight face, but I couldn't help smiling on the inside. She thought she was just signing a business deal to save her company. She had no idea that three floors below my office, Joel was sitting at his desk, staring at an email sent to the whole company introducing Gabby Eni as his new boss.