Page 11 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fake Girlfriend

"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

"You and that woman," she said, her voice dripping with disbelief. "She's one of ours, isn't she? How long has this relationship been going on?"

"Since a while now," I said, not giving her any more information than necessary. "Sasha is one of the company's best designers. It's not something we've been public about, but we decided it was time."

Victoria narrowed her eyes at me, clearly not buying it. "You expect me to believe that this is genuine? That it's not some ploy to secure your position as CEO?"

I met her gaze head-on, my voice firm. "My relationship with Sasha is none of your business. But if you're questioning my integrity, then I suggest you take a step back. I've done nothing but work tirelessly for this company, and I won't let baseless accusations undermine that."

"You were supposed to demonstrate stability and earn the reputation for being a respected leader of the company. This little fling of yours will accomplish none of that, and only cause chaos and problems in the office."

Victoria was suspicious, and once she sniffed a bit of weakness, she latched on with fangs. I had to shift her focus away from my relationship with Sasha and onto something tangible to the business.

"I'm aware," I said, my voice firm. "But it's my personal life." And you should keep your opinions to yourself, you old bat, I wanted to say. "Sasha is an incredibly talented designer, and I believe she has the potential to lead our new American line. Her work is fresh, daring, and exactly what we need to stay relevant in this industry."

Victoria's expression tightened, her fingers drumming against the polished mahogany table. "Denver, with all due respect, this is absurd. Sasha Bennett is an assistant designer. Handing her the American line isn't just risky, it's reckless. She has no proven track record leading a team. What if she fails? The fallout could cripple the company."

I met their gazes head-on. "Sasha's talent is undeniable. I have never seen anything like her designs, they are unique and expressive. She has a vision that aligns perfectly with what this company needs to stay relevant."

Victoria scoffed, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Expressiveness is only valuable if it's executed well. And forgive me for saying this, but Sasha Bennett is not Margot. Margot has decades of experience and understands the brand inside and out. Passing her over will cause chaos in the design department."

I tightened my jaw, but I didn't back down. "Margot's designs are safe, but safe isn't going to save us. We need boldness, and Sasha has it. If we don't take this risk, we're going to lose to our competitors."

Victoria crossed her arms, her tone skeptical. "And if her line flops? What's your contingency plan?"

"There isn't one. Because I believe in her. And I'm willing to bet everything on that belief."

Victoria's expression was unreadable, but somehow, my words had an effect on her. "I will take that under consideration and advise the board at our next meeting. For now, I will be keeping a close eye on this relationship of yours. Any public scandal and the board will have to take decisive action. Do you understand, Denver?"

I nodded, knowing that was the best I could hope for. "Understood."

The meeting ended shortly after and I retreated to the sanctuary of my office. I had just sat down at my desk when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to read the message. It was from Sasha.

Sasha: "How did it go?"

Me: "As expected. Victoria's skeptical about how real our relationship is, but I managed to shift her focus to expanding our brand with the new American line. I could practically see the dollar signs in her eyes."

Sasha: "I just hope this doesn't backfire on us."

Me:: "It won't. I won't allow it."

Over the next few days, the staff at the office continued to gossip about our relationship. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, we were old news.

Saturday was the charity auction for the children's hospital held at the Hughes Hotel in Paradise Peaks. Vintage pieces from XMGH's archives were up for sale and all proceeds would go to the hospital.

As soon as we stepped out of the car, the cameras were on us, bathing us in a blinding flash of lights. I held onto Sasha and led her down the red carpet. Despite her brave face, I sensed her nervousness. I gave her hand a comforting squeeze as we finally made it inside the hotel and away from the photographers.

The cameras and attention never seemed to relent. Sasha clung to my arm, her smile bright but her grip tight. I could feel her body coiled tight as a spring and her stiff flinch every time a flash went off. "Is my dress okay?" she whispered to me, her voice barely audible over the chatter. "Do I look out of place here?"

I glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. She looked stunning, radiant even, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of self-doubt. "You look perfect," I assured her, squeezing her hand. "Why would you think otherwise?"

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before she forced another smile. "It's just, I'm not used to this. The cameras, the people watching every move I make. What if I say something wrong? Or do something that makes me look like I'm out of place here?"

Her words struck me. This wasn't just about the event; it was deeper. It was about her fear of not belonging, of being judged and found wanting. "You're more than good enough, Sasha," I said firmly. "You're here because you deserve to be. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

She nodded, but I could see the doubt lingering in her eyes.

Despite the boundaries she set for our arrangement, Sasha leaned against me as we made our way across the room. For a moment, I forgot that this wasn't real and placed my hand on the small of her back. To my surprise, she didn't brush me off, but instead, smiled shyly as she glanced at me from under her lashes. Whatever doubts or nerves she had expressed earlier seemed to vanish as the night went on.

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