Falling For My Fake Fiancee

Secrets and whispers

Harper

The morning started like any other, except that in the back of my mind, Vivienne’s eyes lingered like a shadow I couldn’t shake. I tried to focus on work, but every notification ping from my phone made my chest tighten.

Lila had been texting me all morning:

Lila: Okay, tell me she hasn’t done anything stupid yet.

Me: I don’t know if it’s stupid or just… venomous. She smiled at Alexander like she owned him.

Lila: Ugh. Ex alert. You can do this though. You’re Harper Freaking Quinn.

I smiled at her words, feeling a little braver. Still, I knew today would be tricky. Alexander had a board meeting later, and the press would be there. Vivienne would show up eventually—I could feel it.

When I arrived at Alexander’s office, the receptionist gave me a look I hadn’t seen before: a polite but pointed glance that suggested she had heard whispers. Great. Gossip already.

I stepped into the elevator, rehearsing my calm, professional persona. I had learned quickly that confidence was a weapon Vivienne could never anticipate.

Alexander’s assistant, Emily, met me in the lobby. She raised an eyebrow but gave a small smile. “Be ready. She’s here.”

My stomach lurched. “Already?”

Emily shrugged. “She’s persistent. Just… do your thing, Harper. Stay poised.”

I took a deep breath before entering the conference room. And there she was. Vivienne. Sitting in the corner, perfectly composed, fingers tapping lightly on the table, her eyes occasionally flicking to Alexander with a look that made my blood boil.

Alexander didn’t acknowledge her in front of me, which I appreciated, but I could see his jaw tense. I stayed quiet, observing. Vivienne was careful—subtle—but I could feel the tension she radiated, like an invisible pulse designed to unsettle me.

Halfway through the meeting, I noticed the first signs of her game. She asked a question directed at Alexander that seemed innocent but carried a sharp undercurrent:

“Alexander, are you sure your fiancée understands the company’s expectations? Public appearances can be… challenging for someone inexperienced.”

I felt my heart skip a beat. Innocent? Hardly. She was trying to undermine me publicly without actually saying it. I could see Alexander’s eyes flick to me. There was no doubt he had noticed it too.

I forced myself to respond with calm professionalism. “I’ve reviewed all the materials for today’s presentation. I’m prepared to support Alexander and the team however needed.”

Vivienne’s smile didn’t falter. It was that infuriating, self-assured smirk of someone who thinks they’ve already won.

After the meeting, I stepped into the hallway and immediately pulled out my phone. Lila’s texts popped up.

Lila: Spill. Did she try to eat you alive?

Me: Subtle sabotage. Typical manipulative ex. I handled it, but it’s exhausting.

Lila: Good. Keep your cool. She’s loud on the surface but weak under the polish. You’ve got this.

I exhaled, feeling some relief. Lila’s encouragement reminded me that I wasn’t powerless. And I wasn’t about to let Vivienne make me feel like I was.

Then Alexander appeared beside me. “You did well,” he said quietly, only loud enough for me to hear. His hand brushed briefly against my arm, grounding me. “Ignore her. She’s not worth the energy.”

I looked up at him, surprised by the warmth in his gaze. “Thanks,” I whispered. I wanted to say more — wanted to tell him that I trusted him and felt safe with him — but I held back. Not yet.

The rest of the day passed in a haze of small encounters with Vivienne, each one designed to test me, unsettle me, and provoke Alexander’s jealousy. A misplaced comment here, a look there—always subtle, always calculated. I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I leaned on Emily for guidance and Lila’s texts for emotional support, carefully navigating each trap she laid out.

By the evening, I found myself standing on the rooftop terrace of Alexander’s penthouse, staring at the city lights. My phone buzzed with a final text from Lila:

Lila: So… did he notice?

I smiled softly, thinking of Alexander, who had been quietly protective all day without making a scene. I typed back:

Me: He notices everything. That’s… terrifyingly reassuring.

And it was. Terrifying and reassuring.

Alexander stepped up behind me, his presence close but not intrusive. “She’s persistent,” he murmured, his voice low, almost a growl. “But you handled her. I’m proud of you.”

I turned to face him, our proximity electric. I wanted to say more, to tell him that being near him made my heart race in ways I couldn’t control, but the words stayed in my throat. Instead, I simply said, “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without… knowing you had my back.”

His eyes softened, and for a moment, the city below disappeared. It was just us.

“Always,” he whispered.

And in that quiet, charged moment, I realized that the stakes were higher than I had admitted to myself. Vivienne was a threat, yes, but the real danger was how much I wanted Alexander, how much I was willing to risk to be near him — even if the world thought we were just pretending.