His words are simple, yet the command in them makes my skin prickle. I hesitate for a second, unsure whether I’m obeying out of politeness or because I’m just too frozen in place to do anything else. But finally, I move, sitting down slowly, acutely aware of his proximity, the air between us crackling with an intensity that has my heart beating out of my chest. He follows suit, sitting down opposite me, his posture relaxed but still exuding an undeniable tension. It’s as though the world has narrowed down to just the two of us, every second stretching longer, thicker, as if something unsaid lingers in the space between our words. Something dangerous. Something electric. The silence lingers, but now it feels like a weight pressing down on me. I shift in my seat, wondering just how long I can hold his gaze without breaking. "According to our agreement..." His voice is steady, pulling me back into the moment. My body stiffens, heart pounding as I try to focus on his words. "You ar
“I…” I start, hesitating as the weight of my next words presses down on me. “I have a sister, Elise. She’s in college… it’s just the two of us now.” My voice falters, my gaze darting nervously between Sebastian’s piercing stare and the silence growing heavier around us. His expression doesn’t shift, his presence as unwavering as stone. “What about your parents?” he asks, his voice calm yet probing, as though he already suspects the answer. “No,” I blurt out, sharper than intended. “You can’t meet them.” His eyes narrow slightly. “Why not?” “They’re dead,” I whisper, the words slicing through me like glass. Each syllable is bitter and raw, leaving a sharp sting in their wake. For a moment, something flickers in his dark eyes. Guilt? Pity? Whatever it is, it’s gone as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a faint shadow of humanity in his otherwise impenetrable gaze. “I’m sorry,” he says softly, his voice holding a sincerity that catches me off guard. It’s unsettling—this
We arrive at a sprawling mansion nestled within an estate that feels worlds away from the bustling city of Las Vegas. The air itself carries a weight of luxury, the kind that wraps around you, almost suffocating in its opulence. I let out a shaky breath, silently reciting the details of the fabricated story Sebastian and I had rehearsed—the perfect lies of how we met, our supposed whirlwind romance, and the little personal touches he’d told me to memorize. The massive oak door emerges before me, a barrier between my world and the one I’m about to step into. Sebastian’s hand slips into mine, our fingers interlocking in an unexpectedly intimate gesture. The warmth of his touch sends a jolt through me, my pulse quickening in response. “Phew… okay, I can do this,” I mutter under my breath. Sebastian’s sharp gaze flicks toward me, and the faintest smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Relax. It’s going to be fine,” he says, his tone smooth and reassuring, though it does little
Stephany’s POVIt’s been a year now.I stare at the endless list of bills that seem to stare at me back. I could never get out of this black hole that continues to suck the life out of me. I feel the weight of the world press down on my shoulders as I sink deeper into despair.How would I get out of this? There was no way I could? I’m stuck forever giving this man every piece of me till I run out.Every time I fought my way to pay the bills, it seemed like I was drowning even deeper and the worst of it was that it isn’t even mine.The large ocean of debt that swallowed me continuously belongs to my father before he passed.I never understood how he managed to acquire such a large amount to owe someone, Don Mario for that matter.Every time I think about it, I feel a mixture of anger and frustration boil inside me. Father must have had a reason.I take a deep breath as I continue to swallow the hard lump that formed in my throat. I want to cry, to scream, to run away. I want to go some
Stephany’s POV contdMy mind travel back to that horrifying day as I stand there watching in envy at the family through the transparent glass across the street. The sound of the zooming cars and footsteps fade away slowly.My heart ache again at the memories of the state his body was when Elise and I experienced the misfortune of seeing our father lifeless on the ground.His cold cracked skin, his dead eyes that haunts me the most, the gaping wound on his chest that continued to spill blood, the scent of his blood that lingered in the air. It was a bright day like this one.Elise called out to him multiple times but there was no answer. She sank to her knees beside his body shaking him, pleading for him to wake up.“Dad please…please wake up, it’s Elise, I’m here dad…please wake up” . Her cries of plea filled with so much dread hollowed in my ears and even after almost a year I still remembered exactly how she sounded. And I?I stood there frozen, the air grew so thick with death that
Stephany’s POV “How do you know my name?... what do you want from me?” I asked, pushing back the crippling fear that crept into my voice.“You don’t know me, but your father does,” a smile tugged at Don Mario’s lips as he reached for another puff.My father? Why does this man know my father? I thought silently, my brows squeezing slightly in confusion. “I heard he died tragically… poor soul,” he clicked his tongue while shaking his head slightly. “But Stephany… you see, your father and I” he sucks in another breath from his tobacco and exhales “…had a little business arrangement.” “What?” My heart beat violently at his words. “What are you talking about?” the heat of his smoke grazing my face. Beads of sweat begin to form on my forehead. “Your father took a loan from me before he died, and now, as agreed, it’s my turn to get the end of the bargain… but since he’s no longer here…” He leaned forward, his thick breath invading my nostrils. “… you’re taking his place, naturally.” He c
Sebastian’s POVI sit in my office, my gaze shifting to different parts of the office as I tap the heels of my right foot repeatedly on the tiled floor.Different thoughts racing in my mind but it’s not about the stack of organized files sitting on my desk in front of me.I look again at the walls lined with dark mahogany rich and polished to a gleam. Shelves filled with leather-bound books, many of which had likely never been opened, loomed over the massive desk at the far end of the room.My eyes shift to the grand portrait of my father hung above the desk, his stern expression serving as a constant reminder of the legacy I’m expected to uphold.Despite the large breathable space of the office, I feel suffocated.Everything in the office screams wealth and power almost in an oppressive way.It's something I grew up with, something I’m used to but even after how many years sometimes it feels suffocating.And I am soon to inherit all of it, that is if I comply to their request.The at
Stephany’s PoVFor a moment, there’s nothing but silence. Just my breathing and Elise’s light snoring from her room. That sound usually comforts me. But now, it makes the ache in my heart even worse. She doesn’t know the half of it. She doesn’t know how close we are to losing everything. And it’s my job to make sure she never finds out.I open my eyes and force myself to keep looking for jobs, pretending like the weight isn’t crushing me. As I scroll, something catches my eye: “FAKE MARRIAGE, REQUIREMENTS: MUST BE A GOOD ACTOR.” The words are ridiculous. It’s so absurd that I actually laugh, a real laugh, something I haven’t done in longer than I can remember.“Must be one of those scams,” I mutter to myself, draining the rest of the Monster. But the ad lingers in my mind longer than I’d like to admit. Fake marriage, huh? Desperate times, desperate measures… but still, I shake it off.I check the time. It’s almost 6:45 a.m., time to head to the café. I stand up and quietly walk to Eli
We arrive at a sprawling mansion nestled within an estate that feels worlds away from the bustling city of Las Vegas. The air itself carries a weight of luxury, the kind that wraps around you, almost suffocating in its opulence. I let out a shaky breath, silently reciting the details of the fabricated story Sebastian and I had rehearsed—the perfect lies of how we met, our supposed whirlwind romance, and the little personal touches he’d told me to memorize. The massive oak door emerges before me, a barrier between my world and the one I’m about to step into. Sebastian’s hand slips into mine, our fingers interlocking in an unexpectedly intimate gesture. The warmth of his touch sends a jolt through me, my pulse quickening in response. “Phew… okay, I can do this,” I mutter under my breath. Sebastian’s sharp gaze flicks toward me, and the faintest smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Relax. It’s going to be fine,” he says, his tone smooth and reassuring, though it does little
“I…” I start, hesitating as the weight of my next words presses down on me. “I have a sister, Elise. She’s in college… it’s just the two of us now.” My voice falters, my gaze darting nervously between Sebastian’s piercing stare and the silence growing heavier around us. His expression doesn’t shift, his presence as unwavering as stone. “What about your parents?” he asks, his voice calm yet probing, as though he already suspects the answer. “No,” I blurt out, sharper than intended. “You can’t meet them.” His eyes narrow slightly. “Why not?” “They’re dead,” I whisper, the words slicing through me like glass. Each syllable is bitter and raw, leaving a sharp sting in their wake. For a moment, something flickers in his dark eyes. Guilt? Pity? Whatever it is, it’s gone as quickly as it appeared, leaving only a faint shadow of humanity in his otherwise impenetrable gaze. “I’m sorry,” he says softly, his voice holding a sincerity that catches me off guard. It’s unsettling—this
His words are simple, yet the command in them makes my skin prickle. I hesitate for a second, unsure whether I’m obeying out of politeness or because I’m just too frozen in place to do anything else. But finally, I move, sitting down slowly, acutely aware of his proximity, the air between us crackling with an intensity that has my heart beating out of my chest. He follows suit, sitting down opposite me, his posture relaxed but still exuding an undeniable tension. It’s as though the world has narrowed down to just the two of us, every second stretching longer, thicker, as if something unsaid lingers in the space between our words. Something dangerous. Something electric. The silence lingers, but now it feels like a weight pressing down on me. I shift in my seat, wondering just how long I can hold his gaze without breaking. "According to our agreement..." His voice is steady, pulling me back into the moment. My body stiffens, heart pounding as I try to focus on his words. "You ar
After Elise has finished unloading the contents of the bags, she heads to bed, excitement still radiating from her. I follow her, but sleep doesn’t come easily. The night slips by in a blur, leaving me restless. Eventually my exhaustion takes over. The sudden ring of my phone startles me awake, panic surging through my veins. I fumble for it, blinking sleep from my eyes. A strange number flashes on the screen.“Hello?” I murmur, trying to shake the fog from my brain.A familiar deep voice cuts through the grogginess. “Hey, it’s Sebastian…”My pulse spikes. I sit up straight in bed, my heart racing. “Hi…” I mutter, unsure of how I sound. “Thanks for yesterday.”“It’s nothing,” he replies, his indifference slicing through the words like a blade. What a jerk! I think bitterly.“I need us to meet today,” he continues, his tone matter-of-fact. “You’re going to meet my parents soon, and we need to make preparations." My breath hitches at the mention of his parents. Elise said they were bi
Stephany’s POVMy shoulders are tight with dread as I approach the doorstep of our apartment, the weight of the conversation I’m about to have with Elise pressing down on me like a heavy, suffocating fog. My mind spins with a thousand thoughts, none of them making sense, all of them circling around the words I need to say but can’t seem to find.Even though I’m trying to hide it from her, I know it won’t be long before Elise catches on—she always does.I mutter to myself under my breath, “Okay, I can do this,” my voice trembling slightly as I force a deep breath to steady my nerves. The door is locked, just as I expected. I turn the key as quietly as I can, praying she’s already asleep.But when I step inside, the faint sound of the TV greets me, drifting from the living room.“She’s awake…” I think, my heart sinking as I realize there’s no way out.I move toward the sound of her voice, and before I can even get close to the living room, Elise comes rushing into the hallway, her eyes
Sebastian’s POV I sit at the built-in bar in my living room, fingers tapping impatiently on the counter as Dice’s phone rings over and over. No answer. The sun had long since disappeared, and the quiet of the house only amplifies my frustration. I try to ignore the gnawing curiosity clawing at me, distracting myself with another glass of wine. The bitter red liquid burns on its way down, but it does little to drown out the intrusive thoughts. Her face. Her voice. Her damn attitude. Stephany. I pour another glass, gulping it down in one go before turning toward the TV, its muted flicker doing nothing to hold my attention. A clicking sound from the front door breaks the silence, and I glance over, already knowing who it is. Dice walks in, his average build silhouetted against the doorway, a smug grin plastered on his face. “Heyyyy, Sebastian!” he greets, all too cheerful. My brows knit in annoyance. “Where the hell did you keep your fucking phone?” I snap, unable to
Stephany’s POVI watch his tall, commanding frame retreat from me, each step measured and purposeful. Sebastian Sanders—the man I’m supposed to pretend to be engaged to for the next six months. Irritation bubbles within me, his smug attitude grating on my nerves. And yet… I can’t deny there’s a small spark of admiration, even if I don’t want to admit it.The way he slid the black card across the table, so casually rattling off the pin, made me stare in disbelief. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t flinch—just handed me a card that could probably buy my entire neighborhood without blinking an eye.“Hey, Steph! Is it okay if I call you that?” Dice’s cheery voice pulls me from my thoughts.I blink, turning to meet his friendly gaze as he picks up the card and offers it to me.“Oh! Of course…” I murmur, my eyes flicking back to the card.“Well, you heard him. Let’s get you some new clothes,” Dice urges, pushing the card toward me when I hesitate.I stare at it for a beat longer, feeling like the
Sebastian’s POV “Well, now that this is settled, let’s move on to the next step, which is…” Dice’s voice trails off as he shifts his gaze to me, expecting me to finish his sentence. I glance at Stephany, and she meets my eyes with that same expectant look. A deep sigh escapes me. “You will meet my parents.” I say, locking my gaze on her. For a fleeting moment, something crosses her face—something like fear—but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. “Okayy…” she mutters, almost too quickly. I can’t help but notice how she’s trying to cover it up. Fear? Apprehension? She’s hiding something, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s really prepared for this. “But before we do, you’re getting a new wardrobe.” I continue, reaching for the black card in my suit pocket. I don’t make a big deal out of it, but it’s just another part of the deal. “The pin is 1747. Dice can take you somewhere to get them.” I slide the card across the table toward her. Her eyes flicker, an impressed
Sebastian’s POV“Hey, man, I think I finally found someone for you.” Dice’s voice breaks through the phone before I barely say anything, brimming with excitement.“Are you sure?” I ask, my brows furrowing at the uncertainty laced in his tone.“Well, I made an appointment with her so you can see her yourself. We’ll figure out if she’s a good fit.”“Alright, fine. Send me the address,” I reply, my tone lowering as I sink into the leather seat.A good actress is all I need—someone convincing enough to satisfy my parents and finally end their overbearing lectures about my lack of a partner.The next morning, I arrive at the location Dice sent me as early as possible. It’s a coffee shop I frequent, and I made sure to reserve the upper floor In advance for privacy.Dice is already there when I arrive, casually seated with a cup of coffee. We chat idly while we wait, but my mind begins to wander, curiosity gnawing at me. What does this woman look like? Does she have what it takes?Looks aren