The Billionaire's Fake Marriage

Vivienne's POV

"I hate you."

"Love you too," Alex said, smiling like a psychopath while cameras flashed around us like guns.

"You do realize that if one flash goes off wrong, I'm suing you for emotional trauma?"

"Relax," he whispered, sliding his hand over mine in a 'look natural' kind of way. "We're married now, remember? Smile, Mrs. Knight."

How did it all start? It was one month ago.

I was gliding through the Langford Charity Gala, holding my sparkling water like it was a lifeline, when gravity suddenly decided it hated me. My heel caught the edge of a carpet fold, and I pitched forward falling in slow motion.

"Whoa!" a voice said, as he caught me around the waist, pressing me against his solid chest. My heart slammed into my ribs as I had imagined my face hitting the carpet floor. I looked up and behold, it was Alexander Knight, the infamous Billionaire.

"Uh... thanks." I murmured, trying to steady myself while pretending I wasn't panicking internally.

"Careful next time." He said, smirking slightly, one corner of his mouth curling in that maddeningly confident way.

I rolled my eyes, muttering something about carpet folds being out to get me, and stepped back, adjusting my dress and heels. He didn't linger and neither did I. And that was it. The incident could have ended there, you know, a thankful nod, a polite smile, and life going on.

But nope. Life had set me up.

3 days later, at work, I was just minding my own business as usual, focusing on my job, trying to get by. Then suddenly some messages started coming in my phone.

"Vee. Did you see what's going on?" The first messages trickled in.

"Viv, OMG, you need to check this."

I ignored them at first. I thought my friends were sharing some random news, memes or something, and I really didn't care.

Until my colleague cornered me, phone held up like a trophy.

"Viv, look!"

And I looked.

And behold, there I was, the exact same incident of me falling and being caught by Alex, captured in a photo that made it look... different. It was scandalous and suggestive.

The headlines read: "Reckless or Romantic? Alexander Knight's Scandalous Gala Encounter Threatens Multi-Billion Dollar Deal!"

"This... isn't real." I whispered in disbelief. "This is a lie. Someone made this up."

How did this happen? Who did this?

Questions started flooding in my mind as if by answering them I could somehow magically bring the news down. One thing was clear to me at that point: this photo was going to cause trouble.

And just as if the universe could hear my thoughts, a call came in.

"Vivienne Hart. I need to see you. Now!" It was Alex. "Send me your location. I'm coming right away."

His voice was commanding, leaving no room for argument or questions. And I didn't know when my lips moved and told him I was at work, and also told him where