Signed to be his

Annika trudged down the familiar path to her workplace. She hadn't slept for days, and it was evident. Her eyes were red, her glares were harsh, and she still had a bottle in her purse that she shouldn't be holding onto.

People instinctively moved out of her way, avoiding her touch as she stumbled past them. A man's harsh words cut through the air, calling her a drunken slut.

As she approached the Noa Arms Industry, a news report flashed on a digital display, accusing the CEO of irresponsible behavior.

" We received an anonymous message earlier that the newly appointed CEO of the Noa Arms industry, Mr. Malakai Jones___the number one leading weapon and Firearms industry in the country is an irresponsible, spoilt young man "

A video of him telling a waiter to return his dish, then he starts eating his friend's meal ___ which he just refused

"What does that imply, People? He's a child who doesn't know what he wants." the newswoman said.

Another video of him coming out of an expensive vehicle and not opening the door for his date at an exclusive gala.

" What preposterous behavior for a said gentleman"

Another video appeared of him parking his car in a handicapped spot hurriedly going to a supermarket. Then he came back to meet a ticket, he crumbled it up and threw it away.

" He even loiters, well I think you have it people.... Will the future of Noa Arms and the other company it supports crumble at the hands of this young man?"

Then the advertisements appeared and the digital display shut down.

Typical Malakai.

'What does his dad want from me? I'm on temporary leave; could he just let me be!!' she thought to herself.

She arrived in the industry.

Annika hurried to clean herself up in the bathroom, desperate to hide her grief and pain from her boss.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she saw a ghost of her former self, hollowed out by loss and sorrow. A coworker hurried over to her to offer condolences .

"Oh my gosh Annika you look so devastated,I'm so sorry for your loss. How are you doing?"

Annika remained silent.. ' Grace, you've never even spoken to me ,tried to get me fired, and competed with me ever since I got hired,' she thought to herself.

In a meeting with the retired CEO, Annika sat down feeling as if she was not even present.

The whole world passing by her, she started to float out of her own body.

" Miss Wilson?" Mr Jones uttered, trying to snap her back into reality.

"Sir?"

" Annika,I heard about your recent tragedy ,I'm sorry for your loss"

"Thank you sir , but I'm curious on why you called me here"

"Pardon me for interrupting your temporary leave Annika...I called you here to offer you a contract" he said, sliding the paper and a high quality fountain pen to her.

The ones she used to give to other fellow CEOs as a gift from him.

She took a look at it ,her eyebrows narrowed in confusion. " An engagement contract?"

" That's right...I want you to become Malakai's Fiancee for the next six months in return for full funding for your bakery and full payment for sister's medical school debts"

" How do you know about all this sir? And ....why me?"

" I ran a background check on you Annika....you lost all your savings for six years that you wanted to use to fulfill your dreams...your mom's dream but it all went into flames____"

She remained quiet,her heart thudding unable to slow it down.

" You are a loyal, intelligent and a beautiful young woman, my son's taste in fact , you have been nothing but good to me and that is why I'm giving you this offer"

" Can I spend some time somewhere else if things get too hectic?"

A curve appeared in the corner of his small, slightly wrinkled lips.

"Of course"

Despite the promise of financial security and freedom, Annika hesitated, unwilling to sacrifice her integrity for a fake engagement.

But a thought of her mom brushed through her mind.

This is the only way to make her proud and I can't bear to live in that house,she's everywhere there.

" I'll do it"

A very bold grin appeared on Mr Jones' face .

" But you should know that this is dangerous and circumstances might change"

She raised an eyebrow but was too weak to make another statement, she let out a sigh.

" What do you mean by that sir"

" It's nothing, I doubt it'll happen....let's hope it doesn't miss Wilson"

She sighed heavily and signed the contract. Stood up immediately to leave the room.

" Thank you sir"

She spent the whole day sunbathing fully clothed in the company's yard, trying to melt away all her pain. But the time came for her to begin her new journey

As she went into her new living quarters at the mansion which was a landelijk style.

She came across a beautiful, slender woman in a maids uniform.

" Hello,I'm Annika Wilson"

" Hi ,are you here for an appointment"

" No I'm moving in , Mr Jones said there's a room for me ?"

She pulled out her pocket notebook scanning thoroughly, with a gasp.

"Ahh yes Miss Wilson let me guide you to your room...here's your key and you have everything you need there... your luggage wasn't necessary".

" Oh well it's too late"

She directed her to the room.

Annika felt out of place and lost. A clumsy mishap led her to stumble upon a shocking sight in an occupied room, leaving her stunned and uncertain of what to do next.

Feeling exposed and vulnerable, Annika's world spun out of control as she grappled with the unexpected turn her life just took.

She grabbed her luggage, struggling to take it up to the room a maid just directed her too.

Her eyes still cloudy and blurry she tripped falling on her knees opening the door to a room which apparently wasn't properly closed.

Dessicated in embarrassment she lifted her eyes slowly to see a muscular tattooed back of a man half naked on a woman revealing her bust.

The muscular figure looked back at her closely.

She knew it was a familiar face, one she had definitely seen before. Straining her eyes to see the man.

No. freaking. way!! That tattooed back, she would recognize it anywhere

Annika

Malakai. Barely dressed. With a woman who wasn't me. He met my gaze without any shame, only indifference, as he shut the door in my face.

My legs felt unsteady as I stumbled backward, trying to comprehend what I had just witnessed.

It wasn't only about the betrayal; it was the way he looked at me, as though I was the intruder. My heart raced like an alarm bell. I blinked, wishing it were all a misunderstanding.

But it was real. Was this truly the man I was meant to feign affection for over the next six months?

Of course, who else would it be? His father? How am I supposed to cope with this guy? He's supposed to be my fiancé for six months.

As I began to spiral deeper into my thoughts, something-or someone-bumped into me. My suitcase teetered, one of its wheels painfully rolling over my foot.

I grimaced and let out a sharp "Ow!" as I stumbled a bit.

" Damn, I'm so sorry," he said, taking off his headphones, and scanning me with a smile.

" You must be Annika Wilson..... I'm Ares your fiancé's brother"

"Ha-ha, that's not amusing considering what I just witnessed," I attempted to make a joke, but my voice trembled.

"I haven't noticed you around lately."

"Ohh right ....I'm sorry you had to witness that. Well, I'm not really needed in the industry," he scoffed.

" Thanks honestly, you seem like a better option," I said, taking my luggage and walking with him; he led me towards my room.

"You flatter me, Miss Annika..... I love having you around already.... sorry you had such a bad day.

We walked in silence for a few moments, his presence oddly soothing. Each step away from Malakai felt like inhaling clean air. The hallway buzzed faintly with chatter, cameras being adjusted, and staff moving about like apparitions.

Ares had an innate ability to blend into the background yet still make you feel acknowledged. He glanced at me once or twice, his smile never truly fading.

I flashed a smile at him and went into my room to see the beautiful atmosphere and the queen-sized bed. The room had a bright atmosphere, with a chandelier hanging right at the top.

The bed is adorned with floral sheets.

Walls painted in grey and the large, thick, textured rug in grey color.

I went over to my fully packed walk-in closet.

Filled with hundreds of designer shoes and bags, accessories I could never have thought of.

" What the hell!!!...why did I pack my clothes then?, doesn't matter".

********

Malakai

"You're the one I've been waiting for my whole life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

" Oh my gosh, yes," she said, her eyes beaming with joy. She was a great actress.

I wonder how she could manage to do all this after all she witnessed yesterday, that wasn't a good introduction at all. I twirled and hugged her and twirled her around.

We were outside.

Flashes from cameras. Dazzling lights. A chaotic scene filled with filming equipment and forced grins.

This isn't at all how I imagined it-never in a hundred lifetimes. But what was I really expecting? Genuine love in a phony engagement?

My mom and I had always planned my proposal to be in a dark room, with thousands of white lily petals on the floor. Long scented candles right next to it.

A bunch of petals wrapped in metal to form the shape of a heart, with rope lights at the center saying 'will you marry me?'.

I couldn't help but wonder how she feels right now, her proposal not being magical... getting engaged publicly to someone she doesn't love.

" And.....cut," A director said, and everyone cut the videos of us that they were taking.

They took a few pictures of us in a kissing pose. She looked straight into my eyes, glistening in anger.

" Let go now"

I did and pulled her in again with a forehead kiss.

"Forget what you saw yesterday, it wasn't how it seemed." She looked up to me, in the form of a kiss.

"Trying to protect your reputation Malakai?"

" I don't care what you think about me, just making it clear if we're gonna be around each other for that long," I said, then kissed her.

Her eyes widened, and I could feel her heart beating fast. I started to imagine fumes coming out of her head.

She wiped her lips with her hand, making her lipstick all smudged, and pulled away on the spur of the moment.

Cleared her throat, reluctantly facing the crowd to see if they noticed what just happened.

Lucian appeared and came to me with a casual hug. "Hey man, how's it going? ..... and this must be the one and only Annika Maeve Wilson...I'm Lucian, this demon's longest friend".

I shoved his chest as he said that.

How does he know her middle name?

" Nice to meet you too," she said, only looking at him. Ares walked up to us with a plate of finger foods in his hand and put his arm around Annika's shoulder.

Why is everyone so casual with her?

"Hey guys, hungry?"

Yeah you mean is Annika hungry?

The others all took from the plate.

" Good work today guys". The director said.

As if. You're getting paid to record and publish my whole life to the public.

At dinner at home, it was awfully quiet. The atmosphere at the dinner table was so tense that it could have been sliced through with one of the butter knives.

Crystal glasses clinked awkwardly together, and nobody dared to initiate a genuine conversation. I surveyed each guest-some were industry professionals, while others were family.

Everyone was putting on an act, just like we were. A gathering full of individuals pretending that everything was okay.

I strained my eyes looking for my brother after noticing his empty seat, I whispered to Lucian.

"Have you seen?___"

Just as I was about to mention his name, he rushed to open the door, panting, showing us he had run here. My dad looked annoyed.

" What's all the ruckus about, son ?" my dad said, and all of us shifted our attention to him to hear what bombshell was going to drop from him.

"We're back in the spotlight," Ares said, out of breath.

"But not for a good reason."

Annika.

"But not for a good reason".

I remained motionless, sipping the drink I had taken from the dining table, my gaze locked on him.

Malakai stood up abruptly and headed towards his brother " What does it say?"

" It shows a video again.....here I'll show you"

We all headed to the living room,he used his phone as his projector showing us the video.

In the video Malakai was kissing a woman with dark luscious hair at a restaurant showing the dates, and the next day he was with another woman__ completely different with blonde hair and he was cupping her cheeks, and smooching in a way that meant she was upset.

My stomach churned. I wasn't really surprised, but I resented the fact that I would have to clean up another mess I hadn't created.

Everyone was uncomfortably quiet,I could even hear the dishwasher making a noise in the kitchen. The clinking of the cutleries against the high quality plates stopped.

The chandelier lights aboved us started to shake,as if a ghost entered the room.

" Who did you take after,son? Why is the whole world so determined to cancel you ,most importantly?" Mr Jones said with his voice deepening frustratedly.

Ares let out a chuckle, Lucian shoved him.

" We'll take care of this Dad.... especially now that we have Annika by our side"

I stood still looking at him while sipping my drink I took from the dining table.

Malakai Was now looking straight at me , his hands wrapped around him, his legs trembling, unable to stand still.His father tapped him out.

" This is why Annikas here, she'll help you ... .or won't you Annika?"

" Huh...of course I will, or I could just stay here sleeping" I said with a fake grin appearing on my face. Lucian lets out a short wheeze,he came towards me to grab my hand and led me outside. " Let me show you around Annika"

" So how are you doing with all this... because I understand how Malakai might seem to you, but I promise he's a great person" He said and winked at me , with his arm around my shoulder.

" Might take a while to convince me on that ... .and I'm not here to bond with him, I'm here to work, so what's gonna be my role in this ?"

"Huh... we're gonna have an interview with the best news influential person and you're gonna be there to support him"

I sighed heavily " what did I get myself into?"

At the interview, Malakai beside me ,the interviewer right in front of us.

" Miss Wilson,how do you feel about this situation, I can't imagine how you feel_hes your husband to be"

" We've been dating for a few months now and I can assure that he's nothing like that anymore, he's a changed man"

" You've only been dating for....a while you say,how did you meet". I looked at him , he cleared his throat and said.

" She had been working for my father for six years, whenever I visit the industry for training I used to see her there, we started to talk and get find of each other,then we started dating...a year ago"

"Didn't you just end things with Miss Freya Carson the year before that though?, it was pretty easy for you to move on regarding all those years you guys dated"

The interviewer kept dropping bombs, I didn't know what to say next, I never knew much about his love life.

" However ma,m , during our relationship I never caught him in such an act,he's handsome,and kindhearted,I can vouch for him because this is the present, he's loyal to me and I'm happy to have him as my Fiance"

What a joke ,I literally just caught him on top of another woman.

He looked at me with his eyes softening.The interview grinned and turned to the camera.

" Well there you have it people, they're in a loving relationship, and Mr Jones is an amazing partner let's trust her words and maybe try to believe in them"

Malakai

" I'm happy to have him as my Fiance"

That melted my hear , and some part of me wished it was true,she's so beautiful and warm hearted. I never thought she would defend me , even though I don't deserve it.

" Thank you..."

She looked at me, not even attempting to hide her disgust. " For what ..... doing what I'm here for?"

" Don't be so difficult Annika,I'm just thanking you, accept it will you?"

She rolled her eyes so hard it almost got stuck while winding down the car window.

So much sass for a beauty.

" You're welcome" she said softly.

I turned to the side and smiled in relief.

I'm gonna enjoy these next few months.

It was now dark outside, I kept hearing some giggling downstairs and went to check what's going on. I could recognize the voice I was hearing.

" Lucian, what are you doing here?" I said before even knowing who I was talking to .

Annikas was with my brother and Ares,she was in an apron which captured all her curves. With an oven glove and a hand mixer. She was baking. She just stood there looking at me with her mouth hanging slightly open. She does that a lot.

I shouldn't find this so amusing, especially after what I witnessed yesterday. But perhaps it's alright to relax-just for a moment.

" Hey man , Baker Annika was just baking for us , you've gotta try these cookies man ,tastes so damn good"

"Yeah I can see everything man ,I'm not blind you know....can I see you outside dude?".

Lucian came outside and wrapped his arm around my neck.

" Annika told me about the interview... she's amazing isn't she?"

" yeah yeah whatever,why is she telling you of all people though?"

"So damn jealous already,bro it hasn't been three weeks yet"

Lucian let out a brief wheeze, still trying to catch his breath.

" Shut up dude!!"

"Whatever,go on without me ,I'm going to use the bathroom quickly" he said tapping my shoulder.

As I was making my way into the room, I overheard Ares and Annika having a conversation_giggling .

I leaned against the wall to hear them.

Ares cleared his throat.

"So do you like Malakai?".

My heart tightened,my stomach dropped.

Before I could hear her answer, Lucian sneaked up behind me and shoved me into the room.