Chapter 4
1403 Words
Aria
I bit my lips nervously as I followed Mr. Anfield around a jewelry store. This felt like a terrible idea. I should try talking him out of it.
“Sir, you probably need to think this through. I’m not exactly your standard.”
“I know that.” He agrees quite fast, hurting my feelings. I sported a little sad pout.
“So why then are you going ahead with this? I can repay you any other way, huh? Please reconsider.”
“Because my brother intends to put a ten billion dollar fraud on me. The documents all point to me as the source of the fraud. An article will be released tomorrow. My sudden engagement with my long-term PA and girlfriend of a lower class might be the diversion I need.”
“I’m really that poor, huh?” I muttered sarcastically.
He gave me a look and continued searching for a ring. The sales associate came in. She took my fingers and smiled. “I think I have just the ring she needs.”
She brought out a 24-carat silver ring with a diamond stud on it. He took it without giving it a quick glance.
Took my fingers and forced me closer to him. Gently he whispers. “Look at me, like you are in love with me.”
“Why?”
“There’s a cameraman taking discreet pictures of us.”
I’m certain he gave out his location himself. All my years of working under him, we tried as much as possible to avoid media scrutiny. Paparazzi were almost nonexistent.
His eyes softened, and I felt drawn into his sea blue eyes. They appeared warm for the first time, and I had to remind myself we were acting.
He slid the ring into my fingers and still ordered. “Smile.”
And the next thing he did caused my body to freeze all over. His lips found mine and entangled it in a wet, rather delightful mess.
I blinked. Did he just kiss me?
He pulled away with a disinterested look on his face while my heart raced. The warmth of his lips on mine remained. I tried to withdraw from his hold, frightened at the feeling rushing within me.
“Stay with me for three months, Aria. I’ll add a hundred percent increase to your income and clear up the losses you incurred dating your manchild. Good enough.” He appeared impatient.
I bulged my eyes and quickly nodded. “Deal.”
I just have to make sure my heart doesn’t make the mistake of falling in love with my ruthless boss.
***
I relaxed against the counter stool and chewed on my sandwich lazily. Jessica’s eyes were wide as she read the tabloid article about me and Nathan.
“Tell me this isn’t true?”
I smiled sheepishly.
“Aria Vale, this is not the time to be funny.”
“You sound like what my mom would be if she was a good mother.”
She looked at a stern look.
I raise my hand in a surrender. “Alright, fine. It is partly true.”
“Partly True? You just broke up with your asshole of an ex. How could you date that very ruthless boss of ours? Was it against your will?” She glanced at me worriedly.
“Well, he did have something against me, but I agreed. I needed it as well.”
“Needed what?”
I bit my lips. “I can’t live with you forever, Jane. I know how awkward it seems living with a couple. You try to hide it, but I feel a little bit of shame. I also have the mortgage loan and my rent. I can’t hold off the month no matter how I try. It is only best this way.”
“Aria.” She tried to make me change my mind.
“It is just for a few months. I’ll be out in one piece.” I chewed my lips, hoping she trusts me.
“He is deadly attractive and equally as dangerous. I’m not sure you’ll be. Brace yourself.”
“At least you’ll always be here for me, regardless of whatever happens.” I hugged her, and she rolled her eyes, a little sigh escaping her lips.
***
Nathan
I folded my fist in fury at the report the CFO was giving. How could it be possible that tens of billions were missing and it was linked to me?
I threw the file on the desk. “How the f**k is this possible?”
“It appears the mismanagement is due to your new policy. There are talks of money laundering.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “And you believe that?” He remained mute. For someone I have worked with for years, I didn’t expect everyone to turn their backs on me so easily.
How did Adrian manage to make the evidence so convincing? I needed to figure this out before the board meeting in three months.
Suddenly the door was pulled open, and Aria walked in, her head lowered as she entered. “We have a business meeting at four.” She leaned in closer and whispered to inform.
Her sweet scent permeated the air; she was dressed in a loose, cheap skirt, like she always does, with those worn-out stilettos.
It appears she had forgotten to make our relationship look as convincing as possible.
I drew her soft, feminine form into my arms; her feet faltered, and her eyes were wide with shock. “No, we don’t. How about lunch and some shopping?”
“We can do that…” She stuttered as she whispered, a bit confused.
The CFO cleared his throat and stood. “I should leave; I just remembered I had a meeting to attend to with new staff.”
Once the door closed, I left her sick of putting on an act, and she almost fell to the ground.
“You should take some acting lessons.”
Her doe eyes blinked in slight shame. “I wasn’t making it all that obvious.”
“You are making it worse. No one buys. I would lower my standards and date a woman like you.” I groaned in frustration. Things I had to do because of Adrian. The attacks from his mother were never ending, but it pissed me off more that he intended to make my PA his s*x doll.
She looks at me a bit hurt. “You still have the time to change your mind, sir. I never wanted this.”
I scoffed. “You don’t have the option to want things, Ms. Vale. You aren’t left with many options.”
“I would say the same thing with you.” She mumbles inaudibly.
She has some audacity. It wasn’t even surprising.
I closed her off a wall. “You have to make do with a terrible boss for three months, then I might even be gracious enough to let you go.”
She blinked. “How do you know?”
“You are planning to leave.” I scoffed and drew back from her. I hated just how innocent those hazel eyes of hers were. They resembled both the sun and nature. They had vibrance and life in them. Something I was lacking.
“Make an appointment with the boutique.”
“Why?”
“We have a family dinner. My family would love to see their potential daughter-in-law.”
Her eyes bulged. “I’m seeing your family? Was that even part of the deal?”
Chapter Epilogue—I smiled as I folded out the rumpled letters belonging to Aria Vale; she had them thrown into the office trash bin. It had her mascara-stained tears and was filled with curses meant to be said to my face. I glanced across to the cubicle to her drooping face, mumbling curses with plump, pouted lips. One would think she was completely harmless, but here she was writing a fake resignation letter filled with curses as an emotional outlet.
‘I hope you break your pinky today. Too pinkies. Grumpy-ass, miserable boss. Heart made of stone. I’ll leave you and won’t ever return.’
I was to fire her after discovering this letter, but they seemed to be the little dose of happiness I needed to pull through the day.
- Writer
