Chapter 3 – A Public Affair

The press conference was set for that afternoon.

Ava barely slept the night before, the tension in her chest keeping her awake as she lay staring at the ceiling of her apartment. The weight of the contract Adrian had given her still felt heavy in her hands, and the words "We're not pretending. This is happening." rang in her ears like a constant hum.

She dressed in a dark blazer and skirt—her usual uniform for work, but today, it felt like a costume. Today, she wasn't just Ava Sinclair, operations expert; she was his fiancée.

The media would be watching.

She wasn't prepared for this.

Arriving at the press conference room, Ava barely had a moment to gather herself before Adrian stepped into view. His dark, tailored suit made him look every bit the ruthless CEO—perfectly composed, perfectly in control, and completely unfazed by the situation they were about to step into.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice so calm it made her skin prickle with irritation.

"Ready?" Ava echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You're asking if I'm ready for a public humiliation?"

Adrian's eyes flicked over her, his lips twitching ever so slightly as if her anger amused him. Humiliation? We're making history, Ava. This is a power move. The world will watch and envy us.

Her chest tightened, and she glared at him, trying to ignore the inexplicable pull she felt toward him. He was unbearable arrogant, infuriating but still, there was something about him that unsettled her, something too dangerous to ignore.

They walked into the room, where reporters, cameras, and flashing lights greeted them. The buzz of whispers filled the air, and every eye seemed to focus on the two of them—the supposed couple that would dominate the headlines for weeks to come.

Ava stood beside Adrian, trying to look confident, though she couldn't stop the slight tremor in her hands. The PR team had briefed them extensively, but the reality of it all hit her like a tidal wave.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Adrian began, his voice smooth and commanding, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "We are here to confirm the news that Ava Sinclair and I are engaged."

Ava's heart stopped.

Engaged. The word felt like a slap in the face. They hadn't even had a proper conversation about it since that moment in his office.

He turned to her, his gaze locking onto hers with a silent challenge in his eyes.

"Ms. Sinclair has been a key part of Blackwood Enterprises for years, and it's only fitting that we build a future together professionally and personally." Adrian's voice was ice-cold, but there was an undeniable authority in every syllable. He didn't even glance at her as he spoke, like this was just business.

She barely managed to hold it together. "And I couldn't be more thrilled," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm that only those closest to her would catch.

The reporters didn't miss the tension between them. One reporter, emboldened by the silence, called out, Mr. Blackwood, what's the reason behind such a sudden engagement? Was it business, or personal?

Adrian turned his piercing gaze toward the reporter, the silence thickening in the air.

"It's both," he said. And you'll see that soon enough.

Ava could feel the weight of his words. The room seemed to hold its breath, but then the questions came flooding in. What was their love story? How long had they been secretly dating?

She clenched her jaw. Secretly dating? There was nothing secret about it she hadn't even agreed to this!

The questions were getting under her skin, the barrage of speculation and media frenzy suffocating her.

Ava turned her gaze toward Adrian, whose jaw was set in that familiar, tight line. She could see the faintest trace of irritation flickering in his dark eyes as the questions grew more invasive. He stepped closer to her, leaning in slightly so only she could hear.

Smile, Ava, he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. Make them believe we're a couple.

Ava's breath caught in her throat. She pulled away, staring at him with fury. "You're unbelievable."

He met her glare, his expression unfazed. This is for your career, too. Don't make it more difficult than it has to be.

The press conference ended quickly, and Ava was more than ready to escape the suffocating attention of the cameras. She didn't trust herself to be alone with Adrian for much longer—not when every second felt like an emotional tug-of-war.

As she made her way back to her office, her phone buzzed in her bag. A message from Emily:

Are you okay? I saw the footage... you looked miserable.

Ava typed back quickly, but her fingers were shaking. I'm fine. Just need to get through this.

She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until the elevator doors closed behind her.

The silence was a relief, but it didn't last long. The door to her office opened, and standing there, leaning casually against the frame, was Adrian Blackwood.

His sharp eyes traced her face, searching for a hint of weakness. I hope you're not going to pout all afternoon, Ava.

Her heart hammered in her chest, but she couldn't let him see it. She stood tall, forcing the mask of professionalism back on.

"I'm not pouting." Her tone was colder than she intended. But if you think I'm going to go along with this charade for long, you're wrong.

Adrian smirked, crossing his arms, We'll see about that.