BOUGHT BY THE BILLIONAIRE

BOARD MEETING

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*Chapter 19: BOARD MEETING*

“Wear this,” Daniel said. No hello. Just a black garment bag on Chioma’s bed at 6am.

Chioma blinked, sleep still in her eyes. “What is it?”

“My wife wears designer to board meetings,” Daniel said. Back to her, adjusting his cufflinks. CEO mask on. “Rule #18: Appearances matter.”

Chioma opened the bag. Dress. Silk. Deep navy. Cut perfect. Price tag still on: ₦2.3M.

“I can’t wear this,” she whispered. “It costs more than my life.”

Daniel turned. Eyes swept over her oversized t-shirt + shorts. No judgment. Just fact.

“You’re Mrs. Okoye today,” he said flatly. “Act like it. Meeting is 9am. Be ready.”

Then he left. Door closed.

Chioma stared at the dress. Clause 7 said no feelings. But he bought her a ₦2.3M dress to pretend she was his wife.

1 hour later.

Chioma stepped out of her room, shaking. Heels too high. Makeup too heavy. She looked like someone else.

Daniel waited at the stairs.

He looked up.

And froze.

The newspaper in his hand crumpled slightly. His eyes went dark. Not CEO cold. Something else. Hungry.

Chioma tugged the dress down. “It’s too—”

“Perfect,” Daniel cut her off. Voice rough. He cleared his throat. CEO mask back. “Let’s go. Car is waiting.”

Board meeting room. 20 men in suits. All billionaires. All stared when Daniel walked in... with Chioma on his arm.

“Gentlemen,” Daniel said, voice cutting through silence. “My wife, Chioma Okoye.”

Wife.

Chioma smiled. Fake. Polite. Hands shaking under the table. She felt like a fraud.

Board member 1 cleared his throat. “Daniel, we didn’t know you remarried so quickly after Victoria.”

Daniel’s hand found Chioma’s under the table. Warm. Firm. Real.

“She’s not a replacement,” Daniel said. Low. Dangerous. “She’s the reason I’m here. Meeting starts now.”

For 2 hours, Chioma sat silent while men talked stocks and oil. She understood 10% of it. But Daniel’s thumb kept rubbing slow circles on her knuckles.

Like he was saying: _I’ve got you. You’re safe._

Clause 7 said no feelings.

But his thumb said otherwise.

Meeting ended. Contracts signed. Men left.

Only Daniel + Chioma remained.

Chioma pulled her hand away. “You didn’t have to hold my hand. They believed you anyway.”

Daniel stared at their empty space between hands. Jaw tight.

“I know,” he said quietly. “I wanted to.”

Chioma’s breath stopped. “What?”

Daniel stood up fast. Walked to the window. Back to her again. Always back to her when he was honest.

“Today you looked like you belonged,” he said. Voice low. Like he was admitting a crime. “In my world. In my suit. In my life. And for 2 hours... I forgot Clause 7.”

Chioma stood up. Legs shaky. Walked to him.

“Daniel—”

“Don’t,” he said. Hand up. Still not turning. “If you say my name like that again, I’ll break my own rule. And I don’t break rules, Chioma.”

Silence. City noise 40 floors below.

Chioma reached out. Touched his shoulder. Light. Afraid.

Daniel closed his eyes. Didn’t move away. Didn’t move closer.

“Board thinks you’re my wife,” he said finally. “Board thinks you’re real. But you and I know the truth.”

“What truth?” Chioma whispered.

Daniel turned then. Eyes dark. Tired. Honest.

“That I’m in trouble,” he admitted. Barely a whisper. “Big trouble. Because my fake wife is starting to feel very... real.”

He walked out. Left her standing there in his ₦2.3M dress, heart pounding.

Clause 7 said no feelings.

But Daniel Okoye just confessed he was in trouble.

And Chioma was in deeper.

*End of Chapter 19*

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