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Evania, a project editor at Walter Media, finds her world upended when her boss, Jonathan Walter, pulls her into a fake relationship to avoid a strategic marriage with Yelena Starkov, daughter of a Russian oligarch. This charade is meant to protect Jonathan's media empire, but as the lines between pretence and passion blur, a betrayal leaves Evania with a life-altering secret. Years later, a chance encounter reveals the truth, shattering Jonathan's carefully constructed world and forcing him to confront the consequences of his ambition. Can a love born of deception survive the schemes of a formidable adversary and the ghosts of a broken past? Will Jonathan find redemption, and can Evania ever truly forgive the man who broke her heart, even as he fights for their future?
Chapter 1 Premonition
"Who in the bloody hell is responsible for this?" Jonathan yelled, slamming his phone atop a pile of files on the rack. His face marked with rage, teeth grinding as he stared at Mrs. Garvey.
"Sir, it's the editor, Ms. Evania," Mrs. Garvey replied, her voice shaking, as she walked toward the polished brown door.
"Get me that damn waif in here now," Jonathan commanded,sinking back into his ergonomic chair, his fingers drumming an impatient rhythm.
Mrs. Garvey hurried into the hallway, where she met Evania, who had just arrived. Evania froze mid-step, her face filled with dread, her legs trembling as she approached the stern, white-haired secretary.
"The top floor demands your presence, Evania," Mrs. Garvey said.
"What? Is it serious?" Evania asked, her voice a mix of politeness and regret, holding a bulky brown envelope.
"Not serious-catastrophic. How could you forget the approval form for a project you spent weeks on?" Mrs. Garvey replied.
"Oh, goodness! That little witch Becky! I thought she submitted everything, but I just found it buried in my handbag," Evania gasped, rushing toward the elevator. She pulled the helms of her tight blue dress as the doors closed, the elevator was packed with workers from various departments.
When it halted, on the fifteenth floor, she walked out, her heart pounding, cold sweat running down her back, her long brown legs shaking. She reached for the doorknob but hesitated, knocking instead. After a shaky breath, she knocked, fingers fidgeting with the envelope.
"It better be you, Evania Taylor,"Jonathan yelled, Evania opened the door. The squeak faded as she stepped inside.
"You have no idea the mess your recklessness has dragged us into," Jonathan shouted, rising from his seat.
"Sir, there's a mix up with one of my colleagues," she stammered, her voice barely audible.
"Oh! Rough night with your boyfriend, so you forgot to deliver the damn paper to Garvey? Is that your excuse?" Jonathan asked, leaning over the crystal-glass table, his eyes blazing.
"Sir, I'm so sorry. This will never happen again," Evania murmured, sliding the envelope forward.
"Speak for yourself, lady. The damage is already done," Jonathan shot back, his tone dripping with disdain.
Silence filled the air, her heart beating fast against her chest. The clock ticked to nine, breaking the suspense. Evania brought out two documents from the envelope and laid them before him.
"Sir, this won't ever happen again. I got carried away by the madness, I-I'm truly sorry and will bear all the consequences," she stuttered.
"Clumsy! You really have got some nerves in you." Jonathan barked, standing to grab a white mug from the table. "Do you even grasp what you've admitted? 'A lot' means I'm missing a complete file because a distracted employee left it at her lover's flat." He shook his head in disgust.
"It's been a brutal week, sir. I'm drowning in work and struggling to keep up," Evania defended, her voice rising.
"Blimey! It's your job. You're paid to do it-work should be your obsession," Jonathan argued, stepping closer, his tall figure closing in on her.
"Here it is, all complete," she said, lifting one of the white sheets.
"And the other one?" he pressed.
"Oh, sorry, that's mine, this shouldn't be..." she fumbled, trying to stuff it back.
"I'm not a fool," he interrupted sharply.
"No, sir, this is," she began.
"Is that some sort of court document, has the law caught you offguard too? You're really something young lady," he said, an ironic smile playing on his lips.
Jonathan held the upper hand-Walter Media bent to his will. Evania, like the rest, was a mere disposable employee. Though her week had been rough, his focus remained on dominating the media scene at all costs.
Evania, however, experienced life beyond work. This close encounter with her formidable boss was unusual territory, yet she'd managed him her way-until now. The court order demanding her presence at 8 a.m. at Guildford was the only valid excuse to save her sorry ass from the angry boss. She spread it on the table, the red seal with its crown catching his eye.
"Do you think that's a valid reason to mess up the project?" He groaned.
"Yes, it's a court order-8 a.m. today at Guildford," she confirmed.
"Doesn't erase the losses I've incurred pulling strings to keep this contract alive," he responded.
"I had to be there or else my brother would be in bigger trouble,"
"For all I care, I set the rules here. This isn't some random courthouse like Staines or Guildford where old useless men sit to debate obvious cases," he cut in.
"At least spare me this once. I'll make it up to you, sir," Evania pleaded, her eyes blinking and searching the tall, dark-haired figure before her, a few strays of her curled hair blowing in her face, her stomach etched sensing danger. Clearing his throat with a commanding tone, Jonathan declared:
"You're suspended. Use the break to pull yourself together, or you're out."
"But sir,it's just a little mix up,you can't do this to me," Evania pleaded, tears forming in her eyes.
"This conversation is over. See you next week-if the universe still tolerates you," Jonathan bragged, his voice a scary roar tearing through the very walls of the office.
"Sir, you can't do this to me right, I worked myself off for this project, I still have..." Evania's plea fell on deaf ears, her eyes wide with boiling anger as the weight of his words became more evident to her.
"This conversation is over," he confirmed, turning away with an unapologetic look. "See you next week-if the universe still puts up with you, and if you finally wake up to your senses." His gaze fixed on her before he dashed to the window, staring out at the London skyline as if it carried the answers to all his questions. The room suddenly turned into a silent graveyard of suspense and unspoken tension.
"Sir! Gloria just called, she said, "You have less than twenty four hours for to even stand a chance in þhis deal." Her voice shot through the silence.
Jonathan clenched his teeth, hitting the table with his fists, Mrs. Garvey trembled, her wrinkled face frowned.
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