3. Surprise

~Lucas Jones~

My gaze landed on her—Sienna, the wild girl from last night, the first woman in my life to ditch me without thinking twice.

She was petite, wearing a simple white long-sleeve shirt dress that hugged her curves and showcased legs that seemed to go on forever.

I wouldn’t have looked twice at this crowd if it weren’t for her—the way her cheeks flushed as she tried to avoid my gaze, hands trembling as she clutched a folder tightly against her chest.

My jaw clenched at the memory.

At first, I’d just wanted her for a bit of fun, a distraction. But waking up alone to an empty bed and a cooling pillow beside me... it felt like a slap in the face. No woman had ever walked away from me like that, leaving me wanting more. How dare she?

So, I did what I’d never done before in my life—had her tracked down. I made my PA, Derick, pull CCTV footage from the bar and run a full background check on her. And there she was, as fate would have it, an employee at my father's company.

I shook off the simmering irritation long enough to refocus. I was here to make my official introduction to the company, fulfilling one of my father’s last requests.

“Adding the family business to the ones you have in London will make me happy. And your fiancee... Those are the last things I want to see before I go, son,” he had said over the phone, his voice rough.

I hadn’t set foot in America since my parents divorced sixteen years ago, which led my mother to move my little sister and me to London. She never allowed us to visit Dad, but our daily morning and night calls never missed.

And now, here I was, back in Bellmore City, preparing to take over the company before my dad’s lung cancer claimed him. He had six months left. And I had six months to find a woman willing to play along with my father’s wishes—to pretend we were a storybook couple for his sake.

The employees in front of me were assembled in a semi-circle, wearing polite expressions, straight postures, and fixed smiles. Weston Corp’s lobby was sleek and polished, with dark woods, gleaming marble floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass walls offering a view of the Bellmore skyline. But I was barely taking in the surroundings. My eyes kept darting back to her.

Taking a breath, I began my speech. “Thank you all for your warm welcome,” I said, my voice echoing through the large lobby.

“As I step into this role, my commitment is to continue Weston Corp’s legacy of excellence and growth.” I gave the usual corporate spiel, met with polite applause and nods. But my focus kept slipping back to Sienna. She looked like she’d rather bolt than stay here a second longer.

As I wrapped up my introduction, I decided it was time to meet the team.

One by one, they introduced themselves, stating their names and positions with confidence. Everything was seamless until we reached her. She stood there, her mouth opening as if to speak, but nothing came out. Panic flashed in her eyes, her knuckles whitening as she clutched her folder tighter.

“Well?” I prompted, my voice sharp enough to cut through the silence.

“I... um, I’m Sienna Wilde, in... the... uh... design department.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, stumbling over each word.

I arched an eyebrow, letting the tension build before I responded. “Really? That’s all you’ve got?” A hint of disdain edged into my tone as I crossed my arms.

“How did you even get a job here if you can’t manage a simple introduction? I don’t think you’re fit for this company.”

Her face drained of color, and her fingers trembled as she lowered her gaze to the floor.

Good.

“See me in my office right away,” I added, my tone clipped, before dismissing the rest of the group.

---

It took me a few minutes to settle in before I headed to my office. When I entered, I found her standing in front of my desk, shifting on her feet, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag.

The office itself was spacious and minimalist, designed in black, gray, and brushed silver, with leather furniture and a large desk of dark polished wood. Behind the desk was a floor-to-ceiling window offering an impressive view of the city skyline.

Sienna looked up, meeting my gaze for the first time since last night. The mixture of fear and confusion in her hazel eyes almost amused me.

She thought I was going to fire her. Good.

I walked to my desk, shrugged off my coat, and folded it over the back of the chair, watching her carefully as I sat.

“Not what you expected, I assume?” I began, letting my words hang in the air. She swallowed hard, clearly unsure how to respond.

“I—um... I apologize if—”

“Apologize?” I scoffed, leaning back. “For leaving without a word? Or for deciding to pretend like last night never happened?” She flinched, and I almost felt a glimmer of satisfaction at her reaction.

“You’re the first woman who’s ever made it out the door before I woke up. Congratulations.”

“I... I’m sorry,” she stammered, her face flushing as she nervously pushed a strand of strawberry-blonde hair behind her ear.

“It... it wasn’t my intention to be rude. I just... I didn’t think...”

I held up a hand, silencing her, my tone almost dismissive. “I don’t care, Sienna. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’re aware of who I am now, but just in case it’s not clear—I’m now the company president, the soon-to-be CEO, and your new boss.”

Her mouth opened, probably to stammer out more apologies, but I cut her off again. “I won’t fire you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Her brows knitted together, and she exhaled in visible relief. I let the moment hang, then added, “I know your situation, Sienna. I know you’re the primary breadwinner for your family, the one keeping everything afloat.”

She stiffened, and I watched the confusion shift into shock. “How... did you?”

I allowed a smirk to tug at the corner of my mouth but didn’t answer her question. “ I'll let bygones be bygones, Sienna” I said, letting my voice soften.

“But I do have a proposition.”

Her eyes widened, and I could see the curiosity start to outweigh her nerves.

“Here’s the deal,” I continued, letting each word sink in. “My father is sick. He’s given me six months to bring home a fiancee and settle down before he...” I trailed off, not needing to finish the thought. “Since I don’t have one, I need someone to play the part.”

She stared, blinking as if trying to process my words. “And you... want me?”

“Yes. You’re here, in my company. It would be easy to keep an eye on you, to maintain the story without drawing too much attention. Besides...”

I paused, watching her closely. “You could use the money, couldn’t you?”

Her gaze dropped, and I knew I had her attention now. “I know you’re in debt trying to pay your father’s medical bills,” I added, my tone casual.

“I’d be willing to cover those costs. The best doctors, no expense spared.”

Her expression shifted, the tension melting from her shoulders as her eyes began to glisten with something close to hope.

“Do you mean... you’d actually do that? Cover my dad’s bills?”

I nodded, barely suppressing a triumphant smile.

“In exchange for six months of your time, yes. Play the part of my fiancée. Smile, charm my father, make him believe you’re the perfect daughter of a respectable family. And don’t worry about your job. No one here will know.” I leaned forward, keeping my gaze steady.

“Does that sound fair to you?”

She bit her lip, clearly weighing her options. I watched her resolve solidify, her eyes sharpening with newfound determination.

“Anything else?” she asked, her voice steadier than I expected.

“Nope. Just act the part, make my father happy, and keep things discreet. Beyond that, I don’t care what you do with your life, and neither should you care about mine.”

Her gaze met mine, a flicker of confidence in her eyes, and I could almost see her mentally calculating the benefits. Then, without another word, I pulled open a drawer, took out a crisp contract I had Derick prepare few hours ago, and laid it in front of her.

“Sign it,” I said, pushing the pen toward her.