Chapter 3 My Fake Fiancé for a Month
1106 Words
The man's low, rich voice echoed in her ears like a devil's whisper.
Mia turned to look at him. His young face was open and calm, and that uncomfortable feeling she had before vanished.
She raised a brow in surprise. "Sounds like you're pretty expensive, Oliver."
"Not at all. Actually, I'm broke. Which is why, for this month, I was hoping I could live with you. You know, to cover my room and board."
That was easy enough. After all, they were pretending to be engaged. Living together just made sense. Mia nodded. "Deal."
"Thanks." Oliver stepped out of the car like he'd just scored a major win.
Mia took a breath and mentally sorted out her priorities.
The most urgent thing now was saving Adam Labs. She pulled out her phone and made a call.
"Hello!" came an angry voice through the phone. Her best friend and business partner didn't even try to hide her frustration.
Mia couldn't help smiling. For the first time, a softness appeared on her face. "Lucy, sweetie, it's me."
"I know it's you! Coward! Traitor! Head-over-heels i***t! Go have fun with your precious Lucas. I don't want to hear another word from you!"
Fierce—but Mia kind of loved that about her.
"You're right, Lucy. I totally deserve that. But listen to me—"
"No need! I'm not going to your engagement party!"
"I'm not calling about that. I wanted to tell you… Adam Labs isn't for sale."
"I don't want to hear—wait, what?"
If Lucy Hale had been standing in front of her, Mia swore she could've fit an entire egg in her mouth from the shock. Just yesterday, Mia had insisted on selling the lab to a competitor. They'd even declared their friendship over because of it.
"I said, Adam Labs is staying as it is." Mia sighed softly. She didn't want to revisit the pain of selling it in her past life.
It had been her dream, her heart and soul. For six years, she and her team had worked to develop a groundbreaking cancer treatment. And then, just to help Lucas with his financial troubles, she sold it for one billion dollars to a pharmaceutical company.
Six months later, the treatment succeeded. But it had nothing to do with her anymore.
Her name—once the lead researcher—was locked away in a classified file.
But not this time. Not in this life.
Lucy was beyond thrilled. She forgot all about their so-called falling out and flooded Mia with a string of "sweetie pie, honey baby" nicknames.
After ending the call, Mia grabbed a contract and ripped it in half without hesitation.
At the top of the document were the bold words: Adam Labs Transfer Agreement.
Never again. She wasn't making that mistake twice.
In the time it took to sort that out, Oliver came back, now wearing a brand-new watch.
"One million dollars. Latest model," he said casually.
"As long as you're happy." Mia didn't mind. Any service that could be bought with money was the easiest kind to deal with. Plus, keeping her distance from Lucas was worth every penny.
"Where to next, Mia?"
"Oliver, remember your role. Employees don't usually question their boss's plans."
"Oh. Right."
"Can you drive?"
"Sorry, not yet."
"Wow. You really are broke."
"Yes, Mia. I meant every word."
Mia shrugged and started the engine. The car sped off. They grabbed dinner first, then headed to her home in the city.
After cutting ties with her father, she had bought a house near Manesdin Pharmaceutical. It was about 5,400 square feet—perfect for a small family.
She had even given Lucas a set of keys. He'd only visited once and clearly had no interest in building a life with her.
Which was fine. All she had to do now was change the locks and erase every trace of him from the place.
She was thinking about that as she opened the front door.
To her surprise, Ava was sitting on the living room couch, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. She didn't look the least bit surprised to see Mia walk in, though she feigned it anyway.
"Oh wow, Mia. You're back already?"
Seriously? That's the line she was supposed to say!
Mia kicked off her heels, poured herself a glass of water, and gestured for Oliver to make himself comfortable. Then she smiled faintly. "This is my home. Why wouldn't I be here?"
A flicker of disdain passed through Ava's eyes. This infuriating woman—no money, no looks—had somehow turned Lucas's head, making her own appeal seem to vanish.
She dropped the act entirely. Her softness turned sharp.
"I knew it. You can't stay away from Lucas! So much for 'we're strangers now.' Barely a few hours, and you're already crawling back to him."
Now that was the real Ava. No matter how poised she appeared to others, to Mia she was just a petty, sharp-tongued girl.
All three of them had gone to Harrison University—Mia in pharmaceuticals, Lucas in finance, and Ava in music.
Mia hadn't even met Lucas until her final year, when she was finishing her PhD. Ava had gone overseas for her master's in music, rejected Lucas's plea to stay, and warned Mia not to get close to him.
"Please. I can have any man I want. You think I'd go begging Lucas?" Mia waved Oliver over. "Oliver."
"At your service, my queen," Oliver said obediently as he walked over and bent slightly toward her.
Mia didn't say a word. She simply lifted his hand and kissed the back of it like she was bestowing a divine gift.
Oliver stiffened. His head snapped up, eyes deep and starry, filled with emotions he couldn't even name.
"Mia Brown…" he whispered.
His acting was impressive. Totally worth the million bucks.
Satisfied, Mia let go of his hand and turned to Ava with a smile. "That's more my type these days. Honestly, Lucas is looking a little... meh in comparison."
Ava glanced over at Oliver. The young man had a faint blush on his cheeks that only made his already angelic features more alluring. Even in a plain white T-shirt, his muscular frame radiated power and grace.
Lucas might've been handsome and a top candidate to inherit Manesdin Group, but in the face of this raw, high-tier attractiveness, he suddenly didn't seem that special.
Just as Ava couldn't stop staring, Oliver cut in at the perfect moment.
"Ava, maybe ease up on the look. I'm Mia's fiancé, not some guy you picked up at a bar."
- Writer
