Can we meet halfway ?

In this world, having no money is the same as having no worth. It is a bitter truth I learned long ago, ever since I was left alone with no one to rely on but myself. That's why I work tirelessly, pouring every ounce of my strength into chasing the dream of a better life. Yet no matter how hard I strive, it always feels as though an invisible ceiling stands above me. No matter how far I run, I remain trapped in the same place—watching from a distance the life I've always wanted but have never been able to reach. "So, in the end, I still have to rely on someone, huh?" I let out a bitter laugh. "It's only temporary. Once we've both achieved what we want, you're free to do whatever you please." He leaned back in his chair, his gaze unwavering. "Keep your eyes on the prize, hija." He slid the check across the table. "This is more money than you could ever earn spending your entire life working as a servant." "I'm not a servant," I murmured under my breath. But part of me knew he wasn't entirely wrong. After all, I was a slave to money. I let out a helpless sigh. I wasn't the type to beat around the bush. If I wanted something, I went straight for it. "So, what exactly do I need to do?" I asked. He proceeded to explain the details of my role, and I listened attentively, making sure not to miss a single word. "You can move in the day after tomorrow," he said. "It'll give you enough time to settle in and adjust." A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Besides, he's already expecting you." I glanced up at the towering estate before looking back at the note in my hand, double-checking the address. Wow. The place was nothing short of magnificent. Was I really going to live here while pretending to be his fiancée? I lifted my gaze once more, taking in the sprawling mansion and its immaculate grounds. The sheer display of wealth was enough to leave anyone speechless. Just what kind of man was he? With riches like these, there were probably countless women willing to throw themselves at him for the chance to become his fiancée—even for real. So why hire me? Of all people, why me? "Is this some sort of charity case?" I murmured to myself before shrugging the thought away. Whatever. Eyes on the prize, girl. Remember, you're broke. I mentally hyped myself up and walked toward the gate, where a security guard was stationed. Pulling out my phone, I showed him the message from Sir Clark—the man who had recommended me for this job. The guard looked me up and down, his displeasure impossible to miss. For a moment, I thought he was going to turn me away. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he merely shrugged and unlocked a small section of the massive gate. "Welcome to the dungeon, Miss," he said. I blinked and turned to look at him. Dungeon? Just what kind of dungeon looked this beautiful? My gaze wandered over the breathtaking estate once more—the grand architecture, the manicured gardens, and the fountain sparkling beneath the afternoon sun. Beauty and the Beast much? If this was a dungeon, then I was more than willing to be imprisoned here. Were we really the only two people living here? And more importantly... Was I expected to clean this entire place? My eyes swept over the massive estate once more. Wait. Was this the plot twist? Was that why the offer was so ridiculously high? I knew it. No sane person would pay that much money for a fake fiancée. As I continued down the long driveway—still several minutes away from the main house—two maids approached me with polite smiles. Oh. So that's what it was. There were maids. And thankfully, I wasn't one of them. A wave of relief washed over me. My sole responsibility was to play the role of his fiancée. Still... Why me? Did he need someone poor and utterly ordinary to spite his family? Or was this some elaborate revenge against an ex-fiancée? The more I thought about it, the less sense it made. Surely a man this wealthy and powerful could have chosen someone prettier, more elegant, and far more believable. Unless... That was exactly the point. And somehow, that realization wasn't comforting at all. Was he going to bully me? Humiliate me? Look down on me? The questions suddenly came rushing into my mind. Come to think of it, I didn't even know what he looked like. Mr. Clark had only given me the most basic information—a name, an age, and the fact that he was ridiculously rich. That was it. No photo. No background. Nothing. I slowed my steps. What if I'd unknowingly walked into something dangerous? What if this wasn't a fake-fiancée arrangement at all? What if it was some kind of syndicate? For the first time since accepting the offer, the reality of my situation finally sank in. I was about to live with a complete stranger. A very rich stranger. A very rich stranger whose face I had never even seen. I let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Seriously, girl..." I muttered to myself. "You're way too obsessed with money." Then again, money had a way of making people ignore red flags. And judging by my current situation, I was apparently one of those people. Seriously, there's no use crying over spilled milk. Think positive. It's not as if my life could get any worse than it already is. Besides, Mr. Clark was right. No matter how hard I worked, I would never earn that kind of money in a lifetime through honest labor alone. The opportunity was right in front of me, and walking away from it would be foolish. So why keep overthinking? I had already made my choice. Whatever waited for me behind those grand doors, I'd face it when the time came. For now, all I needed to do was keep my eyes on the prize. "You may choose whichever room you'd like to stay in," one of the maids said as she guided me through the mansion. Wow. I had that privilege? "Seriously?" I asked. The maid looked at me as if I'd said something amusing. I stared back. There was something about her that didn't quite fit the image of a maid. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was an air about her that felt... different. I tilted my head, trying to figure it out, but eventually gave up. "So, where's his room?" I asked casually. The maid stopped walking and turned to me with a bewildered expression. "You want to share a room with him?" she asked. "What? No!" I blurted out immediately. "I'm asking because I want to choose the room farthest away from his." Her eyebrow twitched. Meanwhile, alarm bells rang inside my head. What if she was one of his spies? The last thing I needed was for her to report back to her boss and tell him I was already plotting to seduce him on my first day. Absolutely not. I came here for money, not romance. The farther away his room was, the safer my peace of mind would be.