Chapter 5

Asia's POV

THREE DAYS AFTER

The kidnappers had given me two weeks. 

Two crazy weeks to come up with $30,000 or they’d start sending pieces of my mother.

My sister had borrowed from dangerous people,disappeared,and left me holding the bag like always.

Mom was just the bait.

I dropped onto the couch,hands shaking as I scrolled through job apps again. 

Working Six jobs weren’t enough,even selling everything I owned wouldn’t get me close.

The front door opened,George walked in, carrying his camera bag,little Aaron trailing behind him with a sleepy yawn. 

My childhood best friend the one who always showed up when things got bad. 

His wife had passed two years ago, but he still had that steady, gentle presence that made the world feel less heavy.

“Asia?” George’s eyes widened when he saw me.

 “What the hell happened? You look like you’ve been through war.”I broke.

The whole story spilled out,I told him everything except for what happened between me and Eden in paris. 

George listened without interrupting,then pulled me into a hug. 

Aaron patted my arm awkwardly.

“We’ll figure this out,”George said firmly. 

“You’re not alone.”

Days blurred into a frantic mess.

I added two more jobs,cleaning offices at night,delivering food at dawn.

Still nowhere near $30,000. 

The kidnappers texted daily threats with photos of Mom looking terrified. 

Time was running out,George helped where he could,picking up extra photography gigs and watching Aaron so I could work.

He even slept on the couch some nights,like old times when we were kids crashing at each other’s places.

Then,on day four, I found it.

An urgent job posting from GED Baby Galaxy,the biggest baby products company in New York.

Temporary personal assistant. 

Pay: $2000 a month.

Contract duration: 6 months

Requirements:Only married women with stable family can apply. 

I bit my lip so hard.

Desperate time calls for desperate measures.

My hands shook as I stared at the screen.

“George…” I slowly turned to him.“I need you to pretend to be my husband.”

He choked on the coffe he was drinking

“What?”

“Please,Just for the interview only,”

“We'll get fake certificates, Aaron is here, it'll even look more real.”

“Please just this one big thing, for Mom.”I sobbed.

George rubbed his face,his eyes became soft.

“Alright,”he said quietly. “I promised I would do anything for you.”

~~~~

The next morning we dressed as nicely as we could.

We printed a fake marriage certificate and headed to the sleek glass tower of GED Baby Galaxy.

The waiting room was full of polished couples real married ones with kids, laughing and holding hands,i felt like a fraud. 

George slipped his arm around my waist naturally,it made my chest tighten with guilt.

“Mr. and Mrs. Thompson?” the receptionist called.

We stood and followed the lady into a conference room.

Three women sat across the table, all sharp suits and polite smiles.

“Thank you for coming,” one of them said warmly.

 “This role requires a high level of discretion and emotional stability, so we like to get a sense of the couple dynamic.”

Couple dynamic.

I forced a smile.

George answered most of the first questions, steady, calm, believable.

How long have you been married?

“Three years.”

“Is that your child?”

George glanced at Aaron. “Yes.”

I nodded,adding softly,“He just turned five.”

“Wonderful,” another woman said, clearly pleased. 

“And you’re comfortable with long hours? Late nights with the CEO’s schedule can be unpredictable.”

“I am,” I said quickly. “I don’t mind.”

I didn't mind.

I needed it.

“Good,” she said, making a note. “The CEO prefers someone grounded, someone family oriented.”

If only she knew.

The door opened behind us.

No knock.

No warning.

Just the quiet click of power shifting in the room.

“And right on cue,”one of the women said, her tone brightening. “Mr. Gregory.”

My spine went rigid.

Slowly,too slowly,i turned.

And there he was.

Eden Gregory.

Tall. Controlled. Devastating in a perfectly cut charcoal suit.

Like Paris had followed me here just to ruin my life.

His eyes swept the room, and then landed on me

Everything inside me stopped.

Recognition hit him instantly.

I saw it.

Sharp,Undeniable.

Then his gaze dropped.

To my hand, the ring.

My fingers twitched, but I forced them still.

Don’t hide it.

Don’t react.

His eyes moved again,

To George’s arm around my waist.

To where I leaned into him.

To Aaron.

And then.

“Mom,” Aaron mumbled,tugging lightly at me.

My heart stuttered.

I didn’t hesitate this time.

Couldn’t.

I brushed his hair back gently.

“Just a minute,baby.”

The air was so thick,followed by silence.

The kind that felt like it could crack something open.

One of the women smiled, completely oblivious.

“Oh, perfect timing Mr Gregory, this is Mr and Mrs Thompson one of our strongest candidates.”

Candidates.

Eden didn’t respond immediately.

He just stood there.

Watching.

Not casually.

Not politely.

But like he was dissecting something.

Piece by piece.

His jaw tightened.

His gaze flicked back to the ring.

Then to me.

And whatever passed through his eyes

It wasn’t confusion.

It wasn’t surprise.

It was something colder.

Something that made my chest tighten.

For a second, I thought he was going to have an outburst,but he didn't.

He turned and walked out.

The door slammed behind him,my body flinched at the sound.

The women exchanged quick, awkward glances before recovering.

“Don’t mind him,” one said with a small laugh. “He can be intriguing sometimes.”

Intriguing,definitely.

George’s hand pressed lightly into my waist.

“You pulse increased,”he whispered.”you'd get the job,don't worry “

“Breathe.” he murmured under his breath.

I nodded.

But my chest was still tight,because that look on Eden's face still lingered in my head.

And I had a feeling this might not be in my favour.

But I'm not running away this time.