The Ceo's Runaway Bride

The church was packed. White roses. String quartet. 200 guests. And me, standing at the altar in a $10,000 dress... waiting. "Where is the groom?" The pastor's voice echoed. My phone buzzed. One text from Daniel: "Sorry babe. I can't do this. Don't wait for me." Laughter started from the back row. My stepmother's voice, loud and clear: "I told you she wasn't good enough for him." My face burned. 20 years of humiliation, all in one moment. I ran. Through the doors. Through the rain. Barefoot, dress soaked, mascara running down my face. A black Rolls Royce screeched to a stop in front of me. The window rolled down. The coldest eyes I'd ever seen. Gray. Like a storm. "Get in," he said. His voice was low, commanding. "Before you catch pneumonia, Miss Runaway Bride." I stared at him. Alexander Cole. The billionaire CEO who bought out my dad's company last month. The man my father called "ruthless". "I don't need your help," I lied. "You do," he said, and opened the door. "Get in. Now." Something in his tone made me obey. I slid into the warm leather seat. He didn't ask questions. Didn't offer tissues. Just handed me his jacket and drove. "Why are you helping me?" I finally asked. Alexander looked at me for the first time. Really looked. "Because," he said slowly, "you just became very interesting to me." My phone buzzed again. A photo. Daniel kissing my stepsister at the altar. The wedding was still going on. Just without me. I closed my eyes. I didn't know that this rain-soaked night was the start of a 30-day contract that would change both our lives forever. TO BE CONTINUED...