Page 134 of Villainous Rise

Helios, who’d already made it back to his desk, looked up, startled. He was surrounded by paperwork. Valor, meanwhile, was lounging on the leather sofa against the wall, scrolling through his phone with his feet propped up. He looked so perfectly relaxed. He had absolutely no idea his life expectancy had just dropped to a matter of hours.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I demanded.

Valor looked up, his perfect features arranging themselves into an expression of innocence. “Annie! What a pleasant surprise.”

“Don’t ‘Annie’ me. You told Cassandra we’re engaged? Have you completely lost your mind?”

Valor sat up. “I might have gotten a little carried away in the moment. But you should have seen how Cassandra ate it up.”

“I don’t care! You lied!”

“It’s called publicity, sweetheart. The fans love a good romance.”

“I have an actual boyfriend,” I hissed. “A boyfriend who will literally, and I mean literally, murder you if he reads this article.”

Valor’s expression shifted from smugness to outrage in an instant. “A boyfriend? Since when?”

“That’s none of your business!”

“Of course it’s my business!” He stood up, towering over me. “You need to break up with him immediately. If you’re seen with someone else, think of the scandal! My reputation⁠—“

“Your reputation?” I shouted. “What about my life?”

“What is wrong with you?” Helios asked quietly. I spared him a glance and he was looking at Valor with open shock.

“You should be happy,” Valor said, his voice dripping with condescension. “Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position? Getting this kind of attention from me?”

“What attention? We are pretending! I’m your handler! I’m not your actual girlfriend, I’m your pretend girlfriend.” My voice cracked with frustration, hands gesturing wildly between us.

Valor gave me a smile. “No, you’re my fake fiancée now.”

I blinked, momentarily stunned by his audacity. The distinction shouldn’t have mattered, fake girlfriend, fake fiancée, both were equally false. But something about his smug correction made my blood boil hotter.

“You can’t just upgrade our fake relationship status without consulting me!” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice level. “You need to correct this article. Now. Call the magazine, issue a statement, I don’t care how you do it, but fix this.”

Valor’s face twisted into a smirk. “Can’t do that, I’m afraid. The PR department has already approved the article. It’s official now.”

“Official?” I sputtered. “It’s a lie!”

“If you have a problem with it, take it up with PR.” He shrugged. “Not my department.”

“I’m taking it up with you,” I said through gritted teeth, “because you’re the one who lied. You made this mess.”

He shrugged again, unbothered. “Tough. By the way,” he continued casually, “we have an appearance tonight. Formal attire.”

“Since when?” I demanded.

“Since about an hour ago. The PR team should have just messaged you.”

I frantically opened my messages, and there it was, an urgent notice. I skimmed the contents, trying hard not to scream in outrage. A charity event for Chroma Bay Memorial Hospital. Havoc, Helios, and Valor were all expected to attend.

But it was the attachment labeled “Keeper Bishop: Event Guidelines” that made my rage turned to horror with each bullet point.

• Keeper Bishop will accompany Valor as his fiancée

• Public displays of affection are encouraged to solidify the relationship narrative

• Keeper Bishop should wear the provided engagement ring (delivery scheduled for 5 PM)