Chapter 16
MYA
My pulse is still roaring in my ears as I stalk down the hall. By the time I reach the doors, my hands are shaking badly.
I can’t believe him.
Asking me to be his fake wife? For compensation? Changing the HR policy like this is some kind of power play? The audacity. The arrogance. The nerve of that man.
I press the heel of my hand against my chest, willing my racing heart to slow.
But it’s not just anger making me this worked up—it’s hurt.
Disappointment. I actually thought Worth respected me, at least a little.
That underneath all the growling and mixed signals, there was a man who… God, I don’t even know. Saw me.
Instead, he wants to use me.
I can’t believe I might have secretly wanted him to mean something else when he said he needed me.
No. No, I can’t go there.
I push past the double doors and into the cool night air. Relief—or maybe panic—rushes through me as I gulp down a huge inhale.
I head straight for the curb and throw up a hand. A cab screeches to a stop, and I slide inside.
Lights smear across the windows as we move. Only then do I finally let myself breathe.
I grab my phone and call Tiana. I don’t expect her to pick up, but I desperately need to tell her what happened.
On the fifth ring, she answers.
“Mya?” I hear the fading sound of music and the faint pulse of bass in the background. “What’s wrong?”
“Worth.”
She exhales. “What did he do now?”
“He asked me to marry him.”
Tiana chokes on the line. “Come again?”
“Not for real-real,” I clarify quickly. “Some fake marriage arrangement to help with his custody case. He wants me to play wife so he doesn’t look like a playboy in front of a judge.” I lower my voice. “You have to swear, TJ, you cannot tell anyone. Not Mom, not Devon, not JJ.”
She whistles. “Sworn to secrecy. But… That might not be the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
I gasp. “Are you well?”
“Think about it. You’d live in his mansion. Have you seen his article in Architectural Digest? That place is unreal. And you could set the rules and your own terms. Plus… You’d be shacking with a ridiculously hot billionaire. There are worse fates, MJ.”
I throw my head back with a groan. “Oh my God, you’re just as crazy as he is.”
But even as I say it, a tiny, dangerous part of me wonders if she’s right.
By the time Tiana is done working her persuasive magic on me, my head is spinning.
At home, I move on autopilot; keys in the dish, shoes by the door, kettle on. I don’t even hear the water boil until it squeals. I pour a cup and stare at the steam like it might give me answers.
I fold onto the couch and press my palms over my eyes until little starbursts pop. The worst part isn’t the logistics. It’s the memory of the vulnerability and the pleading in Worth’s voice.
It’s how my heart answered before my head did.
It’s been a few days since my heated encounter with Worth at the gala, and everything has gone back to business as usual. Or at least, that’s what it looks like on the surface.
Worth has been ignoring me, barely acknowledging my presence unless work requires it.
Today, Griffin is taking me on my very first site visit.
We’re checking out the community homes being built a few blocks over, and I’ve been buzzing about it all weekend.
It’ll be my first time slipping into steel-toe boots and a hard hat, and it makes me feel like I’m finally stepping into the real work, not just being stuck behind a desk drafting endless designs.
He stops by my desk just after nine, holding a cardboard box and grinning.
“Got your gear, newbie,” he says, dropping it onto my desk with a thud.
Inside is a neon vest, a pair of heavy boots, and the brightest yellow hard hat I’ve ever seen. I bite back a smile as I pull the vest out.
“Please tell me I don’t have to wear this in the office.”
Griffin laughs. “Only if you want to be a fashion icon. We’ll change before we head out.”
We chat while I try the boots on for size and he runs me through the plan for the morning.
Then, as if on cue, the mood shifts.
Worth strides in late, coat in one hand, phone pressed to his ear. His voice is low, but the tension in his jaw says more than words ever could. He doesn’t look in my direction, doesn’t so much as glance at Griffin standing a foot away from me. He heads straight into his office and shuts the door.
“He’s been even grumpier than usual. Which, you know, is saying a lot,” Griffin says, rolling his eyes before turning back to the files on my desk.
I clear my throat. “Do you know why, by any chance? Has he said anything?”
Griffin chuckles. “Nope. Probably just stress. He’s been picking up the slack while Henson’s away.”
“His brother,” I say, nodding.
“Yeah, Henson’s been up in Vancouver for weeks, leading a big project. He’s coming back today. So Worth’s been dealing with double the load.”
That makes sense. Sort of.
I know one of the reasons why Worth has been acting even grumpier than usual, but I won’t admit it has anything to do with me out loud.
I lean back in my chair, chewing the inside of my cheek. Henson left before I started, so I never got to introduce myself.
“I guess I’ll finally get the chance to meet Henson.”
Griffin grins. “You’ll like him. He’s the more charming Miller, if you ask me.”
“Low bar,” I mutter under my breath, and he laughs, loud enough to turn a few heads in the office.
My eyes glance to Worth’s door, but it’s shut. I guess he’s still upset that I refused his proposal.
Good. Keep ignoring me. I’m mad that he propositioned me in the first place. I ought to tattle on him to HR for the way he’s been treating me, but I always decide against it.
It’s better for both of us if he stays away.
Although a tiny, traitorous part of me is disappointed.
By the time we get back from the site visit, my hair is a mess under the hard hat, my boots feel about ten pounds heavier than when I first laced them up, and my cheeks ache from grinning so much. It was everything I hoped it would be, and I can’t wait to do it again.
When we step into the office, I spot broad shoulders, a navy suit, and easy laughter carrying across the room. The man is standing with a group of staff, fully engaged in conversation.
That must be Henson.
As we approach, he turns, eyes warm, and extends a hand before I even have a chance to introduce myself.
“You must be our new junior designer. Mya, right?”
I blink, momentarily thrown off. “Yes, that’s me.”
“Thought so.” His handshake is firm, his smile friendly.
I feel a little flustered. I’ve never spoken to Henson before today, yet somehow he knows my name and my position. The contrast between him and his brother is immediate and impossible to ignore.
Where Worth is gruff and curt, Henson is warm and approachable. He’s the kind of person who makes everyone in the room feel comfortable.
I still somehow find myself favoring Worth, despite all his rough edges and impossible moods. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t make things easy. Maybe it’s because every time he looks at me, it’s like standing too close to a fire.
But I can't let those thoughts consume me.
Henson asks about my first projects and if I’ve settled in with the team. He listens, nodding thoughtfully, as though he genuinely cares about my answers.
It’s clear why everyone seems to like him. He’s the type of leader who knows how to put people at ease.
Henson slips his hands into his pockets. “By the way, I had a look at the preliminary drawings you worked on for the Singapore project.”
My heart skips. He’s seen them?
“They were solid, Mya. You’ve got an eye for blending design and function.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Thank you. I really enjoyed working on them.”
“How would you feel about seeing the project?”
It takes me a second to process the question. “In person?”
“Yes, in Singapore,” he clarifies with a chuckle. “We’re sending a small team down to check on progress, meet with Lau Construction, and make sure everything is running smoothly. I want you to be part of that team.”
For a moment, I just stare at him, blinking like an idiot. My chest tightens with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
“Wow. Yes. Absolutely. I’d love that,” I blurt, probably too eagerly, but I don’t care.
Henson smiles. “Good. I’ll speak with Dre to finalize the details. Consider this your official welcome to the big leagues.”
He gives my shoulder a friendly pat before excusing himself to talk to someone else, leaving me standing there with my heart racing, mind already spinning with what this trip could mean for my career.
And yet, despite the exhilaration flooding through me, a single thought needles its way in.
If I’m going to Singapore that means I’ll be traveling with Worth.
And I have no idea if that thrills me or terrifies me—or both.