Cassandra's POV
The board meeting starts badly.
Marcus stands at the head of the table, smiling. Before we begin, I have an announcement. Given recent instability, the board has hired an outside consultant to evaluate whether our current leadership is suitable.
My stomach drops. You hired someone to evaluate me?
The board did. We're all concerned, Cassandra. You're clearly distracted by personal problems
The door opens.
A man walks in. Tall, dark-eyed, expensive suit. He moves with dangerous confidence.
Elijah Morgan. Morgan & Associates. I'll be conducting the evaluation.
He extends his hand. I shake it. His grip is firm, his gaze intense.
Miss Hayes. He releases my hand. Pleasure to meet you.
Is it? Since you're here to determine if I'm fit to run my own company?
Something flickers in his eyes. Amusement? I'm here to evaluate company performance. Leadership is only one factor.
Marcus looks smug. Mr. Morgan has been reviewing our operations for the past week. He has some interesting findings.
A week? He's been investigating me for a week?
Please proceed, Mr. Morgan, the board chair says.
Elijah connects his laptop. A slide appears: HAYES TECHNOLOGIES: INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Over the past seven days, I've analysed financial records, interviews, and operational efficiency. What I found was troubling.
I grip my armrests. This is it. Marcus's plan.
Someone within this company has been systematically sabotaging operations for eighteen months.
Wait. What?
Marcus's smile falters.
Elijah clicks. Email threads appear. These are internal communications between a Hayes Tech executive and three competitors. Leaked launches. Shared proprietary information. Deliberate undermining.
Who sent these? a board member demands.
Elijah's gaze lands on Marcus. Your COO. Marcus Hayes.
The room explodes.
That's ridiculous! Marcus jumps up. This is a setup!
The emails are authenticated. Timestamped. Verified by three independent firms. Every one originated from your company laptop, Mr. Hayes.
More slides. Financial records. Text messages.
You've been leaking to Tech Vision for fourteen months. You manipulated the Singapore vote to benefit Data Core where your wife's family holds shares. You've cost Hayes Tech forty-seven million dollars.
I can't breathe. He's... defending me?
I would never Marcus sputters.
You did. And I have documentation of everything. Elijah pulls out a contract. You hired me two weeks ago, Mr. Hayes. You requested I find evidence of Miss Hayes's incompetence. What I found was evidence of yours.
He slides it to the board chair.
I don't fabricate results. I report facts. The facts show Cassandra Hayes has increased revenue by forty-three percent despite active sabotage. She's secured three major contracts Marcus tried to tank. By every metric, she's an exceptional CEO.
My throat tightens.
The question is why you've been so desperate to undermine her.
I'm leaving, Marcus snaps.
You're not. The board chair nods to security. Escort Mr. Hayes to his office. Ensure he doesn't access any systems.
As guards lead him away, Marcus hisses at me: This isn't over. You're still going to lose everything. The ninety days don't stop.
The door slams.
The chair apologizes. Board members file out.
Soon it's just me and Elijah.
Mr. Morgan. Can we speak? Privately?
He follows me to the hallway.
Why did you do that? I ask.
Do what?
Defend me. You were hired to find dirt on me.
I was hired to evaluate performance. The dirt was on Marcus, not you.
But you could have twisted it.
I don't twist data, Miss Hayes. I report facts.
Why?
He's quiet. Then: Because you don't deserve to lose your company to a man destroying it. And because I have a daughter. I'd like her to see that sometimes people choose integrity over profit.
Thank you. You saved me.
I told the truth. You saved yourself. He pauses. Though I'm curious. The ninety days Marcus mentioned?
My stomach sinks. It's complicated.
I specialize in complicated.
Can I trust him?
My grandfather's will. I have to be married within ninety days or lose controlling shares to Marcus.
How many days left?
Eighty-five.
Do you have prospects?
I laugh bitterly. I work eighty-hour weeks. I haven't dated in three years. So no.
He studies me. I might be able to help with that.
What?
He hands me a business card. If you're serious about finding a solution, call me.
About what?
About the fact that I need a wife just as much as you need a husband. Maybe we can help each other.
My heart stops. What?
He walks to the elevator. Think about it, Miss Hayes. You have my number.
The doors close.
I stare at the card. Handwritten note on back: Sometimes the best solutions are unconventional. Call me.
Did he just propose a marriage of convenience?
Jordan texts: What happened? Marcus looked murderous.
I stare at Elijah's number.
Eighty-five days.
One call. One conversation about the craziest idea ever.
Before I can overthink, I press call.
Cassandra Hayes. I was hoping you'd call. Ready to discuss terms?
Terms for what?
Partnership that benefits us both. Marriage in name only. Ninety days minimum. Separate lives, public appearances as needed. You keep your company. I get custody of my daughter. Clean, transactional.
Least romantic proposal ever.
I wasn't aiming for romance. I was aiming for honesty. Are you interested?
I close my eyes.
This is crazy.
This is desperate.
This is my only option.
Yes. I'm interested.
Tomorrow. My office. Ten AM. We'll discuss contract details.
This is really happening.
Only if you show up, Miss Hayes.
The line goes dead.
Jordan appears. What happened?
I look at her. I think I just agreed to marry a complete stranger.
WHAT?
I show her the card.
You're seriously considering this?
I'm out of options.
This is insane.
I know.
She's quiet. Then: What's he like?
I think about those dark eyes. That steady voice.
Dangerous. But maybe the good kind.
There's a good kind?
I'm about to find out.