Aurora Millish adjusted the strap of her laptop bag, heart hammering as she stepped into the sleek co-working space. The room smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive coffee, the kind only found in Manhattan towers. Today wasn’t about appearances it was about investors. The kind of people who could make or break her startup with a single signature.
She straightened her blazer, took a deep breath, and launched into her pitch. Her voice was steady, her confidence practiced, but the polite nods and stiff smiles told her what she already knew: she wasn’t blowing anyone away.
“And that’s why our platform is not just an app,” she finished, “but a complete solution for small businesses looking to scale globally.”
The investors murmured among themselves, shuffling papers. A polite but unmistakable lack of enthusiasm. Aurora’s stomach twisted. She had only one more chance to grab attention before they decided she wasn’t worth the risk.
Then the door opened.
And Landon Skitton walked in.
He didn’t rush. He didn’t even glance at the investors. He simply stepped into the room, tall, impeccably tailored in a black suit that whispered power, and scanned the room with piercing gray eyes. The subtle scent of expensive cologne trailed him, and Aurora immediately resented that he could make a room stop in its tracks without even trying.
He stopped at the front, arms crossed, lips curved in a faint smirk. “Aurora Millish,” he said, his voice low, smooth, and disturbingly confident. “I hear you’ve been wasting everyone’s time.”
The room went silent. Aurora blinked. Did he just…?
“I beg your pardon?” she said, her voice sharper than she intended.
“I said,” he repeated, leaning slightly forward, “that your pitch is… lacking. It’s amateurish. And yet somehow, fascinating.” He paused, studying her like she was both a puzzle and a challenge. “You’re not exactly what I expected from someone with your reputation.”
Heat surged to Aurora’s cheeks. Fascinating? Amateurish? She was tempted to throw her laptop at him. Instead, she squared her shoulders. “I think I can handle criticism without it being personal, Mr. Skitton.”
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. “Good. I respect that. Most people crumble. Some cry.” His smirk widened just enough to be infuriating.
Aurora crossed her arms. “And you? Do you usually storm into boardrooms uninvited just to insult people?”
He chuckled, low and dangerous. “Only when it’s worth my time. And you… are worth my time.”
The words shouldn’t have made her pulse spike, but they did.
The investors exchanged uncomfortable glances. Aurora had no idea who this man was, but clearly, he carried enough weight to make them nervous.
Landon’s gaze softened just slightly. “Look, Aurora, I’ll be blunt. I’m offering you an opportunity. Not just any opportunity, but a chance to elevate yourself and your business beyond what you think is possible.”
Aurora’s brow furrowed. “I’m listening.”
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a sleek envelope. “Three months,” he said, letting the words hang in the air. “You’ll act as my fiancée. Public appearances, charity galas, investor dinners. In return, I’ll fund your startup. Fully. No strings attached.”
Aurora stared at him, mouth slightly open. Did he just…?
“No strings?” she asked, skeptical. “This isn’t some… elaborate scam?”
Landon shook his head, his smirk turning almost smug. “I assure you, it’s very real. You get funding, I get a fiancée for the social obligations I’d rather not attend alone. It’s mutually beneficial.”
She blinked. He expected her to say yes. Just like that.
Aurora inhaled slowly, trying to steady her racing mind. She thought about the loans, the late nights, the investors who wouldn’t even glance at her pitch without a proper last name or trust fund. Three months could change everything. And Landon Skitton… he was impossible, infuriating, magnetic.
“I don’t know you,” she said, her voice firm but betraying the tiniest hint of curiosity.
“I know enough,” he replied smoothly, sliding the envelope across the table. “Check the account. The first installment is already there. If you’re interested, we can sign the contract today.”
Aurora’s hand hovered over the envelope. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She wanted to scream, to run, to say no but a small, stubborn part of her whispered: Yes. This is the break you’ve been waiting for.
Her gaze locked on his, defiance sparking against undeniable attraction. “Fine,” she said, barely audible, “let’s see what three months brings.”
Landon’s smirk deepened. “I have a feeling you’re going to enjoy it… more than you expect.”
And with that, the deal was made. Aurora Millish had just stepped into a world of luxury, power, and danger all under the watchful, icy eyes of Landon Skitton.
