The CEO’s Temporary Bride
“I can’t believe you just said that!” I burst out, staring at Ethan like he’d sprouted twenty extra heads. “You want me to... to pretend to be your girlfriend? What, like, fake holding hands? Fake kissing? Fake everything?”
He didn’t blink as his nonchalant gaze met mine, a hint of a smirk playing on those lips. “Yes, Riley. That’s usually how fake dating works.”
All Harper Adams wanted was to get through one evening pretending to be her best friend on a blind date. But when her date turned out to be Ethan Reynolds—her infuriatingly handsome CEO—things quickly spiraled out of control. Now, she’s caught in a whirlwind of fake romance to help him dodge his family’s relentless matchmaking schemes.
Between awkward office run-ins and public displays of “affection” at high-society galas, Harper is discovering that fake dating might be a lot harder than she thought—especially when her feelings for Ethan start to feel all too real. With secrets piling up and hilariously disastrous moments at every turn, Harper’s left wondering: can she survive this charade, or will her fake love life blow up in her face?
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Chapter: Chapter 18Harper's POVThe restaurant was beautiful.Dim lighting shimmered off gold-accented chandeliers. A live pianist played something elegant and probably French in the corner. Crystal glasses sparkled. Silverware looked like it belonged in a museum. Definitely the kind of place where salads cost more than my monthly grocery bill.I adjusted my jacket, stepping inside. My eyes swept the room—until they landed on a familiar tornado of jewelryAcross the room, I spotted Riley waving wildly at me, her jewelry flashing under the chandeliers."Harper! Over here!" she called.I made my way over, trying not to trip on the fancy carpet."What's the occasion?" I asked, sliding into the booth. "Did you finally land the deal you were working on?"She flinched."Uh, well... not exactly." She shoved a menu into my hands. “I just thought I owed you. Y’know. For everything.”Her voice cracked halfway through the sentence.My eyes narrowed."Thank me? For what? I already paid my dues — remember the last b
Last Updated: 2025-05-03
Chapter: Chapter 17Riley’s POVIt’s funny when I think about it…If he cared so much about time, about image, about doing things the proper way—he could’ve just married someone else by now. Had his secretary book a chapel, flown in a model from Paris, called it a day. But he didn’t.Why?I sat at my desk, rearranging papers for the fourth time, and then froze.Oh my God.My jaw dropped, pen clattering to the floor.Could he have fallen in love with Harper?!I pictured the two of them—Harper and Ethan—walking down some high-society aisle. Her in one of those sleek, backless dresses she pretends not to like, him looking like a Bond villain who’s never smiled in his life.Ugh. No. No, no, no.He definitely did not seem like the type to fall in love. Let alone with someone who made him talk about sex over steak tartare. That man didn’t even seem human. The stare? The way he said, “You’re not Riley,” like it was a death sentence?He was probably planning her destruction right now.I grabbed my phone in a pan
Last Updated: 2025-04-28
Chapter: Chapter 16Harper's POVMy phone rang at exactly 11:03 p.m.I was half-asleep, halfway through an episode of a show I couldn’t remember the name of, and fully committed to doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the night. So when I saw Riley’s name flash across my screen, I almost let it go to voicemail.Almost.Because something about Riley calling this late? That felt... ominous.I answered on the third ring. “If this is about another blind date, I swear—”“Harper. It’s a disaster. A full-on, Chanel-burning, trust-fund-cancelling disaster.”I sat up instantly. “What happened? Did your dad find out? Did Ethan—”“Ethan’s not Ethan.”Silence.I blinked. “Come again?”She sounded like she was hyperventilating. “The man I went on a date with? The one I thought was Ethan? That wasn’t Ethan.”“…Huh? You’re not making sense.”“I went to Fiorenza tonight to meet who I thought was Ethan, but when the real one walked in, I didn’t recognize him. Because I’ve never seen him before in my life!”Oh. Oh no.
Last Updated: 2025-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 15Riley’s POVI sat by the window of Fiorenza, one of those quiet luxury places tucked near the Upper East Side — dim lighting, velvet chairs, the kind of place you booked two weeks in advance unless your last name opened doors.Luckily, mine did.I was early, which almost never happened, but this felt different. I hadn’t even told Harper yet — I wanted to wait until after the dinner. After I confirmed what I already knew:That he was smart. And funny. And weirdly down to earth, despite being Ethan freaking Reynolds.That maybe — just maybe — this whole arranged marriage thing wouldn’t be such a disaster after all.I checked my phone again. No messages. No missed calls.I didn’t even know why I was nervous. We'd only met once. A brief conversation outside my office, a strange spark I hadn’t expected, and then I’d done the unthinkable.I had called him.I had asked to meet.And he’d said yes.I smiled, brushing my fingers over the rim of my wine glass. “Relax” I whispered to myself. “He
Last Updated: 2025-04-25
Chapter: Chapter 14Harper POVDING.The elevator doors slid open, and standing before me were Ethan Blackwood and David, his assistant.I wanted to throw myself out the nearest window.My brain short-circuited for a second, then rapidly considered my options:Turn on my heel and bolt.Pretend I forgot something and slowly back away.Fake a dramatic faint and hope they step over me.Option three had some merit."Come in," Ethan’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.Oh, come on. Haven’t I suffered enough today?His gaze was impassive but there was something vaguely expectant about it—like he was waiting for me to move.My grip tightened around my phone. “I… beg your pardon?”“It seemed like you were about to... bolt”, His tone was unreadable, but there was the faintest flicker of amusement in his gaze. “Something wrong?”Oh, nothing much, sir. Just experiencing the worst stroke of luck in my entire existence.I quickly schooled my expression. “Not at all, sir. I was just—”BZZT.Then again.And again
Last Updated: 2025-04-22
Chapter: Chapter 13Harper’s POVI let out a slow, tired sigh resting my forehead against the cool surface of the wall."So, a double date? What do you think?"Eric’s words still echoed in my head.At first_ I hadn’t even processed the question, He had flashed me that eager grin, practically bouncing with excitement, eyes gleaming like he had just come up with the perfect plan."Come on, it'll be fun! You and your guy, me and my girl, it’s perfect!"Fun? For who?I had forced a polite laugh, my brain scrambling for an escape route. "I don’t know… he’s usually pretty busy."Which was technically true. But even if he weren’t, I still wouldn’t subject myself to that kind of torture.Eric had pouted like a child who had just been told Santa wasn’t real. "Oh, come on. Just one night? We could go somewhere nice. Have some drinks. It’ll be like a test run before the wedding!"I had nearly choked on my own spit. A test run?Then—by some miracle—BRRRRRR. BRRRRRR.My phone vibrated in my pocket. A work call.Salv
Last Updated: 2025-04-17
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