Married to the Billionaire's Lie

"Dearly beloved," the officiant said solemnly.Everybody was looking at the bride and groom expectantly and these two words were spoken. As if anticipating something to go wrong.And it did…Three months ago this had all been a contract, it was just a job. A fake dinner and a gala, that was it. Nothing more."If anyone objects to this union," the officiant continued."Speak now, or forever hold your peace."Silence.Mira had planned two hundred and eleven weddings. She never thought she would plan hers and least of all have hers crumble to pieces.Why did her hands feel like ice now? Her dress was perfect. The venue was perfect. Adrian stood at the altar in a black tux, looking like a fantasy she used to plan for other people but never for herself.Mira remembered the night on the terrace, a kiss she didn't mean until everything stopped being fake?Had it?Was any of this ever fully real? Or was she so good at making fake happiness for other people that she convinced herself that her

The courier brought the contract the next day, thick as a novel and twice as humorless.Clause 4: No discussing past relationshipsClause 7: Pre-approved dinner topics attached in Appendix C.Clause 8: Forty-eight hours exit clause. No penalty, no explanation required.Mira was glad that clause was in the contract. She had to read that twice, it oddly gave her a sense of relief. That she had an out even though she had no plans of using it.Clause 9 ……..Mira read that clause three times…Hand-holding is permitted for photographic purposes only. No other contact may ensue without separate written consent.Mira called Adrian."Clause nine," she immediately said the second he picked up the phone."Problem already with the terms?""You have a legal clause about hand-holding?""I have a legal clause about everything.""That wasn't a no.""It wasn't a yes, either." There was a pause on the line, the sound of slow pacing could be heard on his end of the line."Is it excessive?""It's thoroug

Their photo ran everywhere by Monday.COLE'S HEART (AND HIS STOCK) ARE BOTH RISING — Insiders Say This Wedding Planner Has Him Completely SmittenMira choked on her coffee while reading the headline. Bea called her within the hour."Congratulations, you're famous.""I'm a contractor.""Not according to T*****r."Adrian's stock climbed four points by noon. This was more than the entire "engineered gala" planned to recover in the first place.Because of this, Adrian's PR team wanted a second appearance. A charity dinner. In two weeks.Adrian called Mira that night. His tone and voice were careful, a little too careful."It worked. Much better than anyone expected.""Congratulations. Your stock is recovering. And apparently I'm your girlfriend according to three different gossip sites.""I noticed. I'm sorry.""Don't be. It's the job," Mira said. A little too fast, and they both heard it."Is it?" Adrian paused longer than usual. "That moment on the terrace, Mira, it didn't feel like a jo

Adrian called at seven the next morning. His voice sounded rough in a way that didn't have anything to do with sleep."I need to talk to you. I need to tell you something before you see it online."Mira's stomach dropped at this early news. She didn't sleep well because her brain went into overdrive, thinking about their canceled dinner and the silence that followed that night. Her mind went over things that may have gone wrong, what she may have said or how she may have said it.None of the scenarios she conjured prepared her for what came next."See what?" she asked."There's a photo that someone got. Where we were on the terrace, not the press release photo from the gala...""Someone got close enough to catch the kiss... Now it's already everywhere." He explained as softly as possible.She got up immediately, forgetting she needed coffee, and opened her laptop. The headline was glaring even before the image finished loading.Calloway's Ice-Cold CEO Caught KISSING His "Fake" Date —