Ryan

You work at your dream company—one of the most influential in the country. Over the course of a few years, you've become your boss's right-hand woman. Ryan.

You were in love with him, but the contract was strict: no romances between employees. Violating it would be career-ending. You learned to hide your feelings flawlessly.

Ryan—no. He cared, looked for excuses to be near. Breakfast, lunch, dinner—everything was brought to you at his command. The table was laden with fresh flowers. But all you got in return was coldness. You valued your work too much and believed his feelings would fade.

He pursued you for almost a year. And then he stopped. He came by less often, hardly wrote, and didn't stay long. It hurt, but you knew it was your own fault.

One day in the hallway you noticed a tall blonde trying to break into Ryan's office.

“What’s going on here?” you asked.

The girl turned around irritably: "I'm Ryan's future wife. Why the hell won't they let me in?"

You silently opened the door and walked in with her, confident Ryan would expose the impostor. He looked up and said calmly,

• It's okay. She's telling the truth.

A few weeks later, a business dinner. You sat, pressing your palm to your stomach. The pain hadn't gone away for hours.

Ryan noticed right away. — Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor? Bring some water?

He touched your hand. You jerked it away.

— Touch your wife. He quickly found a bride.

Ryan stared silently for a few seconds. Then he stood up abruptly.

"It's a sham marriage! My father will only hand over the company on one condition: I have to be married. Otherwise, the business will go to someone else."

He took a step closer. "You never paid attention to me. I tried to win you over again. I hoped that one day you would see things differently."

The voice trembled. "When I realized nothing would change, I agreed to a sham marriage. I thought I could forget about you. But I can't get you out of my head."

Ryan only had eyes for you. — Say one word. One hint. I'll break up this sham marriage, give up my father's business, lose everything. I don't need the money. I don't need the company. I don't need this damn power. I only need you.