Semua Bab The CEO’s Temporary Bride: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Harper's POV“Good morning, Mr. Reynolds!” Staff chirped, bowing their heads as Ethan strode through the glass doors of GlowMira like he owned the entire city.Which, technically, he kind of did.I, however, was frozen on the sidewalk just outside the lobby, crouched behind a planter like a raccoon avoiding tax fraud.Did he leave? Is the coast clear? Can I exist without accidentally locking eyes with him again?I peeked over the ledge, and my soul nearly evaporated through my scalp.'Nope. Not clear. Ethan Reynolds, six-foot menace, has officially entered the building and hijacked my peace of mind.'At this rate, I was going to develop premature gray hair.How was I supposed to work like this? Every hallway, every breakroom coffee pot, every elevator ping sent my fight-or-flight response into full meltdown. I’d become a walking anxiety attack in heels.And to make things worse?I jabbed my phone screen in fury.Still no response.“Come on, Riley,” I muttered. “You orchestrate an iden

Ethan’s POVGlowMira’s hallways had always been quiet in the early morning—sterile, professional, efficient. Just the way I liked it.Until recently.I hadn’t seen her in two days—Jessica, as she introduced herself. But her image lingered. The dramatic entrance. The exaggerated voice. That absurd wig. And still, something about her was... distracting.I told her I knew the truth. That her performance was see-through from the start. The way her expression collapsed was etched into memory. Amusing, in a way."David."David looked up from his tablet. "Yes, sir?""Find me a list of trending date spots."He paused. "For… you, sir?"I didn’t look at him. "Just do it."I walked on without waiting for the reply. Behind me, I heard greetings.“Good morning, Mr. Reynolds!”I gave a nod. “Morning.”The air practically froze.“Did he just—smile?” someone whispered.“Is that allowed?”Tch. People noticed too much.All I wanted was a wife. A simple fix. Jessica had been entertaining, at least. Unpr

Harper’s POVRiley’s silver Mercedes came to a stop in front of GlowMira’s towering glass entrance. The sunlight glared off the building like it, too, was judging me. I sat motionless in the passenger seat, clutching my coat and shielding half my face with my hair like some kind of Victorian ghost. My dignity as well as my tolerance for chaos, had hit an all-time low.“Thanks again,” I said, attempting a grateful smile that came out more like a grimace. “Seriously, I owe you.”Riley gave me a sunny grin, completely unfazed. “Please. It’s the least I can do after... well, you know.”I sighed. “You mean after initiating the chain of events that led to me being publicly clowned, borderline blackmailed, and now forced to fake-marry a man who terrifies me with just a glance?”“Exactly! That. But on the bright side...,you’re getting chauffeured now!”I stared at her.She reached over, inspecting my makeshift face covering. “Yeah, the eye patch is... not working. Wait.” She dove into the glov

David’s POV“Riley!” a staff called out, pushing her sunglasses higher on her face as she climbed into the car.“You’re late,” Riley grinned as she rolled down the window. “Traffic. Get in.”There was something about the way she held her phone tucked tight to her ear, thumb nervously tapping the side. It sparked something.Two weeks ago, I’d dropped files to the finance strategy department floor—quick delivery, no chit-chat. But I remembered her. The girl in the corner cubicle with a desk that looked like a stationery convention threw up on it.I was parked just a few cars behind, engine off, eyes trained on the exchange like a man on a surveillance mission—which, to be fair, I kind of was.I narrowed my eyes. That girl—Harper, right? —looked familiar. Not just because I’d seen her in the office before, but… there was something else. I couldn’t put my finger on it.“He still thinks I’m in Peru,” she muttered, letting out a breath. “Honestly, if he shows up at my funeral.. I’m haunting

Harper’s POV“Isn’t that the CEO?” Connor whispered, ducking behind his monitor like it would shield him.Sasha froze mid-keystroke. “Oh God—why is he here?”I shrank in my seat, hunching so low behind my desk I nearly became one with my keyboard. My sunglasses slid down my nose, but I didn’t dare adjust them.“Did someone mess up?” Jean craned her neck toward the glass wall where Ethan Reynolds stood, a white-clad reaper of corporate dreams. “No seriously, who did it?!”Connor leaned toward her. “Ten bucks it’s Keith. Or Sasha. She took a whole donut from the executive fridge yesterday.”“Guys!” Marco whispered urgently, glancing over. “Relax. Maybe he’s just... inspecting the floor.”“I’M NOT READY TO BE INSPECTED,” Sasha hissed.Meanwhile, I was having a full-body crisis.I didn’t get caught yesterday, right?I ran off like a cartoon villain the second that elevator door opened. No way he recognized me. There was makeup. The bruise looked different. I’m safe. Totally safe. Probably