From Spy to Wife: The CEO's Pretend Marriage

as she ran down the stairs. Her face lit u

night felt different. Maybe it was because Lennox was kind of avoiding me after that kiss... or maybe the mi

crouching down to her level

ng big. "Daddy said we should dress nice f

. "Really? I wouldn'

rway to the dining room, wearing a simple button-up shirt and looking kind

a small smile. "Thanks f

Ms. Reed thing?" Mia groaned. "It sounds

y don't you show Ms. Reed-Cathy-to

a?-and the dining table was all set up with candles and stuff. It almost looked like.

pulling it out of her pocket. "Lo

t bracelet-the tracker-was my whole reason for c

ven thinking, "You know wh

big. "Really?

ng her hand around it. "Let's

n her wrist. "I'll never ever

wl of pasta, raising an eyebrow

said proudly, showing off her wr

I just shrugged like it was nothing. "S

st I've ever tasted. We kept the talk light, mostly Mia chatting about school and her favor

Mia?" Lennox asked when

her food. "

sked again. "Noth

bled, still n

ared her throat. "Mr. Hart, I meant to tell you earlier. There'

row? How come I'm just

a said softly, eyes still on her p

ed hurt. "Mia, you know I'll make

her eyes watery. "All the other kids have their

, trying to defend himself. "I

ised her voice. "And you were

ip of water, not sure if I sho

x said, trying to sound sur

lock, sir,

st. "No, don't. I don

ed shocked.

ause the other kids will just say I don't have a m

felt tight hearing her say that. It wa

said softly, "

f. "I just wish... I wish I had a m

this weird pressure in my chest. This was the perfect chance for

ore I even thought abo

. "Really? You'd

. Reed-Cathy-you don't have to

aid, trying to sound chill. "It's

lmost bouncing in her seat

gure out what I was up to. Then he slowly

Inside, my head was spinning. Shadowbird would be so

hugged me tight. "Thank y

lso kind of guilty. I glanced at Lennox. He

tomorrow," he

, already wondering

-

ox as we walked down the hallway at Westlake El

he walls, and very modern classrooms. But what I noticed most was how everyone-

Lennox whispered back. "

staring. I tried to ignore it and just focused on Mi

ward a bright, colorful door with drawings all

o see you. And Mr. Hart, thanks for coming." Then she looke

quickly before anyone else co

he didn't say anything. The teacher look

shaking her hand. "I'm..

gain. "Please, come in and make yourselves comfo

their desks and school stuff. Mia pulled us over to her desk and

boy nearby said loudly.

d tall and smiled. "This is my mommy and dad

. "You said you

Lennox went s

a said, standing tall

de eyes. A little girl with pigtails stepp

my mission was one thing, but lying to kids felt k

to her school," he said nicely but in a way that

away to their parents. Mia still looked super p

pered to Lennox while Mia went to talk

I haven't seen her this e

nts can help at home. I noticed Lennox really paying attention. He asked good questions and

e car. Mia ran ahead, happily showing o

id, feeling weirdly good about

s for coming. It real

I said, trying to ignor

t of nowhere. "There's a café close by.

could be important for the

I'll drop you off," he said whi

-

asked with a big smile when we walke

whatever Ms. Reed

I noticed a guy by the window reading a newspaper. It was Shadowbird, in disguise again, sitting w

sound chill, "what did

always seemed calm and sure of himself. "I had another reas

d my he

k to Singapore soon," he

Shadowbird had leaked through contacts at Nexus Technologies

oing back to your

, I've been considering a chan

x leaned in a b

e," I said with a small shrug. "

if I offered you a job? Not as a secretary o

sed face. "Wha

voice. "But I think you've seen how Mia respon

g that weird gui

cond, trying to find the words. "What if you stayed

still surprised me. I opened my eyes wide. "

You'd have your own room in the house, good pay, benefits, days o

ike her real mom?

art of it. But also because you're good with her. She

nside, I was excited. This was perfect for the mission

" I said. "I don't

ennox said fast. "Take your time.

the newspaper giving me a tiny thumbs

Lennox said, looking

ter stuff. Then Lennox called Daniel to come

ng a little embarrassed. "About

o talk about it,

appen again." He looked serious. "If you

is words made me feel a little sad... which was w

I told him as he walked to the

, then went to the restroom. Shad

ne else was there. "This is perfect. Now you'll have full

ng on the sink. "What if this is a

ee his face when Mia called you her mom? He'll do

y. "So... I sh

ing out a small gadget. "But not right n

feeling that weird w

we need. Get close to him-really close. Find out what

thout thinking. "What happens to

sure. But then she shook her head. "That's not our pro

heavy feeling inside. "Righ

him tomorrow night. Say yes to

-

o my phone the next night, walking around m

en Lennox's voice, sounding relieved:

voice sound serious. "I need some guarantees

ickly. "We can figure that

ary living space the agency had set up for me. Nothing pers

row?" I suggested. "I need to

the east wing guest room ready for you. And

air, serious eyes, the face that got me all this. The face that

wbird: "Phase 2 starts. Remember what

sage for a long tim

rms dealer we thought? What if e

ut to ruin a little g