The Tycoon Reluctant Bride

The morning after

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*Chapter 7

The gala was all over the blogs.

#AdelekeAnniversary

#WhoIsMrsAdeleke

#ToluVsAmara

My phone was blowing up. Unknown numbers. Blog pages tagging me.

I didn’t sleep.

At 7AM, there was a knock on my door.

Damian. In gym clothes. No tie. No mask.

“Come with me,” he said.

“Where?”

“Breakfast.”

We went to the kitchen. No staff. Just us.

He made eggs. Damian Adeleke. Cooking.

“Didn’t know you could cook,” I said.

“My mom taught me,” he said. Then he stopped. Like he said too much.

We ate in silence.

“About last night,” he started.

“You don’t have to explain Tolu,” I cut in. “I get it.”

“That’s not what I was going to say.” He put his fork down. “You handled it well. Better than I would have.”

My chest did something weird.

“Rule #5,” I said quietly. “Don’t fall in love.”

“I know the rules,” he said. “I wrote them.”

He looked at me. Really looked.

“Amara, this is still a contract. 12 months. Then we go our separate ways. Don’t forget that.”

“I won’t,” I lied.

Because last night when he held my hand in front of everyone...

It didn’t feel like acting.

His phone buzzed. He checked it and frowned.

“Board meeting in 1 hour. The merger.”

“I’ll get ready,” I said, standing up.

“Why?”

“Rule #2. Appear together.”

He stared at me. “You don’t have to. Not after last time.”

“I want to,” I said. “If I’m going to be Mrs. Adeleke, even if it’s fake, I’m going to do it right.”

He didn’t argue.

In the car, he was quiet. Then: “The UK company sent over new terms. They want to meet the CEO’s wife.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

I panicked. “What if I mess up?”

“You didn’t mess up yesterday,” he said. “You surprised me.”

We got to the office. The UK team was 3 people. 2 men, 1 woman.

“Mrs. Adeleke,” the woman said, smiling. “We loved your speech about employees at the last meeting.”

I smiled back. “Thank you. I believe a company is only as strong as its people.”

We talked for 30 minutes. About charity. About staff welfare. About the foundation Damian runs.

When they left, one of them said, “Mr. Adeleke, you chose well.”

In the elevator after, Damian turned to me.

“You did good.”

“Was I supposed to?”

“I wasn’t sure.”

The elevator stopped at his floor. He didn’t get out.

“Amara,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Thank you. For last night. And today.”

The doors opened. He walked out.

I stood there for a second, heart pounding.

Rule #5 was getting harder to follow.

Because the man behind the contract was starting to look a lot like someone I could actually love.

And that was dangerous.

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*[End of Chapter 7]*

*Author’s Note:* Omooo are they catching feelings?? 😭 Comment "PROTECT AMARA" if you’re scared for her heart!