005

April's pov.

Rowan had one of his lawyers prepare a contract for our marriage. The lawyer arrived within an hour, and Rowan laid out the papers on the desk in front of me. 

“Separate rooms, work comes first, no jealousy, and the contract lasts for only a year. We'll end the marriage once the dust settles.” He uttered, leaning against his desk with his arms crossed. 

I sighed, flipping through the pages of the contract. “I have conditions too. No touching in private, and I'd like it very much if we stayed out of each other's businesses.” 

“You don't have to worry about that.” His eyes swept over me with disgust, and I scrunched my nose at him. 

“It’s settled then. Sign the papers and I'll send you the first half of our agreed payment.” 

I took a deep breath before moving to grab the pen. I knew I was about to make a horrible decision, one that I would definitely regret, but I had no choice. Mom was in need of surgery, and I had nowhere to go.

I signed it and pushed it over to him. He signed his part and then handed the papers to the middle-aged lawyer who had been standing in the corner and going through his phone. The lawyer offered us a smile and cleared his throat to speak. 

“Now all you have to do is announce a wedding date.” 

My heart skipped. Great. I'm getting married to the man I hate the most in the world. How great! 

As soon as the lawyer left, Rowan slowly pushed off the desk, going around it and digging through one of the drawers for something. I waited, barely paying any attention to him. I was too concerned about the marriage and my mother's health to care about what he was looking for. 

But then he made his way back to me with slow, deliberate strides that seemed to make my heart sink deeper. He presented a ring, the shiniest, biggest one I had ever seen. I was sure it cost a fortune, it was pure diamond. 

“What's this for?” I asked, innocently batting my lashes at him and trying to ignore the big rock in front of me. 

“If we're going to do this, then it has to be believable. This is going to be your engagement ring.” He slid it into my ring finger before I could argue, and a shiver crawled up my spine. 

“The board executives have arranged a meeting with the press. They're hoping that I'll address this issue. They're in the boardroom right now, and you're coming with me.” 

The thought of facing those camera flashes and countless questions again made my stomach twist. It was traumatic, and I would pass out if I ever had to relive it, but at this point, I knew I had no other option.

Ronan threw his suit jacket on, ran his fingers through his hair to fix it and then started walking towards the door. There was barely anything I could do for my disheveled self so I just adjusted my blouse and followed closely behind him. 

As we walked through the hallway, eyes followed us, whispers waved in the air, and I could feel my own throat closing up. 

“I'm sure she seduced him, that whore.” Someone mumbled behind me and my palms clenched my skirt. However, I refused to turn and continued trotting behind Rowan until we got to the boardroom. 

He paused just before he opened the door and turned to face me, his blue eyes cold and his expression unreadable. I squeezed my skirt tighter, hating how easily I got intimidated by him. 

“You know what to do. Make this believable, act like you're in love with me..” 

Those words made me want to choke. How on earth was I supposed to pretend to like someone I despised? 

“Yes.” I nodded my head, and he turned back to the door, pushing it open.

Dozens of camera flashes came at once, almost blinding me. I staggered, but had to lift my chin and act like I was okay. I walked beside Rowan, following him until he took his seat in front of the executives. I sat in an empty chair next to him, keeping my face low and away from the cameras. 

“Mr Robinson, it has come to the notice of the public that you are involved in illicit affairs with your employee, Miss April O'Reilly.”

Hearing that from one of the reporters made me bite my lip. I almost forgot how to breathe with all the executives staring at me like I had committed murder. If they could, they would throw me out immediately.

“Can you confirm this information?” The reporter continued. “Or can you at least give us a reason for this? Do you exploit your employees? Or do you demand favors from them before you…”

“Enough!” Rowan spoke just in time. My eyes were already glistening with tears, and they would fall at any moment. 

“I have heard your questions, but I will not tolerate another word against Miss O'Reilly.” The ruthlessness in his eyes seemed too real to be an act, but it had to be an act. Rowan would never defend me like that. 

“Mr Robinson, why don't you explain to them that what they saw was a lie? Edited, possibly taken from the wrong angle?” One of the executives suggested, and honestly, I thought it was the best thing to do. 

“I can't do that.” Rowan kept a straight face. “That would mean denying my woman, the one I love.” 

He looked over at me, pressing his palm gently on top of my hand. I froze, the gesture making me feel things I didn't want to feel. This was fake, I couldn't help but wonder how he was able to make it feel so real. 

“Miss O'Reilly and I are engaged, and we're getting married very soon.” 

Murmurs and whispers grew, and my heart thumped loudly against my ribcage, uncertainty gnawing at my chest. 

Were they going to believe it? Or would I still be painted as the city's slut? 

“Isn't that right, baby?” He asked, raising a brow at me. 

I was stunned, but I managed to speak, offering a bright smile. “Of course, darling.” 

The flashes came, the reporters turned to their cameras to report what they had just heard, and my phone buzzed on my lap.

I picked it up, it was a text from a private number. I hesitated, but as soon as I opened the text, my face paled. 

“You just made the biggest mistake of your life.”