Chapter Twenty-Three: Fake It for Me

Zara barely slept.

The note they had found on Adrian's car kept replaying in her mind.

Enjoy pretending. She'll be taken next.

She tried convincing herself it was just another threat.

But after everything that had happened over the past few weeks, she knew better than to ignore it.

By Monday morning, security at Knight Technologies had doubled.

Every visitor was searched.

Every employee had to scan their ID twice before entering.

Even Zara felt nervous walking through the lobby.

"Morning, Miss Daniels."

The security guard smiled as he handed back her ID.

She forced a smile.

"Morning."

The elevator doors opened.

She stepped inside and leaned against the wall, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Long weekend?"

She looked up.

Daniel, the software engineer, stepped into the elevator just before the doors closed.

"You could say that."

He smiled.

"I heard the gala was beautiful."

"It was."

"And?"

"And what?"

He laughed.

"I was hoping for a better story than that."

She smiled despite herself.

"You'll have to keep hoping."

The elevator reached the executive floor.

As they stepped out, Daniel held the door for her.

"See you around."

"See you."

Neither of them noticed Adrian standing outside his office.

He had seen the entire exchange.

He didn't know why it bothered him.

Daniel had done nothing wrong.

Still...

He didn't like how easily Zara laughed with him.

---

At ten o'clock, the weekly executive meeting began.

Zara sat beside Evelyn, typing notes as department heads presented reports.

Everything was going smoothly until the Head of Public Relations cleared his throat.

"We have a problem."

Adrian looked up.

"What kind of problem?"

He projected a graph onto the large screen.

"Our online engagement has tripled over the weekend."

"That sounds like good news."

"It would be..."

He clicked to the next slide.

"...if people were talking about our products."

Instead, the screen filled with headlines.

WHO IS THE CEO'S SECRET GIRLFRIEND?

KNIGHT HEIR FINALLY IN LOVE?

MYSTERY ASSISTANT STEALS BILLIONAIRE'S HEART.

Zara wished the floor would open beneath her.

One board member adjusted his glasses.

"This is becoming a distraction."

Another nodded.

"Our investors are asking questions."

"It's affecting the company's image."

Adrian remained calm.

"So what's your recommendation?"

The PR director hesitated.

"We need to control the story."

"How?"

"If we deny it now, people will only become more curious."

The room fell silent.

Finally, the PR director spoke again.

"There is another option."

Everyone looked at him.

"We let people believe it."

Zara's fingers froze above her keyboard.

"I'm sorry?"

He continued carefully.

"The attention will die down if the public thinks there's nothing secret about it."

Evelyn's eyes widened.

"You can't be serious."

"I'm thinking about the company's reputation."

One of the board members nodded.

"It isn't the first time a CEO has used his personal life to calm public speculation."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"I'm not using anyone."

"Sir, I'm not suggesting a real relationship."

The PR director took a deep breath.

"Only the appearance of one."

The room became very quiet.

No one dared look at Zara.

Except Adrian.

---

After the meeting ended, Zara hurried back to her desk.

Her head was spinning.

A fake relationship?

Absolutely not.

She had barely switched on her computer when Evelyn appeared.

"He wants to see you."

"I know."

"He looks... stressed."

"I can imagine."

Zara knocked gently on Adrian's office door.

"Come in."

He was standing by the window, his jacket draped over the back of his chair.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Adrian broke the silence.

"I owe you an apology."

She looked surprised.

"For what?"

"You shouldn't have been dragged into this."

"It isn't your fault."

"It feels like it."

She sat opposite him.

"So..."

He sighed.

"You heard what they suggested."

"I did."

"I've already rejected it."

Relief washed over her.

"Oh."

"I won't ask you to pretend to be my girlfriend."

She smiled.

"Thank you."

"But..."

Her smile faded.

"There is a problem."

"What?"

"The media won't stop."

She nodded slowly.

"I figured."

"If we keep avoiding questions, they'll start digging into your personal life."

"My personal life?"

"They'll follow you."

"Photograph you."

"Talk to your neighbors."

Her stomach tightened.

"I don't want that."

"Neither do I."

He walked back to his desk.

"So I've come up with another idea."

She waited.

"We don't pretend to date."

She blinked.

"...Okay."

"We simply attend a few public events together."

"As boss and assistant."

"Exactly."

"No lies."

"No fake romance."

"Just transparency."

She thought about it for a moment.

"That actually sounds reasonable."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Just then, there was another knock.

Evelyn opened the door without waiting.

"Sorry to interrupt."

"What is it?" Adrian asked.

She looked unusually excited.

"You've both been invited to the Lagos Tech Excellence Awards next Friday."

Adrian frowned.

"We normally decline."

"I know."

She smiled knowingly.

"But this year..."

She glanced between Adrian and Zara.

"...every reporter in the country will be waiting to see whether you arrive together."

Zara laughed nervously.

"So much for staying out of the spotlight."

Adrian looked at her.

"I'll understand if you say no."

She thought about everything that had happened.

The rumors.

The threats.

The cameras.

Then she smiled.

"I accepted this job because I wanted my life to change."

She stood up.

"So..."

She took a deep breath.

"...let's give them something worth talking about."

Adrian smiled.

For the first time in a long time...

He found himself looking forward to Friday.