23 Days Left
1164 Words
Jessica didn’t sleep.
She lay in bed staring at the ceiling, touching her lips every five minutes like she could still feel him there.
Starling’s kiss.
It wasn’t supposed to happen. The contract was clear. _Appearances only. No real intimacy._
But last night in that ballroom, with 50 cameras and 200 billionaires watching, he had kissed her like she was the last good thing in the world.
And then he drove away.
That was 14 hours ago.
No text. No call. Nothing.
Jessica rolled over and checked her phone again.
7:43 AM.
No new messages.
"Stupid," she muttered to herself. "It was fake. It was all fake."
But her body didn’t believe it.
---
By 9 AM she was at the Hale Enterprises building.
Contract rule #3: _Attend work events together twice a week._ Today was Monday. Board briefing.
The receptionist barely looked up. "Miss Carter. Mr. Hale is in a meeting."
"Right. I’ll wait."
She sat in the lobby for 45 minutes. Watching people. Watching the elevator.
When the doors finally opened, Starling walked out.
And he didn’t look at her.
Not once.
He was on his phone, talking to someone about stocks, wearing a navy suit that made him look untouchable. Two assistants flanked him.
Jessica stood up. "Starling?"
He paused. Looked right through her. "Linda, have my 10 AM moved."
And walked past her.
Like she was air.
Like last night never happened.
Jessica’s chest caved in.
---
The board meeting was torture.
She sat in the corner with a notepad, pretending to take notes while Starling ran the room. He was brilliant. Cold. Perfect.
Every 10 minutes her eyes would flick to him.
Would he look back?
He never did.
When the meeting ended, everyone stood. Starling gathered his files.
"Jessica," his assistant Linda said. "Mr. Hale says you can go. He has back-to-back meetings all day."
"Oh," Jessica said. "Okay."
She walked out of the building with her head high and tears burning her eyes.
23 days left.
---
Day 2 was worse.
No contact.
Jessica tried to tell herself she didn’t care. This was business. She needed the $50,000 for her mom’s surgery. That was it.
So why did she keep checking her phone?
Why did she wear the red dress again tonight, just in case he showed up at the restaurant for their "public dinner"?
He didn’t.
She sat alone at a table for two, ordered water, and left after 30 minutes. The waitress gave her a pitying look.
"Contract says public dinner," Jessica whispered on the cab ride home. "Doesn’t say he has to actually show up."
Her phone buzzed.
Her heart jumped.
It was her mom. `Honey, the hospital called. They need the deposit by Friday.`
Jessica closed her eyes. `I know mom. I’m handling it.`
---
By Day 3, Jessica was angry.
Angry at him. Angry at herself. Angry that one kiss had her acting like a lovesick teenager.
She showed up to the Hale charity event that night 20 minutes early. Hair perfect. Makeup sharp. Red lips that said _I don’t care_.
Starling was already there. Talking to investors. Laughing.
He looked up when she walked in. Their eyes met across the room.
For half a second, something flickered in his. Relief? Guilt?
Then his assistant whispered in his ear and the look was gone.
"Miss Carter," he said when she reached him. Professional. Distant. "You’re here."
"Contract says I have to be," Jessica said sweetly. Too sweetly. "Wouldn’t want to breach terms."
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Good."
The next hour was hell.
He introduced her as "my fiancée" to three different people. His hand rested on her back for photos. He smiled for the cameras.
And the entire time, he didn’t say one real word to her.
Not "how are you".
Not "are you okay".
Not "about last night".
Nothing.
On the drive home, Jessica couldn’t take it anymore.
"Are you punishing me?" she snapped.
Starling kept his eyes on the road. "For what."
"For kissing me. For making me think—" She cut herself off.
"Think what, Jessica?"
"That it meant something!"
The car went silent.
Finally, he pulled over. Parked.
He turned to her. For the first time in 3 days, he really looked at her.
"You want me to say it meant something?" His voice was low. Dangerous. "Fine. It did. Happy now?"
Jessica’s breath caught. "Then why are you—"
"Because we have 23 days left," he cut her off. "23 days where we have to pretend. And if I start acting like I care, Jessica, I won’t be able to stop. And then day 31 comes and you walk away. Again."
The word _again_ hit her like a slap.
"So this is easier?" she asked quietly. "Pretending you hate me?"
"This is survival," he said. Then he put the car in drive.
They didn’t talk the rest of the way.
---
That night Jessica cried.
Not because he was cold.
But because she understood.
He was scared. Just like her.
The contract was supposed to protect both of them. Money for her. Reputation for him.
But that kiss ruined the rules.
She picked up her phone. Typed. Deleted. Typed again.
`Starling. Can we talk? Not as fake fiancées. As us.`
She stared at it for 10 minutes.
Then deleted it.
Because what if he said no?
---
Day 4.
Jessica woke up to 20 missed calls from reporters.
And one text. From an unknown number.
`Black dress. 8 PM. Sterling Hotel. Press conference.`
It wasn’t signed.
But she knew.
She spent 4 hours getting ready. Black dress. Red lips. Armor.
The Sterling Hotel was packed. Cameras everywhere.
Starling was on stage when she arrived. Talking about the new Hale Foundation.
He saw her. Paused for half a second.
"And this," he said into the microphone, "wouldn’t be possible without the support of my fiancée, Jessica Carter."
Every head turned to her.
Jessica’s heart pounded as she walked to the stage.
Starling took her hand to help her up. His fingers were warm. His grip was tight.
For the cameras, he smiled.
For her, he whispered: "I’m sorry."
Jessica’s knees almost gave out.
They stood together while flashes went off.
Later, in the car, neither of them spoke.
Until Jessica couldn’t take it.
"23 days," she said.
"Yeah."
"That’s a long time to pretend."
Starling sighed. Ran a hand through his hair. He looked tired. "I know."
"What if we don’t pretend the whole time?"
He turned to her sharply. "What are you saying."
Jessica swallowed. "I’m saying... maybe we can be honest. With each other. Even if it’s fake for everyone else."
Starling stared at her.
For a long moment, she thought he’d say no.
Then he reached over and took her hand.
"Okay," he said softly. "Okay. Honest."
His thumb brushed over her knuckles.
And Jessica realized something terrifying.
23 days was too long.
Because she was already falling for him again.
- Writer
