All Chapters of An Almost Honest Affair : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The moment my mother cleared her throat over Sunday lunch, I knew I was in trouble.She had that look the one she used before announcing she'd enrolled me in "just a few" extracurricular piano lessons at age nine that turned into competitive recitals until I was seventeen. The same look she had the week she "accidentally" set me up on a date with the neighbor's cousin."Darling," she began, and my stomach sank, "your father and I were thinking..."Here it comes."...you're twenty-eight, you're doing so well at that little tech company of yours""Mom, it's a top-five national firm.""Yes, yes, but what's success without someone to share it with?"Across the table, my brother smirked. He'd brought his girlfriend, who was currently charming my grandmother with stories about how they met in a bookstore. I stabbed a piece of chicken like it had personally offended me."I'm... busy," I said."You're lonely," Mom countered."I'm fine.""You need a man."And that's when it happened the moment

If I'd been hoping Liam Wolfe would pick a discreet place for our "business dinner," I was wrong.The restaurant was one of those dimly lit, ultra-modern spots where every glass cost more than my electricity bill and the waiters looked like they'd stepped off a runway. The kind of place where half the patrons were investors, and the other half were there to be seen by investors.I spotted him instantly sitting at a corner table like he owned it, suit perfectly cut, dark hair just tousled enough to look accidental. He was scrolling through his phone, a half-smile on his lips, as if even his texts were winning."You're late," he said when I approached."You picked a place with valet parking and a three-story waitlist. You're lucky I made it at all."His smile widened slightly. "Still making excuses, Cross?"I ignored him and sat down. "Let's just get this over with."The waiter appeared as if summoned by our mutual disdain. Wine was poured, menus presented, and then Liam leaned back in

The guest room at the lake house had one bed."One bed?" I hissed as soon as the door clicked shut behind us.Liam glanced around like he was appraising a hotel suite. "Looks comfortable enough.""We can't""We're supposed to be engaged, Mia. What did you think your family would do, give us bunk beds?" He loosened his tie and tossed his suit jacket onto the chair, completely unfazed.I paced. "We'll make a pillow wall."He grinned, unbuttoning his shirt cuffs. "By all means. Build your fortress. Just don't hog the blankets."I was halfway through my pillow barricade when there was a knock on the door."Come in!" Liam called before I could stop him.It was my mother, holding two mugs of tea. Her eyes flicked from the bed to Liam's bare forearms and back to me. "I thought you two could use something warm before bed.""Thanks, Mom," I said quickly, taking the mugs and forcing a smile.When she left, Liam sat on the edge of the bed, sipping his tea like he hadn't just been caught in the m

Monday morning came too soon. I barely slept, turning over every possible reason this was a bad idea. But when I walked into the downtown courthouse, Liam was already there leaning against the marble wall like he owned the place, black coffee in one hand, marriage license application in the other."You're early," I said.He handed me the coffee. "You're late.""I'm exactly on time.""That's late to me." He grinned, all infuriating confidence, before pushing the clipboard into my hands. "Ready to make this official?"I froze. "Not without ground rules."His brow arched. "Ground rules?""Yes. One no sex."He gave a mock pout. "Harsh.""Two ,if you decide to date someone else while this... arrangement is happening, they can't know. Outsiders can't know."Plus keep your affairs away from the public. "Fine. But same goes for you.""Obviously.""Anything else?" he asked, like we were haggling over a business deal.I hesitated, then said, "A prenup."He blinked. "A prenup?""Neither of us wa

The morning after the ink dried on their contract, Mia walked into her office like a general returning to the battlefield. The glass walls of the building gleamed in the sun, but inside, whispers traveled faster than the elevators.“She married him?” one assistant muttered as she passed.“Carter Tech and Cross Enterprises merging?” another whispered.“She didn’t even have a wedding must be a stunt.”Mia ignored them, heels clicking against the polished marble. She was used to rumors, but this,this was different. It wasn’t just her reputation now; it was her authority.In the boardroom, she caught it in full swing. Her senior partner, Lawrence, leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers like he’d been waiting for her.“Congratulations,” he said smoothly, but the sharp edge under his tone was unmistakable. “Married life, and to a competitor, no less. Bold move.”Mia set her files on the table. “It’s a personal decision, Lawrence. My private life doesn’t change how I run this compan