CHAPTER 3
1010 Words
Elena sat at the dining table, gripping her coffee cup a little too tightly.
She exhaled sharply. "So, this charity event—what exactly am I supposed to do?"
He didn’t even glance up. "Smile, look pretty, and act like my devoted wife."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Right. Because that’s completely natural."
This time, he did look up, his gaze cool and unreadable. "It will be if you don’t overthink it."
Elena bit her tongue to keep from snapping back.
---
Elena stood in front of the mirror, smoothing down the silk fabric of her red gown. It hugged her figure in all the right places—elegant yet undeniably seductive. She knew she looked good.
As she stepped into the living room, she felt Lawrence’s gaze land on her instantly.
He was near the bar, dressed in a sharp black suit, exuding quiet dominance.
"Good enough?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, his lips curved slightly. "You’ll do."
Charming.
The car ride to the event was quiet. As usual, Lawrence was busy on his phone, completely unfazed, while Elena stared out the window, mentally preparing herself.
When they arrived, the flashing lights of cameras nearly blinded her. Reporters and photographers swarmed the entrance.
She stiffened, and before she could react, Lawrence’s grip on her waist tightened.
"Smile," he murmured.
She did, even as irritation bubbled within her
Inside, the venue was stunning—gold chandeliers, crystal glasses clinking, and the low hum of classical music in the background.
Lawrence barely gave her a second to adjust before they were swarmed by people—business partners, investors, and socialites. She played her part, nodding and smiling at the right moment
Then, a woman in a shimmering silver gown approached them, exuding confidence.
"Lawrence," she purred, her red lips curving into a smirk.
Elena stiffened. There was something about the way she looked at him that made her uneasy.
Lawrence’s expression didn’t change. "Sofia."
Sofia’s sharp gaze flicked to Elena. "And this must be your wife. What a surprise."
Elena forced a polite smile. "Elena Kingston. Nice to meet you."
Sofia’s smirk deepened. "I’m sure it is."
Elena didn’t miss the mocking tone. Before she could say anything, Lawrence’s grip on her waist tightened slightly.
"Excuse us," he said, steering Elena away.
Once they were out of earshot, she turned to him. "Who was that?"
"No one important," he said flatly.
She didn’t believe him for a second.
--
After nearly an hour of playing Lawrence’s obedient wife, Elena was starting to lose patience. She hated being paraded around like a trophy, especially when it was obvious that other men were watching her.
And Lawrence noticed.
His jaw clenched every time a man’s eyes lingered on her for too long. When a handsome businessman approached her, she decided to make things interesting.
"Mrs. Kingston, is it?" the man said, offering her a charming smile. "I must say, I’ve never seen Lawrence bring a woman to one of these before."
Elena smirked.
The man chuckled, stepping a little closer. "Clearly."
She could feel Lawrence’s gaze burning into her from across the room. Good.
When the man reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Elena held back a smile.
And then, in an instant, Lawrence was there.
His hand wrapped possessively around her waist as he pulled her against him. His grip was firm, almost too tight, as if warning her.
The businessman cleared his throat, suddenly tense. "Lawrence, I was just—"
"Leaving," Lawrence said, his voice dangerously low.
The man hesitated, then quickly nodded before walking away.
Elena tilted her head up at Lawrence, smug. "Jealous, are we?"
His gaze darkened. "Careful, Elena."
She arched an eyebrow. "Why? I thought this was just business."
And then he did something unexpected.
Before she could react, Lawrence grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a corner, away from prying eyes.
"What the hell are you—"
His lips crashed against hers, silencing any protest.
The kiss was rough, possessive, and utterly intoxicating. Elena gasped, her fingers gripping his suit, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer.
His hands slid down her back, fingers teasing the fabric of her dress, dangerously close to pulling it up.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Reality snapped back into focus.
"Enough!" She shoved him away, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. "What the hell was that?"
Lawrence smirked, wiping his thumb over his lower lip. "You wanted to play games, Elena. I play to win."
Her hands trembled as she wiped her lips, fury burning insideher
---
The silence in the car was unbearable.
Elena sat stiffly, arms crossed, staring out the window. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, her skin still burning from his kiss. She knew he was watching her, waiting for her to explode.
She didn’t disappoint.
"You had no right to kiss me like that!" She turned sharply, her voice shaking with anger. "That was completely out of line!"
Lawrence leaned back, completely unfazed. "You were flirting with another man, Elena. What did you expect?"
"It was harmless," she snapped. "Besides, I thought this was just a business arrangement. A contract, remember?"
His expression darkened, and he grabbed her chin, tilting her face toward him. His grip was firm but not painful, his gaze locking onto hers.
"And in that contract," he murmured, his voice dangerously low, "I can have you anytime I want."
Before she could react, his lips crashed on her and kissed her
Then reality hit her like a slap.
With all the strength she had, shealapped him across the face
Lawrence barely reacted. If anything, he looked amused.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she choked out, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
He rubbed his jaw where she had hit him, smirking. "Come on, Elena. Don’t pretend you didn’t like it."
Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I hate you, Lawrence.
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- Writer
