"My God," she murmured, lips curling into a smile. "It's been so long… look at you."
She was too close. Her breasts were too exposed.
Who was she?
Ex-lover? Ex-flame? Or trouble wrapped in red silk?
Before I realized it, I had moved closer to Anthony—and thank the heavens, he noticed. He slipped his arm around my waist.
"Alicia," he said, and the way my name rolled off his lips sent a shiver down my spine. "You're here."
He almost sounded… relieved. Or maybe I imagined it.
Mia's eyes narrowed as she took us in. Then she turned to Anthony.
"What's going on?"
"Oh," Anthony replied, glancing at me. His gaze held mine, unreadable. "Meet my fiancée, Alicia."
Mia's eyes darkened. I saw the twitch in her jaw, her fists clenching—but she quickly masked it with a tight, polished smile.
I couldn't help but wonder—what was their story?
"Oh, so she's your new catch," she said, lips curling into a wry smirk.
"And you are?" I asked, though I knew I shouldn't have. His life wasn't supposed to be my concern.
She turned to me, her smile cold and cutting.
"Someone who knows him far better than you ever will."
Then, facing Anthony again: "I'll leave you be, since you have a new obsession."
She turned and walked away.
My heart clenched—when it shouldn't have.
It was wrong to feel anything. I knew that. But I couldn't shake her words:
"Someone important," huh?
"Don't mind what she says," Anthony said simply, offering no further explanation.
And just like that, he ended the conversation—closed the door before I could glimpse anything real in his world.
Maybe that was for the best.
This wasn't supposed to be my business.
I was just a pawn. A name on some piece of paper. A stand-in for a night.
His pretend fiancée.
But still... my chest burned.
All I wanted was air.
"Excuse me," I muttered, slipping out of his grasp before he could stop me.
I walked quickly toward the open balcony. I didn't turn back, but the chill running down my spine told me he was watching.
I didn't care.
I just needed to get away from him.
Because I didn't understand what was happening to me.
What he was doing to me.
Whatever this was—I didn't like it. I didn't want it.
---
Thirty minutes passed.
My breathing had slowed.
Eyes closed, I leaned against the railing, letting the cool air kiss my skin.
Soft music drifted from the ballroom, a gentle hum in the background.
And then....
I heard his voice.
"Here. Drink this."
I opened my eyes. Anthony was standing close—so handsome in that suit.
But instead of looking at the glass of wine he was offering, my gaze drifted to his open white shirt… and the silver necklace resting against his collarbone.
"Thanks." I took the drink and downed it in one gulp, turning away from him to stare at the row of expensive cars parked at the entrance.
"Already hiding?" His voice was deep and cool, like the night wind.
"I needed a break from your world."
"You'll get used to it." He shrugged.
I shot him a glare. That's what he didn't understand.
I dont want to get used to it.
I dont like any of this. It was all too much. Too intimidating.
"Who is she?"
I hadn't meant to ask. I wanted to avoid the topic. But she was tall. Beautiful. Confident.
She fit into this world. She fit him.
And I couldn't help but be curious.
Anthony raised a brow. His eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned against the balcony railing.
A beat passed before he finally answered.
"Ex-girlfriend,"he said. "Someone you don't have to be worried about."
He was right. I didn't have to be worried.
Yet I was.
"She said I was now your new catch. Did you have many other girlfriends?"
"No." His voice was sharp. Immediate.
"Did you love her?"
His jaw tightened. "No. But I once trusted her."
That made me even more curious.
What had she done to break that trust?
I was about to ask more, but Anthony spoke first.
"We should go back in."
He took the glass from my hand and in the act, his fingers brushed mine.
A jolt shot through me.
And by the way his hand pulled back quickly, I knew he felt it too.
But he didn't say a word.
As we began walking back inside, he said, "You did well tonight. It was convincing. Everyone believed you were my fiancée."
"Well... I'm glad."
Anthony stopped and looked at me.
He stepped closer. Too close.
I swallowed hard. His smoky eyes locked onto mine, and I couldn't look away.
What was he doing?
He leaned in, his warm breath brushing my lips, "You don't have to worry about Mia. She won't bother you. She's just... bitter."
"I'm not... worried", my voice came out as a whisper. I swallowed again, but still didn't look away.
His mint scent wrapped around me, drawing me in.
I wanted to melt into it, to lean into that intoxicating nearness.
His eyes were cold, but for a moment—just a moment—I saw something flicker.
Emotion?
"What if I also break that trust?"
His eyes widened slightly, caught off guard.
"You don't have to worry about that," he said at last. "This isn't real, Alicia."
"But what if I do?" I knew I shouldn't ask.
He was right—what we had wasn't what he had with Mia. This was fake. No love, no feelings. Just a performance.
So why was I digging?
I could hear his breathing, feel the tension in the air.
I wanted to lean in. So badly.
His eyes didn't leave mine, and he said my name in the laziest, sexiest tone I'd ever heard.
"Alicia. You're not Mia. You're not bitter."
"You don't know me", my teeth clenched.
What did he know about a broken girl who'd cried under her father's belt?
"One day, you'll stop trusting me too. And then what happens?"
Anthony was at a loss for words.
But I stood my ground.
Yes, this was fake. There was supposed to be no love.
But still—we were living together.
And one day... he was going to trust me.
Wasn't he? Or was I just hoping?
"The contract remains," he said, but his voice was different, rough, quiet, almost a whisper.
There was a long pause, it was just the night breeze cooling my skin, or perhaps goosebumps from nearing him and hearing his slow breathing, but then he added,
"Alicia, I won't need to stop... because I never will."
I blinked, "You mean... you already trust—"
"I don't," he cut in, stepping back suddenly, a frown tightening his face, "I just own the illusion."
Before I could respond, the balcony door burst open.
A staff member stepped out, a bit breathless, "Sir, it's your uncle. He said he wants to meet you and your fiancée. And he said... you shouldn't even think of escaping."
Anthony eyes turned briefly to the staff and then back to me, a small smirk tugged at his lips, "Seems we can't avoid him after all."