Empire Of Lies

CHAPTER 5

In the morning, sunlight flooded the penthouse windows on an all-new day, sending golden streaks across the marble floor. Lila sat on the island in the kitchen, the ring on her finger facing her. The diamond sparkled mockingly, like it was ridiculing her for what she did.

She'd slept in the guest room, but even from there, she'd felt Elias's presence. The weight of him in the same space, the suffocating awareness that she wasn't alone.

A steaming cup of coffee appeared beside her. Elias.

She tensed as he slid onto the stool next to her, effortlessly composed in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His watch glinted just as cold as the steel of his gaze as he turned to her.

"Get dressed," he said over his sip of coffee. "We have a press conference in an hour."

Lila blinked. "What?

Elias placed his cup on the table. "We are engaged, remember? The whole world needs to know."

She clasped her fingers around her cup. "You never told me about holding any press conference."

"You never asked."

Loud, she huffed up at him, her glare afire. "You don't have an inkling when it comes to personal space, do you?"

Grinning, he said, "We are going to get married, Lila. You don't have that privilege of personal space anymore.

She wanted to throw her coffee at him. Instead, she clamped down on her teeth. "And what am I supposed to say at this press conference?"

"Nothing. Smile. Looks happy."

She snorted. "I'm supposed to just conjure up your adoring fiancée or something."

Elias rose, tugging on his sleeve. "Then fake it."

He was a blur, turning towards the hall until he caught, at the last moment, a silent pause right as he slipped through. "The driver will be downstairs in thirty minutes. Wear something appropriate."

Then he disappeared.

Lila groaned, rubbing her temples. This was going to be a disaster.

The Press Conference

Flashes exploded in her face the second she stepped out of the black car, Elias's hand firm on the small of her back. The media swarmed, cameras clicking, microphones thrust forward.

Lila inhaled sharply. It was suffocating.

Elias, on the other hand, was as composed as ever. His grip tightened ever so slightly, grounding her.

Then came the questions.

"Elias, how did you propose?"

"How long have you been dating?"

"Lila, did you expect this?"

She hadn't said one word yet, but Elias pulled her close, smiling for the cameras. "It was love at first sight."

Her body had gone rigid. What?

"She's the most wonderful woman I have ever met," he said, smooth as silk. "And when you find someone like that, you don't waste time."

The reporters lapped it up.

Lila forced a smile. It was all a show. She only had to act.

Elias cast a look at her, inscrutable as ever. And then he stooped down to press a kiss against her temple.

The flashes went more furious.

Her heart thundered within her.

He drew away with a half-smile on his lips.

She gritted her teeth. Okay, playtime.

She turned to the cameras and flashed the sweetest, most dazzling smile she could muster.

Let the games begin.

The press conference closed with Elias towing Lila from the rabid sea of reporters-my grip firm, not forcible. We were barely in the car when she snatched her hand from mine.

"What the hell was that?" she exclaimed, whirling to me as the driver hit the road.

Elias leaned back, impervious. "That was you playing your part."

"You kissed me."

"On the temple," he corrected, infuriatingly cool.

Lila huffed loudly, pressing on her temples. "You should have told me."

"Would you have said yes?"

She glared hard at him. "Not the point here."

Elias watched her for a moment before finally speaking. You're right. I ought to have tipped you off about it.

The admission came unexpectedly and caught her off guard. She swung warily around to him, searching his expression for sarcasm, but his face revealed none.

"Don't do it again," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"His lips lifted wryly," Duly noted.

The silence stretched between them. The tension from the press conference still lingered in the air, thick and unabated. Lila stared out of the window, watching the city blur past, the weight of her reality settling deeper into her chest.

This wasn't a bad decision anymore; it was a full-on production.

And she was stuck in it.

Playing the Part

The days that followed were a blur of staged appearances: dinners with high-profile company, photo shoots, and public outings where Elias was playing his part-the besotted fiancé-so well, as if his life depended on it.

Lila had issues.

She had to smile with people she didn't know, answer inquiries about a relationship that wasn't there, and deal with Elias's casual, public caresses, almost calculated in their intent and not real touches.

But worst of all?

She wasn't sure she hated it.

The way he laid his hand against the small of her back as they walked, the way he looked at her during interviews-it felt suspiciously real.

And that scared her.

One night, following one too many dinner functions, Lila practically fell onto the couch in their penthouse, kicking her heels off with a groan.

"Remind me why anybody does this for fun," she muttered.

There was Elias loosening his tie with an inhaled breath to release some pent-up stress while smirking and serving himself a drink. "You get used to it."

Lila threw him an incensing glance. "That's exactly what I am terrified of."

Elias took a sip of his drink, watching her over the rim of his glass. "You did well tonight."

She paused, because the comment came so out of left field.

She sat up, eyeing him suspiciously. "Are you actually being nice to me?"

He shrugged. "I appreciate quality when I find it."

Lila snorted, flopping back against the couch. "Glad my fake engagement acting skills are meeting your lofty expectations."

Elias chuckled, a low deep sound. "You'll be a pro in no time."

Lila let her eyes drift shut, her breath easing out. She had no idea whether that was praise or a warning.