Owen P.O.V "OWEN BROWN, YOU BETTER HAVE SOME EXPLANATION FOR THIS ARTICLE! WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT? YOU SAID YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, THEN WHO ARE THESE WOMEN YOU’RE FOOLING AROUND WITH?!” I winced at the sound of my mother’s voice blasting through the speaker of my phone. She always had a way of making everything feel like the end of the world, especially when it came to the mess that was my love life—or lack thereof. “DID I RAISE YOU TO BREAK WOMAN’S HEART AND WHAT DO YOUR GIRLFRIEND SAY ABOUT THIS?” her voice was getting louder and louder with each second. Damn it, why did she have to bring up my imaginary girlfriend now of all times? "Mother,my girlfriend knows nothing in that article is true, I—" I tried to explain, but she was not having any of it. Her high-pitched, exasperated tone cut me off before I could finish my sentence. "Then why is this news circulating? Do you know how embarrassing this is? I found out about my son’s wild... behaviour from my daughter's
Casey P.O.VInside, the ballroom was dazzling. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the elegantly dressed crowd. Waiters moved through the sea of people, offering champagne and hors d'oeuvres, while soft classical music played in the background. The atmosphere was sophisticated yet lively.Zazu and I navigated our way through the crowd, exchanging polite smiles and nods as we went. Till now everything is going well but I am still waiting for the other shoe to drop. We went out through the pilot door, to the back swimming pool where others were.After a few minutes, we found a small table near the edge of the swimming pool. Zazu sank into the chair with a sigh, and I followed suit, grateful for the break from standing.“I think I need a drink before the night really gets started,” Zazu said, scanning the area for a waiter. “What about you?”I nodded. “Definitely.”As if on cue, a waiter appeared with a tray of champagne flutes. Zazu grabbed two, h
Casey P.O.VI could hardly believe what I was seeing.I had just picked up two drinks from the bartender when I heard a commotion by the pool area.“YOU PATHETIC CUM SUCKING WHORE!” A woman screamed.What the fridging frutz . The people started gathering near the pool.Instinctively, I moved through the crowd, trying to see what the fuss was about.“Sorry” I pushed people out of the way while balancing the two drinks “Excuse me” I was apologising left and right as I struggled to keep the drinks balanced in my hands. “Sorry” “Excuse me” “Sorry” “Get your big butts out of the way man.” People were craning their necks, gasping, and laughing, making it harder for me to get through.When I finally broke through the crowd and reached the front, my jaw nearly hit the floor.OH . MY . GODDESS Standing at the edge of the pool, Zazu and Brooks’ date were locked in what could only be described as the world’s most chaotic catfight. They were tugging each other’s hair like wild animals, screaming
Casey P.O.VThe chaos around the pool finally started to die down, though cameras were still flashing, and people were whispering like they had just witnessed the scandal of the century. I stood there, still holding both drinks, frozen for a second longer than necessary as I watched Zazu resurface from the water. She looked like a drenched cat, mascara streaking down her cheeks, hair clinging to her face like vines. Her opponent, Brooks’ date, was not faring much better, splashing around beside her with an equally ruined look.I pushed through the remaining crowd, setting the drinks down on the nearest table, and rushed over to help. By the time I got close, Zazu was already pulling herself out of the pool, teeth gritted, breathing heavily. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, and I could see the anger radiating off her like heat waves.“Zazu, let’s get out of here,” I said, grabbing her arm gently but firmly. She was staring daggers at Brooks, who was trying to help his date up
Casey P.O.V.The sunlight streamed through the curtains, too bright for the pounding headache I was nursing. I groaned, rolling over in bed, half-hoping that the events of last night had been some bizarre dream. But the ache in my feet from those killer heels and the faint smell of chlorine on my dress from getting too close to the pool told me otherwise.Zazu had already left the room, and I could hear the faint clinking of dishes from the kitchen. I dragged myself out of bed and made my way to the kitchen, hoping coffee would make me feel human again. As I shuffled in, Zazu was sitting at the table, phone in hand, scrolling furiously.“Morning,” I muttered, heading straight for the coffee machine.“Morning? Try chaos,” she said, not looking up from her phone. “We have got a problem.”I blinked, still bleary-eyed. “What do you mean?”She shoved her phone across the table toward me, her expression somewhere between mortified and furious. I glanced down at the screen and froze. There,
Casey P.O.VThe clock had barely ticked past noon when Zazu finally walked through the front door, and I could tell immediately something was off. Her usually lively eyes were dull, her face pale, and she clutched her purse tightly against her side like it was the only thing holding her together. I had been waiting for her, anxious about what the HR meeting might have been about, especially after the fiasco at the charity ball.I sat up from the couch where I had been lazily scrolling through my phone. "Zazu?" I called out softly, noticing the way she stiffened at the sound of my voice. "What happened? How did it go?"She did not answer right away. Instead, she took slow, deliberate steps toward the kitchen counter and set her purse down before leaning against the counter for support. Her hands were shaking, and she seemed to be struggling with her words, like she wasn’t sure how to start.I stood up and approached her cautiously. "Zazu, you are scaring me. What happened in the meetin
Owen P.O.V.The room was packed with family, business associates, and media. Every detail had been meticulously planned, from the champagne fountains to the sparkling chandeliers hanging overhead. It was the kind of glamorous event that only the Brown family could pull off—everything shining, everything perfect. Except for the fact that this wasn’t just a party. It was my last stand.If I did not pull off this fake engagement tonight, Daniel would have everything he ever wanted: my company, my legacy. The board of directors had been leaning toward ousting me, spurred on by rumours of my bachelor lifestyle and Daniel’s relentless whispers in their ears. The fact that he was my cousin only made it worse. Growing up, my mother took him in after his mother died and his father walked out. She raised him like he was her own, and yet, Daniel always viewed me as competition.I could not let him take everything from me. Not after how hard I had worked to build the Brown Group. This engagement
Casey’s P.O.V.As Owen stood on the stage, the lights gleaming off his perfectly tailored suit, I could feel the weight of every single eye in the room. The pressure of the moment, the grandeur of it all, almost made me forget why we were here. Yet, as he turned to me, his gaze softened in a way that made the act feel all too real."Casey Maxwell," saying he kneeled down before me, his voice low but clear. He pulled out a small black box out of his pocket and opened it. I covered my mouth with my hand when I saw the most beautiful ring inside . "You came into my life when I least expected it, and yet, here I am, completely and utterly captivated by you. I can not imagine facing another day without you, without your smile, without the way you challenge me, push me to be better. So, tonight, in front of everyone I care about, I want to ask you… will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?"The crowd let out a collective gasp, and the cameras clicked furiously. It was hard to re
Casey’s P.O.V The buzz of the gala preparations was a strange mix of chaos and excitement. The event was just a day away, and while the fallout from Rachel’s actions had initially shaken me, it had also ignited a determination in me that I hadn’t felt before. This was my chance to prove myself, to show Mr. Davenport and the supervisors that I could excel even under pressure. After the meeting yesterday, Rachel had stormed out of the office, leaving behind a trail of venomous glares and whispered threats. While her behavior had been exposed to some extent, I could not shake the feeling that she was not done with me. But I did not have the time or the energy to dwell on that. I had a gala to prepare. The morning was a flurry of last minute vendor calls and double-checking every detail. The floral arrangements, the seating chart, the lighting , everything has to fit perfectly in these puzzle. I had Karen helping me coordinate with the caterers, and even some of the supervisors had
Casey P.O.V The moment Rachel handed me that ridiculous list of tasks, I knew she was setting me up to fail. The smirk on her face as she walked away had been a silent declaration of war, and for the first time since joining the company, I was not willing to roll over and take it. Because of the disaster with the decoration Mr.Davenport had to shift his charity gala to the weekend. That was extremely embarrassing . I had spent the day scrambling to contact vendors and make last minute arrangements, but the absurdity of the tasks and Rachel’s obvious attempts to sabotage me became clearer with every failed call. But I still went with the lists and completed my task only to get burnt in the end because apparently the client never asked for those things. As the work day came to a close, I sat at my desk, staring at the crumpled list she’d given me. My colleagues whispered as they passed, their pitying glances making my skin prickle. They knew what Rachel was doing, but no one dared t
Casey’s P.O.V. The conference room was already filled when I walked in, my notebook clutched tightly in my hand. I glanced around, spotting Rachel at the head of the table. Her perfectly styled blonde hair catching the morning sunlight streaming through the windows and a confident serious look on her face gave her an air of authority that was hard to ignore. She had been a thorn in my side since the day I joined the company two days ago. Her ability to undermine me at every turn was nothing short of impressive, and I braced myself for whatever she had planned today. The other team members greeted me with polite nods, but Rachel barely acknowledged my presence, her attention focused on the papers spread out in front of her. She always had an air of control, as if every detail, every moment, revolved around her. “Morning, everyone,” Rachel began, her voice sharp and commanding. “Let’s get started. As you all know, we have been entrusted with organizing a charity gala for our clien
Casey P.O.V The plate of food was already half-empty when I returned to the living room. I had offered him to eat because it was already late.Owen was lounging on my couch, his long legs stretched out, his tie loosened just enough to make him look less put together but somehow even more attractive. He glanced up at me with a faint smile, but I could still see the tension in his shoulders still there, the storm brewing behind his eyes. Owen might have let Daniel get into his head than he let on. I hesitated in the doorway for a moment, biting my lip. He had just dropped a confession on me, a raw, unfiltered truth about how he feels about me. First I was happy that he felt something like I do for him but then confusion and fear because I knew how Owen was . I have enough experience of life time how cheating bastards are. I do not need anymore experience. It was fine until I knew what he felt because I thought it was a one -sided crush. I will soon get over it but now, I do not know ho
Owen P.O.V The office was eerily quiet as the hours dragged on. Most of the staff had gone home, leaving only the hum of the air conditioning and the faint tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, Daniel’s words echoed in my head. The bastard has successfully gotten into my head. Damn it. He had said Casey’s name like a taunt, he knew it would get a raise out of me. And like an idiot for a moment, I gave him what he wanted. The thought of him so much as speaking to her let alone trying to involve her in his games made my blood boil. Daniel is nothing but trouble. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples and sighed. The work in front of me felt like a burden now, a flimsy attempt to push away thoughts of Casey. Since Daniel left I was not able to concentrate. Casey had sent me a message earlier, saying her work was done for the day, but I had not had the chance to call her back yet. Grabbing my phone, I hesitated. She had said she was lea
Owen P.O.V I sat at my desk, my hand hovering over the keyboard, immersed in the details of a newly finalized contract. The past two days had been chaotic, and the remnants of it still simmered under my calm exterior. My name and reputation had been dragged through the mud, my investors rattled, my suppliers shaken. And all of it traced back to one man, Daniel Black.It had taken every ounce of strategy and persistence to stabilize what Daniel Black had tried to destroy. He hoped to see me fall but I stood on my ground, exposing his schemes in the media, ensuring everyone knew just how far he had gone. The fallout had been brutal for him. Just as I finished scanning a clause in the document, the sound of the door opening pulled my attention away from my computer. I thought it was one of the guys from the accounting section with the finance report. God I was so wrong. I wish I had not looked up.Standing before me was Daniel , he entered the office, unannounced, like he owns this place
Casey P.O.V The first day at Brown Group was nothing like I had expected. I had walked in with my head held high, eager to prove myself, but it did not take long for reality to hit. The office was sleek and modern, with glass walls, polished floors, and an air of efficiency. I was assigned a desk in the operations department, a space filled with a group of women who eyed me as if I did not belong. I could feel their stares from the moment I walked in, but I brushed it off. “Good morning,” I greeted with a polite smile, setting my bag down and adjusting the blazer I had chosen this morning. The women exchanged glances, whispering among themselves, their eyes flicking from my clothes to my face with a look I recognized all too well. Judgmental bitches get over yourself. This is an office not a New York fashion week ramp. “Morning,” one of them finally responded, her tone cold and clipped. She was tall, with sharp features and an even sharper attitude. Her name tag read Rachel Thom
Casey P.O.V The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and I stepped into the quiet hallway leading to my apartment. My heels clicked softly against the polished floors, each step a reminder of the long day that had finally come to an end. The interview at Brown Group had drained me, both mentally and emotionally. All I wanted now was to collapse on my couch and let the weight of the day fade away. Owen was out for a business meeting so I would not be thanking him for what he did any time soon. I unlocked the door and pushed it open gently, careful not to make too much noise. The living room was dark except for the faint glow of the TV, which flickered softly across the walls. I had not expected anyone to be awake, but as I closed the door behind me, I heard movement from the couch. “Casey?” a familiar voice called out groggily. I glanced over and saw Zazu sitting up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked cozy, wrapped in a thick blanket, her dark hair slightly tous
Casey P.O.V The morning air was crisp as I stood in front of the towering glass building that was Brown Group’s headquarters. The corporate giant I had heard so much about, the one that Owen had worked so hard to build, and now, for reasons I could not quite explain, I was about to step into it. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. You can do this Casey. Show them what you have got. I had spent two days planning what I was going to do. After giving ten interviews and being rejected by eight I think I have acquired enough interview experience after not giving for five years.I was trying to figure out the best way to keep my identity hidden. I did not want any special treatment or the perception that I was here because I was his pretend fiance and now real wife which no one knows yet because we are crazy enough to get drunk and get married. But that was not the reason . I just do not want anyone to say I got this because I am his fiancée, so, I disguised myself