RENT A HEART

CHRISTOPHER's POV

What!" I snapped, the word echoing in the otherwise silent office. My assistant visibly jumped. I sighed, forcing myself to soften my tone. "Sorry. What is it?"

"The shareholders and engineers are already seated and waiting for you, sir," he stammered.

"You can leave. I'll be with them shortly," I said, dismissing him with a wave. He practically bolted.

I ran a hand through my hair, the gesture doing little to alleviate the frustration churning inside me. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was keeping me in such a foul mood. Something was off.

"Chris, what are you waiting for? Let's go," Frank said, strolling into the office.

To be honest, I wasn't in the mood for any meeting, let alone the important monthly shareholders' session. If it weren't so crucial, I would have gladly delegated the duty to Frank.

"Let's go," I said, grabbing my jacket.

An hour into the meeting, my phone vibrated with an incoming call. I glanced at the screen. It was my father. With a sigh, I flipped the phone to Do Not Disturb and forced my attention back to the proceedings.

"Alright," I said, addressing our head engineer, "how soon are we finishing the Tarmark Super Mall?"

"Two months, sir," he answered.

"Make it one month," I stated firmly. "I need it done in one month so we can move onto other projects lined up." Frank, seated across the table, just rolled his eyes at me, knowing perfectly well which "other project" I was referring to.

"If that is all, then this meeting is adjourned," I announced, already pushing back my chair. But before I could rise, one of the shareholders spoke up, his voice laced with discontent.

"What about Senator John McCain's investment proposal? That's one of the reasons we, the shareholders, are here today."

"I've reviewed the proposal, and my answer is no," I said, my tone brooking no argument. "We don't need his investment." I turned and strode out of the room.

"Bunch of greedy cunts," I muttered under my breath, the words laced with venom as I headed towards my office.

"That's a new one," Frank said, chuckling behind me.

"What?" I asked, pouring myself a glass of water, the movement a little too forceful.

"Well... I mean, that's the hundredth curse word you've used in the space of three days," Frank observed, his tone light but perceptive.

"Maybe because no one is bloody doing anything," I spat, my anger simmering. "We're about to lose our number one spot to Phoenix CC, and for what?"

"Calm down, mate. What's wrong?" Frank said, his voice laced with concern. "You hardly ever care about these things. And no, just because Phoenix CC got bought by the Nexus Group companies does not give them the edge over us."

I took a deep breath, loosened my tie, and sank into my chair. "You're right. You're right."

"Good. Take a breath. Now, tell me what the underlying issue is, because it's certainly not work. Your staff are working their asses off, the company is in great shape... Wait, does this have anything to do with your fake relationship with Eve?" Frank asked, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Bloody bastard knows me too well, I thought, a small chuckle escaping my lips despite my foul mood.

"What's funny?" he asked, looking at me quizzically.

"Nothing..." I was about to confide in him, to spill everything and perhaps even seek his advice – after all, he was practically the country's resident playboy – when the door to my office swung open.

The figure in the doorway was my father. "How did he find his way here?" I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to Frank.

"Well, the address to your company is on the internet, brother... good luck," Frank whispered back, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and sympathy.

"Good morning, Mr. Luther," Frank greeted meekly, a surprising display of deference.

"Frankie boy, how have you been?" My father, a man who rarely smiled, actually smiled at him. The two exchanged pleasantries for a moment before Frank quietly excused himself, leaving us alone.

"Your office isn't that bad," my father commented, his voice clipped as he made himself comfortable.

"What can I get you?" I asked, my tone devoid of warmth.

"A glass of water would do," he said, still surveying the room with a critical eye.

A few seconds later, I handed him the water and waited, my patience wearing thin, for him to reveal his true purpose.

"What are you doing here, Father?" I finally asked, breaking the silence. I didn't have all day for his games.

"Can't I come and see my son at his company?" he asked, feigning annoyance.

"Oh, Father, come off it. You know very well that I keep a low profile when it comes to the company, and that no one here knows you're my father," I fired back, my voice sharp.

"And whose fault is that?" He raised a single, perfectly groomed eyebrow, waiting for my rebuttal.

"Why are you really here, Father?" I pressed.

"Well, you hardly ever pick up your phone, so I decided to come myself. If I'm making your staff uncomfortable with my presence, then it's your fault," he went on, his voice dismissive.

"Return home this weekend. We'll be having dinner with some important guests. It's time for you to get married, and I have a perfect bride ready for you. And, more importantly, prepare to return to the company. It's time I hand over Atlantis to you. You can add this little company of yours as a subsidiary, if you like." He delivered the pronouncements casually, as if addressing his subordinates.

"I'm not returning home, Father, so you might as well cancel that meeting," I said, my voice flat.

"Because we both know it isn't just a dinner. Secondly, I have a girlfriend, whom I adore, so I'm not interested in this 'perfect bride' of yours. And finally, I will never return to Atlantis. You can give it to someone else." I turned my back on him and sat down behind my desk, signaling the end of the discussion.

"What is wrong with you, Christopher?" he bellowed, his controlled facade finally cracking, revealing the ugly temper that had always simmered beneath the surface.

"Nothing is wrong with me, Father. I just don't want anything from you," I said simply, picking up a file and pretending to read.

"Atlantis has been in our family for over a century! It is your birthright! And you want me to just hand it over to someone else? Are you out of your mind?" He was livid, his face flushed with anger.

"I'm giving you one month to wrap up whatever you're doing here, and come back to Atlantis. Get married to whom I've chosen, because I will never accept that girlfriend of yours. Do this, or else..."

"Or else what, Father?" I challenged, meeting his furious gaze.

"In your very eyes, I will buy out your company and every other company in your name, and dismantle them," he said, his voice dangerously calm.

"The day you touch Stratos, is the day you cease to see me or be my father," I vowed, my voice low but unwavering. "It is not a threat. You will not see me again until the day I die."

I didn't miss the flicker of shock that crossed his face at my words. He couldn't believe I would sever our relationship so completely.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do," I said, turning back to my desk, effectively dismissing him.

I heard the door click shut behind him as he left, the silence that followed almost as deafening as his outburst.

I ripped off my tie, the silk constricting like a noose, and hurled it across the room in a burst of anger. "Do not allow anyone in for the next hour," I barked into the intercom.

But just a few minutes later, I heard the door creak open.

"I thought I said I didn't want any disturbances?" I snapped, whirling around, ready to unleash my fury.

"I'm sorry, sir, but she wasn't taking no for an answer," my assistant mumbled, his eyes wide with apprehension.

"Is that how you treat the love of your life, Christopher?" a familiar voice teased, and I looked up, my anger evaporating in an instant.

"Lexi?" I asked, hardly daring to believe it was really her.

"The one and only," she said, her smile radiant.

"You can go," I said to my assistant, who vanished without another word.

"Lexi..." I called out softly as I walked towards her, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"Awww, I missed you too, Chris," she chuckled, hugging me back just as tightly.

"Please, make yourself comfortable. Let me get you something to drink, eat anything?" I gestured towards the mini-bar, but her attention was fixed on the tie lying crumpled on the floor.

"I wonder how angry you must have been to throw your tie all the way over here," she said, picking it up and smoothing it out.

"Come... sit with me," she urged, guiding me towards the sofa. I don't think I could ever say no to her.

"What's wrong? Your eyes look tense and sad," she said, reaching out to cradle my hands in hers, her touch instantly soothing.

"Where do I start? It's a long story," I said, sighing heavily.

"Well, let's talk about it over lunch," she said, already standing up.

"Alright, let me grab my keys," I said, and a few minutes later we were out of the building, driving towards my favorite restaurant.

A few minutes later, we arrived at our destination and went inside. She looped her arm through mine, a habit from our childhood, drawing stares from other diners, but I barely registered their presence.

We got into the restaurant and opted for a table beside the window. Just as we were being seated, my eyes locked onto Eve's. She was laughing, enjoying lunch with Frederick. I didn't get a good look at him, but from the set of his shoulders, I knew it was Frederick, her childhood crush.

I stood rooted to the spot for a few moments, our gazes locked, before the hostess led us over to our table.

"Sit here," Lexi said, pulling out a chair. I gratefully complied, while she opted for the seat opposite me. I was glad she had made that choice; otherwise, I would have been staring directly at Eve.

"Spill. Who is she?" Lexi asked as soon as the waitress took our order.

"Who?" I feigned ignorance, knowing I was a terrible actor.

"Eve Mickelson," she said simply, her eyes knowing.

"How do you know her?" I asked, surprised that she even knew her name.

"Well, not that you'd know it, but let me remind you, I'm a supermodel, the best in the industry, actually. And her company, Etheral Eve, has tried to reach my agency for a collaboration several times, but it never materialized. Wait, why are we talking about me? Who is she to you? Because the way you were staring at her wasn't the way you look at me," Lexi queried, her voice softening with concern.

"Is she your ex, girlfriend, or someone you're crushing on?" she asked, winking playfully.

"It's worse," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "She's my fake girlfriend."

"What?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in shock. Heads turned in our direction.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed deeply. I already knew this was going to be a very, very long lunch break.