Fake Dating The Billionaire Boss

Chapter 3 — The Offer

Sadie’s POV

The elevator ride up to Liam’s office felt longer than usual. My heart beat unevenly, a mixture of nerves, exhaustion, and… something I couldn’t name. I clutched my bag a little tighter, smoothing my skirt as if that alone could make me seem more competent, more composed.

The hospital visit earlier in the day replayed in my mind. Maya’s small hand squeezing mine, her tired smile, her whispered, “I know you’ll be back.” How could I leave her? How could I risk losing access to the treatments she depended on?

I stepped out of the elevator, and the hallway stretched ahead like a tunnel of glass and steel. Every footstep echoed, marking the slow march toward the unknown.

When I reached Liam’s office, the door was slightly ajar. I knocked lightly.

“Come in,” his voice called, low and controlled, as always.

I entered and paused, taking in the room — the city sprawling below, the polished furniture, the subtle scent of expensive cologne and leather. And him, standing by the window, hands clasped behind his back, that impossible composure I still couldn’t reconcile with the magnetic pull he had over me.

“Sit,” he said, not turning.

I did, perching on the edge of the chair, alert and cautious.

“I’ll be brief,” he said, finally swiveling to face me. His dark eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten. “There’s a situation.”

I nodded slowly. “I’m listening.”

He stepped closer, the sunlight from the skyline catching the edges of his tailored suit. “The press is spinning a story about me — about my character, or lack thereof. Investors are uneasy. Whitestone is reconsidering the merger. My reputation is on the line.”

I swallowed. “And… you want me to—?”

“Exactly,” he said, cutting me off. “I need someone to… accompany me publicly. To show I’m capable of connection, of warmth. Someone discreet. Professional. Trustworthy. And you, Sadie, are perfect for the role.”

I blinked, trying to process. “Me?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “You’re competent, reliable, discreet. And you already exist in my orbit. You know the schedule, you know the expectations, and you understand the stakes. This… arrangement is temporary. Strategic. Professional. Purely for appearances.”

I shook my head, incredulous. “You want me to pretend to be… what? Your girlfriend?”

“Precisely.” His tone was calm, almost clinical. “It’s a partnership. You help me protect the merger and the company’s image. In return, you gain something that you need — stability, security, resources for your sister’s care. It’s mutually beneficial.”

I felt my stomach twist. “You want me to lie… to the world… to protect your reputation?”

“Yes,” he said. “And I want you to be aware: boundaries are strict. Professionalism above all. No emotional entanglement. Any deviation ends the arrangement immediately.”

I chewed on my lip, my mind racing. Pride warred with necessity. I was fiercely independent, determined to handle everything on my own. But the truth was stark and unavoidable: Maya needed help I couldn’t provide on my own. The bills were stacking, the treatments were expensive, and my salary barely stretched far enough.

I looked at him — at the controlled, impossible man who somehow demanded obedience yet stirred something inside me I couldn’t explain.

“Why me?” I asked finally, my voice quieter than I intended.

“Because you’re capable. You’re intelligent. You care about something beyond yourself. You have integrity, and you can handle yourself under pressure. That’s exactly what I need right now,” he said. His eyes held mine longer than they should, and for a moment, I felt exposed — not by him, but by the realization that he saw more than I intended to reveal.

I took a deep breath. “And if I say no?”

He shrugged slightly, almost casual, though his gaze didn’t waver. “Then the arrangement doesn’t happen. But the risks to the merger remain, and your sister’s treatment… well, that’s your decision.”

The weight of it hit me like a physical blow. Every ethical line I had ever drawn blurred in the face of necessity. Pride, independence, honesty — all of it clashed with the single undeniable truth: I needed this. My sister needed this.

I closed my eyes for a moment, imagining Maya’s face, the hospital room, her fragile smile. Then back to Liam.

“Fine,” I said, my voice firmer now. “I’ll do it.”

He nodded once, sharply, like a king sealing a decree. “Good. We’ll begin immediately. Public appearances, strategic events, controlled interactions. I expect compliance, competence… and discretion.”

I swallowed hard, heart hammering, aware of the electric tension in the room. Something in the way he looked at me, the subtle tilt of his head, the near-imperceptible lift of a brow, hinted that this arrangement would test more than just my professionalism.

“Of course,” I said. “I understand the rules.”

“See that you do,” he replied, stepping closer. The space between us was charged, a magnetic pull neither of us could deny. “And Sadie… one more thing. You must understand this is purely business. Anything else… is off-limits.”

I nodded, trying to focus, even as the pull in my chest grew harder to ignore.

We spent the next hour reviewing schedules, press strategies, and upcoming events. Every interaction, every glance, every note passed between us was laced with an unspoken tension I could not name — or perhaps I refused to name. I noticed the way he assessed me, measured me, and… maybe evaluated my reactions.

By the time I left the office, the sun had dipped below the skyline, casting the city in a molten glow. My heels clicked against the marble as I walked, my mind spinning. Pride wrestled with necessity, desire clashed with professionalism, and fear battled with the spark of curiosity that Liam Blackwell ignited in me.

When I reached the street, I paused and inhaled deeply. The crisp evening air did little to calm the storm inside. I thought of Maya, alone in her hospital bed. I thought of the weeks of careful budgeting, the mounting bills, the exhaustion that never seemed to end.

And I thought of Liam Blackwell.

I had agreed. I was his partner in this elaborate charade, a pawn in his plan, and yet… I felt the tiniest thrill at the thought of being near him, at the careful dance of proximity, of rules and restraint.

Because something told me — something dangerous, thrilling, and inevitable — that this arrangement would test every boundary I had ever set, and every line he had ever drawn.

And the sparks between us? They were already beginning to ignite.