“Mr. Ford, is there any truth to the rumors circulating online about you interfering in someone else’s relationship?”
Aaron’s expression remained cool and composed. He glanced at me briefly, his gaze softening for just a moment before he spoke.
“Claire and I got together only after her previous relationship had ended. However-” He paused, then added evenly, “I won’t deny that I admired her long before that. But I can assure you, any pursuit on my part was above board.”
“As for those accusations,” Aaron let out a faint, humorless laugh, though his eyes were icy. “Let’s just say the consequences he’s facing are of his own making.
Unsurprisingly, the press conference sent the trending topics into overdrive once again.
Nicolas‘ burner account posts were dug up and plastered all over the internet by Aaron’s PR team and turned into meme–worthy headlines that mocked him mercilessly. He even earned himself a new nickname: “The Bitter Ex.”
Meanwhile, Aaron’s statements flipped the public narrative entirely, painting him in a favorable light.
But Aaron himself seemed unimpressed.
Sitting at his desk, he scoffed lightly, a trace of irritation on his face.
“The Bitter Ex? What makes him think he’s even qualified to be called an ‘ex‘?”
From my spot on the sofa in the corner of Aaron’s office, I sighed dramatically and tossed my phone aside. My WhatsApp was in shambles, flooded with messages from coworkers demanding to know when I’d started my secret affair with our boss.
As for Nicolas? He had gone completely silent.
Knowing Aaron, there was no chance he’d let Nicolas off the hook. That guy was probably buried under the fallout of Ford Enterprises‘ retaliation by now.
“What are we going to do about this?”
Aaron glanced up from his work, his expression as calm as ever. “What do you mean?”
I froze, realizing I’d spoken out loud. “I mean… now everyone thinks we’re a couple. Won’t it cause an even bigger mess if we suddenly announce a breakup?”
“That’s likely, I’d probably get labeled the heartless jerk who dumped you.”
“What? No!” My mind spun in mild panic.
Was I supposed to keep this up forever?
There was no way I could pretend to be Aaron’s girlfriend indefinitely.
“You know, people like you, the ones from big, powerful families,” I muttered from my spot on the sofa, staring
at the ceiling. “Isn’t it standard practice for your family to have an arranged match lined up for you? Are you really okay pretending to have a fake girlfriend for this long?”
“Yes, you reminded me.”
I shot up straight, suddenly hopeful. “I’m totally right, aren’t I?”
