Aria’s POV
I swallow nervously, my throat suddenly becoming dry.
“I just saved your merger. You’re welcome.”
The words come out steadier than I feel.
His eyes don’t leave mine cold and calculating.
I wait. One second. Two. The study is so quiet I could hear the clock behind his desk.
“You didn’t save anything, ” His voice is ice. “You handed me a bigger problem. Malakai Smith crucifies dishonesty. He makes examples out of liars.”
My stomach drops.
“Then we make him believe it’s true,” I say. Fast. Before I lose nerve. “For now.”
He stares. One full minute. Like he’s running valuations in his head.
“And then what?”
I force my chin up. “We break up. After the project closes, the tabloids will eat that up.”
I’m selling him a PR strategy to cover my ass. And his.
“Get
