The city lights shimmered through the tinted glass of the high-rise building, but inside the top-floor office, the atmosphere was far from warm. Cold. That was the word that came to mind the moment anyone stepped inside Adrian Luce's world.
He sat behind a black marble desk, sharp jawline lit by the dim glow of his desk lamp, black suit flawless, hair parted neatly with strands falling over his intense eyes—eyes that could cut through silence and send chills down a person's spine. No smile. No emotion. Just stillness. Just power.
Adrian wasn't the type of man who posted selfies or smiled in business meetings. In fact, no one had seen him smile. Not once. He was a ghost in the public eye, a myth in a world of digital noise. No social media. No press interviews. Just endless rumors whispered in boardrooms and luxury corridors—"He's the Devil in a suit."
And he liked it that way.
Outside his office, the reception area was crowded with over fifty girls, all dolled up, giggling and whispering, pretending to be there for a job interview. In truth, they were there for one reason only—to catch a glimpse of him. The elusive CEO. Adrian Luce.
But among the glitter and heels stood one girl—simple dress, dusty shoes, a backpack hanging loosely on her shoulder. Her name was Lyra. And she wasn't like the others.
Lyra came for a job. She wasn't interested in fairy tales. Her eyes were tired but bright, her smile easy, even if life had been anything but.
She adjusted her papers, looking around awkwardly as other girls giggled past her, tossing glances at their reflections in their phone screens. She didn't fit in. But that never stopped her before.
Inside the interview room, Adrian glanced over the files silently, unimpressed. Another girl came in, swaying her hips. He didn't even blink. Another followed. Too loud. Too fake. Another. And another.
And then—
Silence.
Lyra stood at the doorway. Her hand clutched her folder, unsure whether to speak or run. Adrian looked up—and for the first time, paused.
Her clothes were cheap. Her shoes worn. Her presence... real.
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. Not because she was beautiful. Not because she smiled. But because she didn't try. She was simply herself, in a room where everyone else was pretending.
He didn't smile. He didn't speak right away. But he made a decision.
"Leave us," he said calmly.
The other interviewers looked confused but obeyed.
The door closed.
Lyra looked around, nerves jumping. "Uh… did I do something wrong?"
Adrian stood, walked slowly toward her, like a shadow stretching in silence. His eyes didn't leave hers. Cold. Calculating. But not cruel.
"You're not here for me, are you?" he asked softly.
She frowned. "I… I'm here for a job."
His lips twitched. Not quite a smile. Just interest.
"I'm not offering a job," he said. "I'm offering a contract."
Lyra blinked. "A… contract?"
"You'll pretend to be my girlfriend. For six months. That's all."
She took a step back. "What?"
"I'll pay you," he added, as though her reaction didn't matter. "More than you'll ever make in five years."
Her mind spun. It had to be a joke. This had to be a prank. But Adrian Luce wasn't known for jokes.
She stared at him. "Why me?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he turned and sat back at his desk.
"You can leave," he said. "Or stay and listen."
And that… was how it began.
The story of a girl with nothing.
And the boy who had everything—except peace.
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