The late morning sun filtered through the tall glass windows of Alexandra's office, spilling warm light across the sleek mahogany desk. The faint hum of the city below mixed with the low whir of the air conditioner, carrying the soft scent of lavender from the air humidifier in the corner. Her monitors glowed with graphs and figures, the gentle rustle of papers breaking the stillness each time she turned a page.
Alexandra was immersed in spreadsheets and investment projections when Stacy slipped into her office, the faint click of heels announcing her arrival.
"Hey, Alex, just wanted to update you on our investment with Kingsley Technologies," Stacy began, stepping into Alexandra's office with a sleek folder in one hand and her phone in the other. "We're already in the negotiation phase. Stephen's been handling most of the talks on behalf of H&B Holdings, and honestly, he's doing great. But he asked if you wanted to sit in on today's meeting."
Alexandra didn't look up, fingers pausing over the keyboard. "Not yet, Stace. It's not yet time for Sam to know who I really am."
Stacy leaned against the edge of the desk, brow furrowed. "Are you sure? When are you going to tell her the truth?"
Alexandra's lips curved into a sly, thoughtful smile—the kind that masked a thousand tangled thoughts beneath its calm.
"When the timing's right," she said softly, "I'll tell Sam the truth. This... whatever we are—it won't stay fake forever. But I want her to fall for me on her own terms, not because she thinks I'm trying to buy her heart."
She exhaled, her gaze drifting for a brief moment before sharpening again. "The investment isn't about her. It's about the company. I see what she's building—the precision, the ambition, the fire behind it—and I want to be part of that. She's brilliant, and the company has potential most investors don't recognize yet."
Her voice didn't waver. "Even before I realized the CEO was Sam, I believed in this company. I would've invested regardless. The decision stands on its own."
Her tone softened, almost wistful. "But if she knew who I really am—if she knew I had the means to invest—she'd probably reject it. She'd think I was doing it because she's my 'fake girlfriend', not because I believe in her. And that's the last thing I want."
Her fingers drummed lightly against her glass, a small smile tugging at her lips. "When she finally finds out... I want her to know I believed in her vision from the start. Not because of us, but because she earned it."
Stacy nodded slowly, a knowing smile curving her lips—half teasing, half sincere. "Fair enough," she said. "Just... don't wait too long, Alex. She deserves to know the truth—that you believed in her because of what she's built, not just because you're in love with her."
Her tone softened, but her gaze stayed sharp. "If you keep that secret for too long, she might not see the difference when it finally comes out. And that kind of misunderstanding?" She gave a small shrug. "It could cost you both more than you think."
Alexandra leaned back in her chair, letting the sunlight wash over her face. Her smirk was teasing, but her eyes burned with a mixture of pride and quiet hunger. "We're getting there."
Stacy's gaze lingered, suspicious and amused. "What did you do this time, Alexandra?"
Alexandra leaned back in her chair, letting herself savor the memory, a small heat creeping across her cheeks. "Let's just say your advice worked like a charm."
Stacy's grin widened. "Come on, spill!"
"Nope. Those details are just for me and Sam alone," Alexandra said softly, a private thrill curling in her chest.
Before Stacy could protest further, a sharp knock sounded on the office door. Both women looked up just as the door swung open and Zoe's cheerful voice filled the room.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt, but can I borrow Stacy, Alexandra?" Zoe asked with an apologetic smile.
Then she turned to Stacy, grinning. "Babe, I've got a doctor's appointment in an hour—let's go."
Alexandra smiled, a soft laugh escaping her as Zoe tugged Stacy toward the door. "Yeah, sure... please, let her drag you away," she teased softly, amusement glinting in her eyes.
Stacy shot her one last look over her shoulder, grinning. "We are not done yet, Alex!"
Zoe laughed, tightening her grip on Stacy's hand. "Come on, babe!"
"Coming, coming," Stacy called back, still laughing as the two finally disappeared down the hallway.
Alone now, Alexandra shook her head with a small, satisfied smile, letting her gaze fall back to her papers. But beneath the calm, her mind wandered, replaying moments with Sam—the stolen glances, the laughter, the quiet intimacy between them. Even surrounded by numbers and contracts, her pulse quickened. The boardroom stakes were high, but nothing compared to the game she was playing with Sam's heart—and the thrill of knowing she might already be winning.
Setting her papers aside, Alexandra reached for her phone, half-expecting a message, a call, anything from Sam. But there was nothing. No notifications, no missed calls, not even a single text.
It had been days since the bachelorette party. Days of silence that stretched longer in her mind than in reality. Alexandra had tried calling Sam a few times, her fingers hovering over the call button, but each time she hesitated and ended the attempt. Sam didn't pick up.
She sighed, leaning back in her chair, the faint smile on her lips softening. She's probably just flustered, Alexandra told herself, still processing what happened that night. Who wouldn't be?
And yet... Alexandra's chest still warmed when she thought about it. That night hadn't been meaningless. It hadn't been just a drunken accident—it had mattered. It was real, at least for her. That much she knew.
Her precise, methodical mind—used to numbers and contracts—was suddenly tangled in the unpredictability of Sam's heart. Alexandra allowed herself a small, private thrill. It was a risk... but a good one.
A decision settled in her mind, firm and certain. Tomorrow, she would go to Sam's office. She would see her, talk to her, and—quietly, carefully—make sure Sam knew that night hadn't been just an accident. That it had mattered, and that she wasn't about to let fear or confusion erase it.
For the first time in days, Alexandra's smile widened, just a little, and she picked her papers back up, already thinking about what she would say, how she would start the conversation... and most importantly, how she would make Sam see that this wasn't something to be afraid of.