The next week flew by so quickly I could hardly believe it. Between my work in the tech department and my duties working with the executives, it was like I blinked and it was Friday.

Other than a few check-ins here and there, along with our rides home, I didn’t even see that much of Bryce. He seemed just as busy as I’d been, and he was apparently respecting my decision to try to keep things somewhat professional.

At least, as professional as a fake engagement could be.

I strode into the office feeling confident. After saying my hellos to the staff, I entered my office and took a seat at my desk. My office was in an elevated position, next to Walsh’s and Becca’s. From where I sat, I had a full view of the entire tech department.

Dozens of employees were busy at work, typing up code and answering phones and having meetings. As I sat and watched, I wondered if I was really the girl for the job, if I’d really be able to run this entire department all by myself.

Baby steps, I repeated in my mind. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Chelsea—that’s the easiest way to stumble.

I turned to my computer and prepared to get started on the morning’s emails. Since becoming the liaison to the executives, more and more tech department employees had been coming to me for questions and concerns.

It had occurred to me that this wasn’t an accident—I figured if Bryce wanted to see if I were CTO material, he’d start me off by having me be the go-to employee for the department. So far I was keeping my head above water. But it was hard work, and it was different than the software development I was used to.

Just as I pressed the power button, however, a knock sounded from my office door. A quick glance revealed that it was Bess. She waved through the glass, as if I wouldn’t be able to see her. I gestured for her to come in.

“Hey!” she said in her usual extremely energetic voice. “Morning!”

Bess plopped into the chair across from me.

“Go ahead,” I said with a smile. “Get comfortable.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” she said, sitting back.

A few beats of silence passed as she regarded me with an extremely expectant expression.

“What?” I asked.

“What do you mean ‘what’? I want to know how things are going with you and the man upstairs. And I don’t mean in the religious sense.”

My eyes went wide. “Are you crazy?” I said, bouncing up from my seat and rushing over to the office door and locking it. “You’re seriously talking about that at the office?”

“Don’t be so paranoid,” said Bess. “These offices are sound tight. You could murder someone in here, and no one would notice.”

“That’s…morbid,” I said with a smirk. “But seriously, that’s not really the kind of secret I want getting out. I probably shouldn’t have even told you.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell your best friend that you’re getting fake-married?” she said. “You honestly think that you could keep something this exciting to yourself?”

She was right. If I hadn’t told her, I probably would’ve exploded.

“So, how are things going with Bryce?”

“They’re fine, I think. I told him we need to keep things professional if we’re going to make sure this all goes off without a hitch. And he’s doing it.”

“You don’t sound too thrilled about the whole thing.”

“I don’t know if ‘thrilled’ would be the right word,” I said. “I’m glad he’s giving me my space to focus on work, and we’re doing a good job at maintaining the ruse, but…”

She leaned forward and raised her eyebrows.

“…but things were way, way more exciting when we were, you know.”

“When you were fucking,” she said.

“Very delicately put, as always,” I responded.

“That’s what I do best,” she said. “Wait, are you telling me you’re actually falling for this guy?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Something’s happening, and now that I think about it, I’m sure that my motivation to tell him to let things cool off was about me needing some space to deal with my feelings. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I feel kind of crazy for this guy.”

“Well, he’s an insanely handsome billionaire, so it’s not like it’s that weird.”

She was right about that. Bryce was so freaking hot it was hard to look at him sometimes.

“It’s like, ever since I saw him in the elevator I can’t get him out of my mind. It’s all so damn confusing.”

“Well, if you want something to take your mind off it, I have a proposal for a new app from one of the new teams.”

“What’s the pitch?”

“An app that lets you know wherever the nearest free bathroom is. You know, like when you’re walking around the city and need to go. You load up the app and then bam, happy peeing.”

“You know, this is the sort of glamorous work I had in mind when I got into the tech business,” I said with a smirk.

“Not exactly glamorous, but not a bad idea,” she said.

“No, totally,” I said. “Have them shoot me an email, and we’ll get the presentation set up.”

“I have to say,” she said, “you’ve been really kicking butt this last week. I was worried that the whole shift from small business to this was going to hit you harder, but it looks like you’ve really found your footing.”

“Just trying to keep my head above water,” I said.

“But just between you and me,” said Bess. “I don’t how the other two heads of this little Cerberus are handling you being the darling of the boss’s eye.”

I glanced over her shoulder and nearly jumped out of my chair at what I saw—Walsh and Becca, both standing outside of my office, both with the same harsh scowl on their face.

Bess glanced back and had the same reaction I did.

“Shit,” she said. “Looks like the party’s over.”

“What do you think they want?” I asked.

“Beats me,” she said, standing up. “Sorry, but dealing with those two is above my pay grade.”

“Let ’em in, I guess.”

“Morning, bosses,” said Bess, opening the door and slipping past the two other founders, both of them regarding her with the same icy glare. Bess gave me a wave and headed back to the downstairs level. Walsh and Becca entered and both sat down.

“Morning,” I said. “What’s up?”

“Just a quick question for you,” said Walsh as he crossed his legs and folded his hands on his knee. “When we founded Illimitable, how many of us were there?”

I was confused.

“Huh? There was you and me and Be—”

Right then I realized where this was going.

“We’ve been hearing through the grapevine about several promising projects that a few of the teams have been starting on,” said Becca, her already wrinkly forehead even more wrinkled as she furrowed her brow.

“That’s good news,” I said. “Especially considering some of the teams are made up of our staff and some of the staff of other firms that Carver bought up. Means they’re working together already.”

“That’s all well and good,” said Walsh, “but you well know that the issue isn’t the work, it’s the fact that we had to hear about this through other employees—employees below us on the ladder.”

“We’re both founders of Illimitable,” said Becca, “and when we sold the company to Mr. Carver, we were promised positions of authority. And now we’re finding out that all of the employees are deferring to you. It’s simply unacceptable.”

“Not a good feeling to have things happen out of your control like this, huh?” I asked.

I knew I shouldn’t have said it, but I couldn’t resist.

“Excuse you?” asked Walsh.

“Nothing, nothing,” I said.

“Listen, Chelsea,” said Becca. “It’s clear as day what’s going on here.”

I raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling very, very paranoid.

“And what’s that?” I asked.

“Well, that,” said Becca, pointing to the ring on my finger. “This whole marriage thing. I don’t know how you pulled it off, but you’ve got the ear of the CEO.”

“The ear and something else,” muttered Walsh.

I shot him a dirty look, but he was unfazed.

“Listen,” said Becca. “I can see that you’re still feeling put out about us selling the company. And now, through happenstance or good luck or whatever else, you’re getting married to the CEO. Congratulations and all that, but neither Walsh or I is going to sit idly by while you use this new, ahem, position of yours to move up in the company.”

I raised my hand, not wanting to hear another word.

“Am I hearing this right?” I asked. “Because it really sounds like you’re suggesting that I got engaged to Bryce as some sort of career move.”

“Something’s going on,” said Walsh. “I’m going to be honest—this whole thing stinks. You don’t even know the man, and now you’re engaged and working directly with him. I wouldn’t have suspected you’d be the type to play this kind of game, but I suppose people always have the capacity to surprise you.”

“You can both leave right now,” I said. “I’m not going to sit here while you two accuse me of being some kind of whore.”

“‘Some kind’ indeed,” said Becca as the two of them got up. “You’re pulling something here, Chelsea, and we’re going to find out what it is.”

With that, the two of them left.

And I was alone, with no company but my fears and doubts.