Aria had a plan.
A simple, foolproof, emotionally mature plan:
1. Avoid Julian Westwood like he carried contagious stupidity.
2. Forget that her office desk was now a crime scene.
3. Focus on work, win her research grant, and maybe get her tubes tied just in case.
She even blocked his number. For science.
So naturally, fate said: Cute. Let me ruin that real quick.
---
Three Days Later – Lab Conference Room
"Dr. Monroe," her assistant chirped, poking her head in. "Your lunch meeting's here!"
"Lunch meeting?"
"Dr. Leo Graham from Yale. He's reviewing your work for the federal grant."
Aria stood quickly, smoothing her lab coat. Oh. That lunch meeting.
When Leo walked in, she almost dropped her clipboard.
Tall. Glasses. Perfectly pressed shirt. Smelled like logic and mint. And when he smiled?
Dear God, he had a dimple.
"Dr. Monroe," Leo said warmly, shaking her hand. "I've been following your work on genome editing since your MIT days. Brilliant stuff."
"Oh," she stammered. "Thanks. I—I read your paper on molecular reprogramming. It made me cry. In a good way."
They sat, they talked, and wow, he was nice. He listened. He didn't make everything a joke or smirk like he'd just invented charm.
No sparks. No chaos.
Just peace.
Boring, beautiful, delicious peace.
Until her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it—and froze.
[BREAKING NEWS: Billionaire CEO Julian Westwood Spotted Entering Dr. Aria Monroe's Lab After Hours – Are They More Than Just Business?]
The photo wasn't technically inappropriate. But the headline might as well have screamed THEY'RE DEFINITELY BANGING IN HER OFFICE.
Leo looked at her, amused. "You're trending."
Aria laughed way too hard. "The internet lies. I've never even seen a billionaire. What's a Julian?"
Her phone buzzed again.
Julian (New Number): You blocked me?? 😭 That's cold, even for you. Btw, we're famous. Wanna fake date for damage control?
She nearly threw the phone in her soup.
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Everything alright?"
"Totally," she said, voice three octaves higher. "Just, uh, minor PR fire. You know. Normal scientist stuff."
---
Later That Night – Her Apartment
She curled up with a glass of wine, opened the news article again, and groaned.
Her face was everywhere. Social media was shipping them. Her interns were whispering. And worst of all?
She caught herself smiling at Julian's text.
Fake dating was a terrible idea.
Which meant, of course, she'd probably say yes. Unless...