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 POVThe applause from the crowd swirled around us, growing louder as Owen slid the ring onto my finger, the cool metal sending a shock through my entire body. The moment felt surreal, like I was standing outside myself, watching from the sidelines as Owen and I kissed in front of the cameras and the flashing lights. The media frenzy was in full swing, and I was trapped in the middle of it all, wearing a ring that was not mine, playing the part of a woman I was not sure I could be.As soon as our lips parted, Owen whispered into my ear, “Smile, the cameras are still on us.”I plastered on the most convincing smile I could muster, my cheeks aching from the effort. My heart raced as I stole a glance at the audience—journalists, board members, family, all of them watching us with eager eyes. We stepped off the stage, and immediately, Owen was pulled into conversations with members of the press and upper management. I stood beside him, nodding and smiling, trying to blend into the
Daniel P.O.VFrom the corner of the room, I crossed my arms, pretending to look amused by the spectacle. I had been waiting for this day, not because I wanted to celebrate his engagement, but because I knew that my time was coming. Owen had always been the golden boy, the one everyone expected to lead Brown Group into a new era. But if I could expose him, if I could prove this was nothing more than a façade, then I would be the one standing in his place.The board had already been whispering I just needed to stir the pot.I waited until the ceremony was over, and the guests began mingling again. The media was all over Owen and Casey, asking them questions, taking photos. The more public they made this relationship, the harder it would be for him to wiggle out of it when the truth came out.I approached a couple of the board members, keeping my tone light and conversational. “Well, that was quite the surprise, wasn’t it?” I said with a chuckle.One of them, Mr. Allen, turned to me with
Casey’s P.O.V.The car ride home felt charged with an unspoken tension. Owen sat rigidly in the driver’s seat, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, as if the weight of the night pressed down on both our shoulders. I wanted to break it, to ease whatever was bothering him, but the words wouldn’t come.I glanced at him, catching the flicker of his jaw clenching, and I instinctively placed my hand on his thigh. His gaze dropped to my hand. I quickly removed it. But he then caught my hand and placed it back on his thigh.“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light. “You have been quiet since you came back from the terrace.”“It is nothing,” he said, but the way he spoke felt anything but dismissive. “Just Daniel doing what he is best at. He is causing problems again.” I nodded, not wanting to press him further, though I felt he was holding something back.We arrived at our apartment complex, and Owen parked outside. He
Casey P.O.V“I..can.not..breath..ah” I think my dress is trying to take out every freaking living daylight out of me.“Oh don't be so dramatic.I know you will just be fine.” That dumbass screamed from the other side. I should have made him wear this then would have understood what meant by choking by your dress.Adjusting the tight red dress Owen had forced me to try on and when I put on the ridiculous high heels I discovered I could not even bend to buckle up the heels otherwise this fucking thousand dollars dress will rip off .Stupid fucking dress. I choose not to wear heels. No need for another trip to the hospital. This was not me at all. It seems like it had a vendetta against my personal space. I could barely breathe, but here I was, doing a full runway turn in front of the mirror."Owen, this is absurd," I called out from inside the dressing room, tugging at the hem of the dress that refused to go lower than mid-thigh. "I look like a naughty librarian who was asking to be ben
Casey’s POVOwen placed a pile of clothes he had picked out on the counter, setting aside the ridiculous options we had previously rejected. All I could think about was how much this was going to hurt my wallet. He reached into his wallet, pulling out a sleek black credit card, ready to hand it over to the cashier, who had started scanning the items.“Wait, what are you doing?” I asked, placing a hand on his arm. “These are my clothes. I will pay for them.”Before Owen could answer, the cashier announced the total. “Twenty thousand dollars.”My head snapped toward the cashier so fast I might have pulled something. My eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?”I knew designer clothes were expensive, but twenty thousand? I had not anticipated anything close to that. My stomach dropped. It was more than I could afford right now, and I felt the burn of embarrassment creeping up my neck.I glanced back at Owen, who gave me a tight-lipped smile and passed the card to the cashier, ignoring my prote
Owen P.O.VThe kitchen had always been my sanctuary, a place where chaos transformed into order, where raw ingredients became something greater. Tonight, I hoped it could also be a bridge, a way to reach Casey. She had seen Eva’s public apology, and while it had cleared my name, it had not been enough to erase the hurt I had caused. I wanted to prove to her that my words were not hollow promises, that I truly meant every syllable when I said I’d do whatever it took to earn back her trust.I rolled up my sleeves and surveyed the ingredients laid out on the counter. Casey loved Italian food, especially a good homemade ravioli. I remembered her mentioning it once during one of our passing times. It had been a casual comment, something about how her grandmother, her mother's mother used to make it for special occasions. Back then, I had tucked the information away, never knowing I would use that gun for my benefit ever . But now, it felt like the perfect way to show her I was paying atten
Owen P.O.VShe did not say anything at first, her hand still absently scratching behind Google’s ears. The silence stretched between us, and I felt the weight of her guarded stare. It was as though she was trying to decide whether I was worth her time or effort but I could not let her go on thinking the worst of me without knowing the truth. She deserved an explanation. No more assumptions, no more misunderstandings. It was now or never.“Casey,” I said softly, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Please. Just give me a chance to explain what really happened that night. I know what you saw, and I know it hurt you. But it was not what you think.”Her hand froze mid-motion on Google’s head, and she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowed. “What’s left to explain, Owen? I saw her in your apartment. I saw her kiss you.”I exhaled, my shoulders sagging under the weight of everything unsaid. “You saw part of it, but not all of it. I never kissed her.”She crossed her arms, leani
Owen P.O.VThe silence in my apartment was deafening. Google lay at my feet, his tail wagging occasionally as if he sensed my distress. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. Casey would not answer my calls, and her door had been firmly slammed shut by Zazu. I had no one to blame but myself.How could I have been so blind to let Eva in? I should have sent her packing the moment I saw her at the door. Instead, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Now, Casey thought I had betrayed her.The thought of Casey’s hurt expression the way she sat with her face in her hands made my chest ache. I could not let this stand. She deserved an explanation, but I knew words alone would not fix this. Actions had to speak louder.I needed to fix this.Google barked softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. I scratched his head absently, an idea forming in my mind. “Alright, buddy. Let’s start with Eva,” I muttered.Next Day…..The next morning, I stood outside Eva’s office. It took a few calls and some ch
Owen POV I pulled on a navy sweater, smoothing the fabric as I glanced at myself in the mirror. It was casual, warm, but still decent enough to make an impression. Casey would appreciate it or so I hoped. She had a way of throwing me off balance with her sassy words and even sassy looks, but tonight, I wanted her to see a different side of me. It was not often I put thought into things like this. Dates used to be effortless,another night, another woman, no strings attached. But this was Casey I am doing all these for. And somehow, with her, everything felt different. The sound of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts. My chest tightened, and a grin spread across my face. She was here. Right on time. I headed for the door, my steps quick, excitement bubbling in my chest. When I opened it, my smile froze in place before vanishing completely. It was not Casey who stood outside. Eva was. My jaw tightened as I took in the sight of the woman standing on my doorstep, perfectly polished
Casey P.O.VGetting ready for a date with Owen felt like being stuck in a mystery novel where you already knew the twist would irritate you. The man refused to give me any clue about where we were going, just a vague instruction to “dress casually” and “wear warm clothes.” Honestly, what did that even mean?“I hate surprises,” I grumbled, glaring at the sweater I had thrown onto the bed.Zazu, sitting cross-legged on the floor, let out a dramatic sigh. “You’ve said that about a hundred times now, Casey. Relax, it’s a date, not a covert mission.”I shot her a look. “If I wanted a surprise, I’d order a mystery box online. Dates are supposed to have details, Zazu—details! So I can plan my outfit and prepare mentally.”“Mentally? You’re going on a date, not to war.” She chuckled, standing to inspect the sweater. “And for the record, this is perfect. Warm, casual, and adorable. Plus, he probably wants to see you comfortable, not freezing to death in a cocktail dress.”I groaned. “Fine, but
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