Until The Baby Is Born: CEO's Temporary Fiancee

THREE MONTHS LATER“Just one more slide,” Ivy told herself, fingers steady on the clicker despite the faint throb building behind her temples.The Alexander & McQueen boardroom smelled faintly of espresso and polished oak, the kind of understated luxury that whispered power rather than shouted it. Floor-to-ceiling windows cast the city in sharp relief, the skyline glittering behind Ivy as she stood at the head of the table.“Gentlemen, if we position the spring campaign to highlight exclusive collaborations rather than seasonal collections, we’ll not only drive engagement but also solidify brand loyalty,” she said, her voice steady, confident.It had taken her months to get here, months of late nights, flawless pitches, and proving that she wasn’t just another intern passing through the department. Now she was leading the meeting with representatives from one of the firm’s biggest luxury clients.Across from her, the client’s COO, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, nodded slowly. “

The low murmur of porcelain against porcelain was the only sound in the Cole family’s sunroom. Sunlight spilled through tall arched windows, catching on silver teaspoons and the faint steam curling from the teacups. The place smelled faintly of bergamot and roses, refined, calm… until the door opened.“Grandmother,” Asher greeted, his tone respectful but faintly cool. His storm-grey eyes flicked to Velvet. “Aunt Velvet.”Then they landed on Ivy. His gaze sharpened, slicing through her like cold steel. “What’s going on?”Mrs. Cole didn’t look flustered. Her voice was smooth, deliberate. “We were having tea with Miss Marlowe.”“I see,” he said slowly, his brows knitting.Mrs. Cole placed her teacup down with an almost theatrical calm. “We were also discussing… responsibility.”Asher’s brows drew tighter. “Responsibility?”“You are going to marry her, Asher,” Mrs. Cole said, her tone as serene as if she were announcing a luncheon.The words hung in the air like the moment before a storm.

“It's 9 AM already…?” She asked herself before hurrying to the living room.The sound of movement in the living room stirred Ivy awake. She pulled on her robe and followed it, her bare feet whispering over the polished floor.Asher stood by the door, adjusting his cufflinks. The charcoal suit fit him with ruthless perfection, his tie sharp and precise. Morning light caught in his dark hair, but for a split second his gaze froze on her, loose waves tumbling around her shoulders, her robe carelessly knotted, skin flushed with sleep.“You’re leaving already?” she asked softly.His throat worked before his tone snapped back into place. “I have a meeting.”She walked closer, tightening her robe. “Give me ten minutes. I’ll get dressed and we can leave together.” As he asked her to join the company temporarily, she thought it would be good to start from today. She can understand the company better. He shook his head, slipping his watch over his wrist. “No. I have arranged a chauffeur for y

For a long moment, the lobby was so silent Ivy thought she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. The sting of Samantha’s slap still burned across her cheek, but it wasn’t the pain that hollowed her chest, it was the weight of Asher’s cold, merciless eyes. And then, his voice came. “Apologize to her.” Ivy’s lips parted, her breath catching as though the ground itself had just given way. “Ap… apologize… to her?” Her voice cracked, disbelief laced in every syllable. Her eyes widened, the words rolling over her like a wave she couldn’t escape. She had prepared for indifference, for distance, even for contempt. But not this. Not the man she had once loved standing here, supporting the very woman who had humiliated her. She swallowed, hard, but the whispers around her pressed in anyway, sharp as knives. “Did she really think Mr. Cole would defend her?” “She’s stupid if she did.” “Everyone knows Mr. Cole and Samantha have history.” “He’s always protected her. Always. This is no d

Ivy was lost inside the vast empire of the Red Star Group. Every hallway stretched endlessly, glass and steel gleaming, employees moving with purposeful steps as though they knew exactly where they belonged. Unlike her. She felt like an intruder in Asher Cole’s world.Her phone pressed against her ear grounded her in the moment, though Christopher’s clipped tone only made her pulse quicken.“Yes, Mr. Christopher. I have received the file,” she said quietly, weaving between employees who barely gave her a glance.“Have you started working on it?” he pressed.“Not yet,” Ivy sighed, her voice betraying her exhaustion. “I already told you that I need some days to figure something out about my life.”There was silence for a beat before his voice came again, sharper this time. “Why are you still talking as if I don’t know anything about your ‘something’? The entire world knows about your ‘something’ now.”She frowned, his words hitting her with unexpected force. There was a thread of frustr