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Seal the Deal

Author: M. Malik
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-15 13:46:50

Chapter 31

Lyra

Should I do it?

Should I not?

Should I?

No. Absolutely not. It’s insane.

I groaned and threw myself back on the couch, staring at the ceiling like it might offer divine intervention. Instead, it just stared back blankly.

My fingers rummaged through the bottom of an almost-empty bag of Cheetos, finally finding the last, dust-covered survivor. I popped it into my mouth, chewing slowly, trying to savor what might be my last moment of peace before my life turned upside down.

I should.

I crunched the thought down with the Cheeto.

No, I shouldn’t. It’s a terrible idea. A disaster waiting to happen.

I stared at the empty packet in my hand and sighed before tossing it into the trash. Making life-altering decisions over junk food? Peak adulthood.

As I rinsed the orange dust off my fingers in the kitchen sink, my mind wandered back to Roman Lennox’s audacious proposal.

A contract marriage.

It sounded absurd when I said it out loud, even in my head. A business arrangement dressed
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  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    Seal the Deal ll

    Chapter 32LyraThe hotel lobby gleamed under the morning sunlight streaming through its towering glass windows. Polished marble floors reflected the pristine crystal chandeliers above, and the faint scent of fresh lilies hung in the air. Every detail, from the grand staircase to the uniformed staff bustling about, screamed luxury.I walked in, clutching my bag a little tighter. My reflection in the spotless windows didn’t quite match the surroundings. My simple outfit, while clean and decent, felt completely out of place. The last 24 hours of stress and hiding away had clearly left their mark. I hadn’t even touched my hair beyond a quick comb-through.The reception desk stood at the center, its marble surface gleaming under the light. A woman stood behind it, polished to perfection, with a smile as sharp as her tailored suit."Good morning," I said, the words almost catching in my throat.Her eyes flicked over me, assessing. Judging. The smile stayed on her face, but it felt thinner

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    Seal the Deal

    Chapter 31LyraShould I do it?Should I not?Should I?No. Absolutely not. It’s insane.I groaned and threw myself back on the couch, staring at the ceiling like it might offer divine intervention. Instead, it just stared back blankly.My fingers rummaged through the bottom of an almost-empty bag of Cheetos, finally finding the last, dust-covered survivor. I popped it into my mouth, chewing slowly, trying to savor what might be my last moment of peace before my life turned upside down.I should.I crunched the thought down with the Cheeto.No, I shouldn’t. It’s a terrible idea. A disaster waiting to happen.I stared at the empty packet in my hand and sighed before tossing it into the trash. Making life-altering decisions over junk food? Peak adulthood.As I rinsed the orange dust off my fingers in the kitchen sink, my mind wandered back to Roman Lennox’s audacious proposal.A contract marriage.It sounded absurd when I said it out loud, even in my head. A business arrangement dressed

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    A Proposal lll

    Chapter 30LyraRoman’s brow lifted slightly, his expression unreadable. He hadn’t expected me to decline, that much was clear."Then I have no choice but to come clean to the media," he said evenly. "Your name will be dragged through the mud. You’ll be removed from the Lennox Group, and finding a job afterward will be nearly impossible. Scandals follow you, Miss Winters, and this one won’t be forgotten quickly. To avoid the fallout, you’d have to disappear—start over in a place where the Lennox Group holds no influence, if such a place even exists."My mouth fell open in disbelief. "Are you threatening me, sir?""I’m merely explaining the possible consequences of your decision," he replied, his voice smooth and composed.I balled my hands into fists, my teeth gritting against the frustration rising in my chest. This proposal—this so-called solution—felt like a trap disguised as a favor. It didn’t make sense.Roman leaned back in his chair, his icy gaze fixed on me as if he were about

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    A Proposal ll

    Chapter 29LyraI hesitated before opening it, my hands trembling slightly. Inside was a professional-looking contract, thick with legal jargon. At the top, bold and clear, was the title: Marriage Agreement.I scanned the document in disbelief, my bewilderment growing with every clause:This agreement is entered into by and between Party A (Roman Lennox) and Party B (Lyra Winters), collectively referred to as "The Parties."PurposeThis agreement binds Party A and Party B in a contractual marriage to present themselves as a legally married couple to the world for the mutual benefit of reputation, business, and personal circumstances.DurationThe contract will remain in effect indefinitely unless terminated by Party A. Party B may request termination only after fulfilling Clause 5.Behavioral ExpectationsThe Parties agree to behave as a couple in public, including but not limited to:Attending social and business events together.Presenting themselves as a united front to family, fri

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    A Proposal

    Chapter 28LyraThere was an oppressive silence in the room as I sat in the guest chair across from Roman’s massive mahogany desk. He occupied the head seat with the same commanding presence he carried everywhere, his pale blue eyes focused on a set of papers he held. His glasses—the thin, frameless kind—rested on the bridge of his nose, giving him a sharp, almost Clark Kent-esque vibe. It suited him in a way I couldn’t deny, though I secretly thought he was more striking without them.I fidgeted nervously, my gaze wandering around the room. Roman’s study was immaculate, almost unnervingly so. Every single item had its place: leather-bound books lined the shelves with military precision, a gleaming antique globe sat in one corner, and not a speck of dust dared to settle on the polished surfaces. Even the pens on his desk were aligned in a perfect row, their metal clips catching the light. It screamed wealth and order—two things that felt very foreign to me at the moment.Anthony had t

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    Aftermath lll

    Chapter 27LyraThe day dragged on in agonizing slowness. I cried, showered, cried again, tried to eat, and inevitably ended up vomiting. My eyes were red and swollen, my phone heavy in my hand as I debated calling my mom. When I finally did, she sounded thrilled to hear I was “engaged,” and her excitement only twisted the knife deeper.Online, the office group chat was a cesspool of rumors. Ethan and Clarissa had wasted no time painting me as a cheater, a gold digger who’d jumped from him to his boss. The messages were cruel and relentless, my defenses drowned out by their lies.And then Anthony called. “Mr Lennox and I are on our way back,” he said simply.The words sent a bolt of panic through me. My breathing quickened, my chest tightening as I tried to process what was about to happen.“I can’t face him,” I said to myself, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s too humiliating.”My mind raced with escape plans. I could go back to D.C., to my mom, and pretend this never happened.

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    Aftermath ll

    Chapter 26LyraMy head shot up again, dread pooling in my stomach. “Worse? How could it possibly get worse?”Anthony hesitated, his gaze shifting away for the first time.“Anthony.”“The press,” he said finally, his voice tight. “There were cameras, Lyra. People recording on their phones. By the time we left, the flashes were blinding. And now?” He pulled out his phone, swiping a few times before handing it to me.Anthony sighed as he pulled out his phone, his expression a mix of frustration and pity. "You need to see this," he said, holding it up to show me a series of clips from last night.I leaned forward reluctantly, dread pooling in my stomach. The first video was of me standing in the center of the party, grinning like an idiot and holding up my hand to show off the ring. “Cheer for me!” I slurred, my voice loud and jubilant. “I’m an engaged woman now!”The camera panned to Roman, standing beside me, his expression utterly unreadable—a perfect poker face. The crowd looked stun

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    Aftermath

    Chapter 25LyraMy eyes shot to my hand, and there it was—the ring. The ring I’d bought for the proposal. And now? Now it was on my finger.“It wasn’t a dream!” I squealed, my voice high-pitched and frantic. “It wasn’t a dream! It was real!”The memories came flooding back in disjointed flashes—the party, the drunken ranting, the mortifying moment I shoved the box of rings at Roman, the way he had actually played along.I yelled at the reflection in the mirror. “Oh my god! What have I done?!”Before I could spiral further, the door to the room creaked open. I whipped around, expecting... I didn’t even know what. But it wasn’t Roman. It was a maid, a tray balanced perfectly in her hands.And standing behind her, looking thoroughly unimpressed, was Anthony.“Anthony!” I blurted, my voice a mix of relief and panic.He motioned for the maid to hand me the glass of water and the pill. I didn’t hesitate, chugging them down like my life depended on it. The cold water soothed my parched throa

  • The CEO’s Unlikely Fiancée    A Bluff Gone Far IV

    Chapter 24LyraRoman’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing. Instead, his arm tightened around me, pulling me closer as I swayed on my feet.The world around us blurred again, the laughter, the whispers, the flashing cameras. I could feel their eyes, their judgment, but none of it mattered. For once, I had won. Or at least, it felt like I had.“Show’s over,” Anthony’s voice broke through the haze, sharp and impatient. He stepped forward, his hand outstretched to take me from Roman.But Roman didn’t let go. His glare was ice, cutting through the tension like a blade. Without a word, he bent down and scooped me into his arms.Gasps echoed around the room, followed by the frantic clicks of cameras. My cheeks flushed as I buried my face in Roman’s chest, the scent of his cologne grounding me for a fleeting moment....The cool night air hit me as we stepped outside, but I barely registered it. The paparazzi were already there, their cameras flashing furiously as Roman car

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