The CEO's Accidental Bride
The reporter's voice hung in the air like a bell that wouldn't stop ringing.
"Father-in-law," she'd said, smiling like she'd just uncovered a golden piece of gossip. Cameras turned in their direction like flowers to the sun, ready to catch every reaction.
Jane felt Alexander stiffen beside her.
It was subtle — a small, almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw — but for a man as unreadable as him, it might as well have been a shout.
"I think you're mistaken," Jane said quickly, forcing a polite smile. "I don't—"
Alexander's hand closed gently but firmly around her elbow. "Excuse us," he said to the cluster of reporters, his voice smooth as silk and twice as hard to cut through.
Without another word, he steered her away from the crowd, past the glittering tables and curious stares, toward a side corridor lined with gold-framed paintings. His grip wasn't painful, but it was unyielding — a silent warning that she was in the middle of something she didn't yet understand.
The moment they were out of earshot, Jane pulled her arm free. "What the hell was that about? You looked like you'd seen a ghost."
Alexander didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced around to make sure they were alone. "You will not respond to any questions about my family," he said finally, his tone clipped.
Jane folded her arms. "I don't even know your family. So why would anyone think I have a father-in-law?"
His gaze darkened, and for the first time since she'd met him, she saw something flicker in his eyes — not anger, not calculation… something closer to pain.
"They're fishing," he said after a beat. "Trying to provoke a reaction. And they almost got one."
Jane frowned. "And what exactly would be so terrible if they did? Unless there's something you're hiding—"
His expression sharpened, and she realized she'd hit closer to the truth than he wanted.
"Everyone has things they don't share, Miss Miller," he said, his voice dropping to that dangerously quiet register. "You have yours. I have mine. The difference is, mine could destroy an empire."
She opened her mouth to ask more, but he was already moving down the hall. "Come," he said over his shoulder. "We should make an appearance before the vultures start circling."
Back in the Ballroom
The rest of the gala passed in a blur of handshakes, champagne, and whispered conversations. Jane played her part, smiling when necessary, laughing at jokes she didn't understand, and letting Alexander's subtle touches guide her through the crowd like a perfectly trained partner.
But her mind kept drifting back to that flash of something in his eyes when the reporter had spoken. It had been raw, unguarded — and it made her wonder if the cold, controlled man everyone saw was just armor.
Later That Night
They left the gala just after midnight, sliding into the back of his sleek black car. The city lights streaked past the tinted windows, casting fleeting shadows across his face.
Jane broke the silence first. "So, about earlier—"
"Drop it," he said without looking at her.
Her frustration flared. "No, actually. You drag me into this arrangement, parade me in front of the media, and now I'm apparently connected to some secret family scandal I know nothing about. I deserve answers."
He turned to face her then, his gaze steady. "And I told you — my family is not up for discussion. Not now, not ever."
She held his stare. "You're asking me to lie for you. That means I need to know what I'm lying about."
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "You won't be lying. You'll be avoiding."
Jane let out a humorless laugh. "Right. Because that's so much better."
The tension between them was thick enough to choke on, but neither of them looked away.
Finally, Alexander leaned back in his seat, his voice softening just slightly. "I'm protecting you, Jane. Whether you believe that or not."
Her heartbeat stumbled at the way he said her name — low, deliberate, like it tasted different in his mouth. But she forced herself to look away.
At Her Apartment
When the car pulled up in front of her building, Jane expected him to let her go without another word. Instead, he followed her to the door.
"Tomorrow morning," he said as she unlocked it. "Nine o'clock. We're meeting with the wedding planner."
She turned to stare at him. "Wedding planner? Already?"
He stepped closer, his height casting a shadow over her. "The board wants a timeline. And I want this over with as soon as possible. One year. We play our parts, then we walk away."
Jane's pulse quickened — not from fear, but from the sheer intensity of him standing that close.
"And if I say no?" she asked quietly.
His lips curved in a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You won't."
With that, he turned and walked back to the car, leaving her standing in the doorway with a heart that refused to slow down.
The Next Morning
Jane arrived at the upscale hotel suite Alexander had chosen for the meeting, determined to keep things professional. But the moment she stepped inside, she realized the "wedding planner" was not alone.
Clara was there.
And she was sitting far too comfortably on the arm of Alexander's chair.
"Good morning, darling," Clara said with a smile that didn't touch her eyes. "I insisted on helping with the arrangements. After all, I know Alexander's tastes better than anyone."
Jane's jaw tightened. "Funny, I thought a fiancée would be the one making those decisions."
Alexander glanced between them, clearly aware of the sparks flying. "Let's just get started," he said, gesturing for Jane to sit.
Two Hours Later
The meeting was a battlefield disguised as a brunch. Clara "accidentally" suggested venues Jane couldn't afford, "forgot" to include Jane in certain decisions, and made subtle comments about how difficult it would be for someone "from outside their world" to adapt.
By the time it ended, Jane's smile felt like it had been carved into her face with a knife.
As they walked out, Alexander fell into step beside her. "You handled yourself well," he said.
She shot him a look. "Was that a test?"
His lips quirked. "Everything is a test, Miss Miller."
Cliffhanger Ending:
They step outside — and a man Jane has never seen before blocks their path. He's older, with silver hair and a cane, but his presence is commanding. His eyes lock on Alexander with something between fury and disappointment.
"I told you," the man says coldly, "never to involve her."
Purpose: Deepens mystery about Alexander's family, shows Jane's resilience in high society, intensifies romantic and power tension, introduces an elder male figure who clearly knows more than Jane.