Rejected by my ex, Claimed by the CEO

Chapter eight

As the meeting dragged on, I found myself zoning out, lost in thought. What was Gino really looking for in this fake marriage? Was it just a business arrangement, or was there something more?

I glanced over at Gino, trying to catch his eye, but he was too engrossed in the meeting to notice. His eyes were fixed intently on the papers in front of him, his brow furrowed in concentration.

The meeting finally came to a close, and we left the conference room together. Gino turned to me with a smile. "Well, that's done," he said. "The merger is set to close next week."

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. It was over, and now we could move on to the next step.

But as we walked back to the office, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Gino seemed distant, preoccupied. And I couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those piercing blue eyes.

We spent the rest of the day going over the details of our fake marriage, discussing everything from our cover story to our public appearances.

As the sun began to set, Gino called for a break and suggested we take a walk. I agreed, feeling a sense of unease building inside me.

As we strolled through the city streets, I couldn't help but notice the way people looked at us. They gazed at us with envy and admiration, whispering to each other about the happy couple.

Gino seemed to enjoy it, smiling and waving at passersby. But I couldn't help but feel like I was living in a dream world.

As we walked, Gino's hand brushed against mine, sending a shiver down my spine. I felt a flutter in my chest as he turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

I shrugged, feeling like I was trapped in some kind of strange game. "Just wondering what this is all about," I said honestly.

Gino's smile faltered for a moment before he replied, "It's just business, Harriet. Nothing more."

But as we continued walking, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on beneath the surface.

As we reached our destination - a small Italian restaurant Gino had chosen for dinner - I felt like I was walking into a trap.

The restaurant was cozy and intimate, with soft music playing in the background. Gino took my hand and led me to our table, his eyes never leaving mine.

As we sat down and began to order our food, I couldn't help but feel like I was trapped in some kind of strange web.

And as we waited for our food to arrive, Gino leaned in close and whispered something in my ear that made my heart skip a beat...

"Harriet, I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Gino's eyes sparkled with excitement as he pulled out a small box from his pocket. "I got you something," he said, his voice low and husky.

I felt a flutter in my chest as he opened the box, revealing a beautiful diamond necklace. It was stunning, with intricate details and a sparkle that caught the light.

"Oh, Gino," I breathed, feeling like I was dreaming.

Gino smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I wanted to get you something special," he said. "Something to show you how much I appreciate you being my wife."

I felt a pang of guilt as I looked at the necklace. This was all just an act, wasn't it? But Gino seemed so sincere, so genuine.

"I love it," I said finally, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.

Gino grinned and put the necklace around my neck. It felt heavy and luxurious against my skin.

As we finished our dinner and left the restaurant, I couldn't help but feel like I was living in a dream world. This was all too easy, too perfect.

But as we walked back to his car, I caught a glimpse of something in Gino's eyes. Something that made my heart skip a beat.

It was a glint of something more than just friendship or business. Something that looked almost like... attraction.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized what might be happening. Could it be possible that Gino wasn't just using me for his business? Could it be possible that he actually had feelings for me?

As we drove back to his penthouse apartment, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held. Would we continue this charade for weeks to come? Or would something more unexpected happen?

And as we stepped out of the elevator and into his apartment, I caught Gino's eye and saw something there that made my heart pound in my chest.

It was a look that said... maybe, just maybe... this fake marriage might not be so fake after all.