---

Chapter Three – A Bold Joke, A Curious CEO

The press lights still danced behind Malik’s eyelids as he and Tina entered the grand hall of the Met Cloisters. The gala space was awash in soft amber lighting, velvet drapes, and the tinkling of old money laughter. The room smelled like power and floral arrangements too expensive to exist in nature.

“Smile,” Tina said softly, her hand still looped around his arm. “You look like you’re about to rob the place.”

“I might,” Malik muttered back. “These rich people look soft. One of them trips, I’m taking their watch.”

Tina didn’t laugh. But the corners of her mouth twitched. Progress.

As they made their way through the crowd, people turned. Whispers followed them like perfume.

> “Is that…?” “That’s Tina Rowe, right?” “She’s with someone?” “Who is he?”

Malik tried not to choke on the attention. His entire life, he’d been invisible at events like this. The help. The guy in the background. Now, they looked at him like he mattered — like he was someone.

They reached a small circle of men in bespoke suits. One of them, a silver-haired executive with teeth too perfect to be natural, smiled broadly.

“Tina,” he said, leaning in for the kind of cheek kiss that never touched skin. “Glad you made it.”

Tina returned the gesture politely. “Donovan.”

“And this must be…” Donovan turned to Malik, waiting.

Malik extended his hand. “Malik Carter. Tina’s arm candy and emotional support boyfriend.”

Donovan blinked.

Malik smiled. “I also bring her snacks when she forgets to eat. Real MVP stuff.”

The other men chuckled. Tina shot him a quick sideways glance, but said nothing.

“Well,” Donovan said, recovering, “Tina’s never brought anyone to one of these events. You must be special.”

Malik leaned in, stage-whispering, “Or she just got tired of people asking if she was secretly a robot.”

This time, even Tina smiled — barely.

---

Later, they slipped away to a side alcove, away from the noise and champagne.

“You didn’t read the talking points, did you?” Tina asked, arms crossed.

“I skimmed.”

“You’re improvising.”

“Of course I am. That’s the only thing I’m good at.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You told the VP of Nasdaq that you bring me snacks.”

“Because it was charming,” he said. “And relatable. Humanizes you.”

Tina studied him for a long beat.

“Do you want this to work or not?” she asked.

Malik leaned against the wall, the candlelight dancing over his smirk. “Define ‘work.’”

She stepped closer. “I mean this arrangement. The contract. The illusion.”

He noticed her perfume then — something sharp and soft all at once. Like her.

“I want this to not crash and burn,” he said honestly. “Because I like not being broke. I like not eating cup noodles every night. And I like…this.”

“This?”

He shrugged. “The lights. The suits. The pretending. It’s like playing a part in a movie I wasn’t supposed to audition for. And I’m enjoying the role.”

She watched him, her expression unreadable. “You’re strange.”

“I get that a lot.”

“And clever.”

“You say that like it’s a disease.”

She didn’t smile. But she didn’t walk away either.

---

A photographer found them minutes later and waved. “Miss Rowe! Can I get a photo of you and your…?”

“Boyfriend,” Malik filled in, smoothly slipping his arm around Tina’s waist. She tensed for half a second — then allowed it.

The camera flashed.

Tina turned toward Malik just after. “You didn’t ask.”

“Contract said touching in public is allowed,” he replied. “Just playing my part, boss lady.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re dangerous.”

He leaned in, voice low. “You don’t even know the half of it.”

---

Meanwhile: Online Mayhem Begins

On Twitter, someone posted a blurry photo from the red carpet:

> @NYCInsider: Wait, who is Tina Rowe’s mysterious new man???

Within twenty minutes, the post had 12,000 likes, and people were already creating theories.

> @TechTea: Is he a foreign prince? A young investor? A secret tech genius?

> @LoveandLogistics: Her first public date in years and he’s FINEEEE. Go Tina!

> @MalikCIsKing: That’s my cousin. He sells phones on Craigslist. Y’all chill.

By the time Tina and Malik left the gala, she had four missed calls from her publicist and two from her assistant. She handed Malik her phone without a word.

He read the messages.

> Public image is trending upward. You humanized her. Also, who is he?

> People think you’re her secret fiancé.

> Wall Street Journal wants a quote.

Malik whistled. “We broke the internet.”

“Unfortunately,” she muttered.

---

Back in the Car

The silence between them was heavier than before.

Finally, Malik spoke. “So… when do I get my bonus for the viral charm?”

Tina didn’t answer. Instead, she looked out the window.

“I haven’t dated anyone publicly in six years,” she said suddenly.

He turned to her, surprised. “Why?”

She didn’t answer immediately. “Because people stopped seeing me. They saw the money. The company. The headlines.”

He nodded slowly. “So… I’m the guy to fix that.”

She looked at him. “You’re the guy nobody expects. And right now, that’s exactly what I need.”

Malik sat with that for a moment. “Cool. No pressure or anything.”

Her voice was softer now. “Just don’t catch feelings, Carter.”

He grinned. “Was about to tell you the same thing.”

---

End of Chapter Three.

l