Ronan Blake had everything power, influence, and the kind of money that could buy entire islands. At just thirty-three, he was the CEO of OrionTech, a billion-dollar tech conglomerate headquartered in Silverford, California. His face was often splashed across Forbes covers, hailed as the "Golden Boy of Silicon Valley." Investors loved him. Competitors feared him. But behind the sleek suits and icy charm was a man suffocating from isolation.
No one truly saw him. Not his board. Not the stream of gold-digging socialites at charity galas. Not even the inner circle of executives who toasted him at every press conference. Everyone saw what he was not who he was.
Until he saw her.
Her name was Evelyn Harta data analyst from the Strategy Division. Mid-twenties, bookish, with a sharp mind and no time for corporate politics. She walked through OrionTech's glass corridors like she had someplace better to be. While others laughed at his jokes just because he was Ronan Blake, Evelyn had once walked past him in the lobby without even glancing his way.
He was intrigued. Curious. Maybe even obsessed.
So he did what no billionaire CEO should ever do.
He created a fake identity Ryan Cole, a "new intern" from upstate New York with no fancy credentials, just a passion for tech and a drive to learn. HR had no idea. Only his head of security and legal team were in on the secret. He'd rotate in for three months, embedded in a project team under Strategy. Her team.
To the world, Ronan Blake was on a "sabbatical to focus on innovation strategy." To Evelyn, Ryan Cole was just another awkward new guy with a crooked tie and a quiet smile.
And that's exactly what he wanted.
Ronan stood in front of the mirror in his penthouse, adjusting the simplest outfit he had plain button-down shirt, slacks from Target, and worn-in sneakers. He looked… normal. Boring. Almost invisible.
"Security team's ready," his assistant said through the earpiece. "You'll have shadow protection within the building, but no interference unless there's a real threat."
"Thanks, Ava," he said. "I've got this."
She hesitated. "Sir, are you sure this is wise?"
"No," he replied. "But it's human."
The first day as Ryan was a masterclass in humility. No one held elevator doors for him. No one offered him coffee. And instead of a corner office, he was assigned a shared cubicle near the break room.
Evelyn wasn't even in the building that morning.
His desk neighbor, a chatterbox named Mark, leaned over and whispered, "You're on Evelyn's team, huh? Don't screw up. She's scary smart."
"Good to know," Ronan said, suppressing a grin.
Around 10:30 a.m., Evelyn walked in, holding a reusable coffee cup and a folder thick with printed reports. She had dark auburn hair in a loose bun, glasses slipping down her nose, and an air of quiet determination.
"Morning," she said without looking up.
Everyone nodded. Ryan included.
She finally looked at him. "You're the intern?"
"Ryan," he said, standing to shake her hand.
Her handshake was firm. Her eyes studied him curious but not impressed.
"Welcome to Strategy. Try not to get lost in the acronyms."
Over the next few days, Ronan Ryan slipped into a routine of pretending to learn things he already knew. He sat through meetings with notes he could've led, watched presentations he had approved months earlier, and tried not to laugh when Evelyn called one of OrionTech's flagship products "overhyped garbage."
She wasn't trying to be rude. Just honest. Blunt honesty in a room full of corporate spin was rare and deeply refreshing.
They started having lunch together in the cafeteria. It started with coincidence, then convenience, and by week two, it became a quiet expectation. Evelyn had a dry wit that caught him off guard. She wasn't flirtatious or giggly. She debated ideas. Challenged assumptions. And never once seemed impressed by money or status.
One afternoon, as they ate veggie wraps in the courtyard, she asked, "So, Ryan, why OrionTech?"
He sipped his iced tea, stalling. "I guess I've always admired the company. Big ideas. Ambitious culture. I wanted to be part of something that shapes the future."
She gave him a look. "That sounds like a LinkedIn answer."
He laughed. "Fair. Let's say… I needed a change. A new beginning. Away from what people expected of me."
She tilted her head. "That's more honest."
He nodded, surprised by how much he meant it.
But as the days passed, the lie grew heavier. Evelyn had started opening up about her past, her ambitions, her distrust of upper management. Especially Ronan Blake.
"He's probably just another billionaire playing god," she once said. "Bet he doesn't even know how his employees live."
Ronan swallowed hard.
"You hate him that much?" he asked.
She shrugged. "I don't hate him. I just don't trust people who think money equals morality. People like him don't fall in love. They acquire."
It stung. Because somewhere in this crazy plan, he was falling for her. Genuinely. Deeply. And he had no idea what to do about it.
To be continued…