The Accidental,CEO

The coffee was still burning my hand when I realized what I'd done. Adrian Cole's $10,000 Tom Ford suit now had a giant latte stain right across the chest. And the man himself was staring at me like I’d just ruined his entire company. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he asked, voice cold enough to freeze the lobby. I swallowed. "The guy whose suit I just destroyed?" His jaw ticked. "CEO of Cole Enterprises. And you, are fired." The HR lady behind me gasped. My interview. My last chance. Gone. I ran out of the Cole Tower with my resume in one hand and shame in the other. --- Three days later, my rent was due and my bank account had $4.27. That’s when the email came. "Ms. Maya Reyes. CEO Adrian Cole requests your presence. 4PM. 50th Floor." I almost deleted it. But $50,000 was mentioned in the subject line. So I put on my only blazer and went back. His office was all glass and steel. And him. Sitting behind a desk that probably cost more than my car. No suit today. Black shirt. Sleeves rolled up. He looked even more dangerous. "You’re here," he said. Not a question. "Your email said money," I replied. "I’m listening." He slid a paper across the desk. A contract. "My board thinks I’m unstable. Too cold. No family. Stock is dropping." I blinked. "And?" "And you’re going to fix it." I laughed. "I can’t even keep coffee off you." His eyes met mine. Dark. Calculating. "30 days. You will be my wife." The room went silent. "What?" "A marriage contract. Public. We attend events. We look happy. In exchange, I pay you $50,000 and get my board off my back." I stared at the paper. "This is insane." "Is it?" He stood up and walked around the desk. He was tall. Too tall. "You need money. I need a wife. No kissing. No feelings. No touching unless cameras are on." "And after 30 days?" "After 30 days, we divorce. Quietly. And you walk away rich." My heart was pounding. This was crazy. This was illegal. This was... My landlord’s text popped up on my phone. `Rent due tomorrow or eviction.` I picked up the pen. "Fine," I whispered. "30 days." He smiled for the first time. It didn’t reach his eyes. "Good girl," he said softly. I hated that my stomach flipped at those two words. "One rule, Maya," he added as I signed. "Don’t fall for me." I signed my name. Maya Reyes. What I didn’t tell him: I was already in trouble.