When Avery Jones, a struggling journalist, gets a chance to interview Liam Black, the notorious CEO of Black Industries, she hopes to expose his dark secrets and boost her career. But Liam has other plans. He offers her a deal: he will give her exclusive access to his life and business, if she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for six months. Avery is reluctant, but she can't resist the opportunity to get closer to the man who has been her enemy since college. She hopes to find out what makes him tick, and maybe even get some revenge along the way. But as they spend more time together, she realizes that Liam is not the cold-hearted jerk she thought he was. He has a vulnerable side that he only shows to her, and he makes her feel things she never expected. Avery starts to fall for him, but she doesn't know if he feels the same way, or if he's just using her for his own agenda. Will Avery be able to resist Liam's charm, or will she end up losing her heart and her career?
Chapter 1 The Interview
Avery Jones was nervous as she walked into the lobby of Black Industries, the largest and most powerful media conglomerate in the world. She had been waiting for this opportunity for months, ever since she learned that Liam Black, the CEO and founder of the company, had agreed to give an exclusive interview to her magazine, The Scoop. Avery was a junior reporter at The Scoop, a small and struggling publication that specialized in investigative journalism and exposés. She had always dreamed of becoming a famous journalist, and she hoped that this interview would be her big break.
She had a personal reason to want to interview Liam Black, too. She had known him since college, when they were both students at Harvard. They had been rivals from the start, competing for the best grades, the best internships, and the best scholarships. Liam had always been arrogant and ruthless, and he had made Avery's life miserable with his constant taunts and pranks. He had also been the most handsome and charismatic man she had ever met, and she hated to admit that she had a crush on him. But he had never shown any interest in her, except to mock her and belittle her. He had broken her heart when he had dated her best friend, only to dump her after a few weeks.
Avery had sworn to get revenge on Liam, and she had never forgotten her grudge. She had followed his career with a mix of admiration and resentment, as he had built his empire from scratch, becoming one of the youngest and richest billionaires in the world. He had also gained a reputation for being a ruthless and secretive businessman, who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He had been involved in several scandals and controversies, but he had always managed to escape unscathed. Avery was determined to expose his dark side, and to show the world who he really was.
She checked in with the receptionist, who gave her a visitor's badge and told her to wait in the lounge. She looked around and saw that the lobby was sleek and modern, with black marble floors, glass walls, and chrome accents. The lounge was furnished with leather sofas, coffee tables, and a large flat-screen TV. There were several magazines and newspapers on the tables, all of them owned by Black Industries. Avery picked up one of them, and saw that the cover featured a photo of Liam Black, smiling confidently and wearing a sharp suit. The headline read: "Liam Black: The Man Who Owns the Media".
Avery rolled her eyes and tossed the magazine aside. She wondered how Liam Black would react when he saw her. Would he recognize her? Would he remember their past? Would he be surprised, angry, or amused? She hoped he would be nervous, and that he would slip up and reveal something incriminating. She had prepared a list of questions that she hoped would catch him off guard, and she had done extensive research on his background, his business, and his personal life. She was ready to face him, and to make him regret ever crossing her.
She checked her watch and saw that it was almost time for the interview. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. She told herself that this was her chance to prove herself as a journalist, and to get the scoop of a lifetime. She told herself that she was not afraid of Liam Black, and that she did not care about him anymore. She told herself that she hated him, and that she would never fall for him again. She told herself that this was just an interview, and nothing more.
She was wrong.
Chapter 1 The Interview
07/11/2023