One Night, One Contract

Wife for the cameras

Vanessa

'Relax.' I kept telling myself as I adjusted the diamond ring on my finger for the fifth time this morning. It was heavy. Too heavy. Like the weight of the lie I had just agreed to live.

The Devonte's PR team had transformed me in a matter of hours. My hair was professionally styled, my makeup was flawless, and my simple taste was replaced with designer elegance.

My reflection in this gilded mirror looked like someone else. It felt fake, like everything I was doing right now. I looked poised, polished, and born to be on Alexander Devonte's arm.

But inside? I was a mess of nerves.

It has been a month—a month of full pampering from Alexander. We moved in together two weeks ago, and I haven't had any complaints.

He made himself scarce and I barely got to see him in those two weeks. He had even hired a private etiquette tutor to teach me everything I needed to know about the aristocratic world. And I also automatically got included in his family's health insurance so I didn't have to worry about my medications anymore.

I went on spa dates and shopping sprees and he took me out on lunch/dinner dates occasionally so our pictures could be taken and circulated by the blogs.

It was extremely weird at first seeing my pictures in the blogs, but Alexander and his PR team did a good job of not disclosing any of my personal information until after our marriage was announced.

I was tagged 'The mystery woman.'

Trust Anna to ask every single question on this planet when I informed her of my marriage to Alexander. I had already prepared the perfect story to tell her which was.

I had met Alexander before now and we had previously been in a relationship and then we broke up due to the long distance of him leaving for Europe, but I didn't know who he was at that time, until I saw him again at the Gala that night and then I found out who he was the next day at the reception when she had told me about him.

Thankfully she bought the story and there was a lot of squealing and very annoying giggles but I let her have her moment.

..........................................................

"You look like you're about to faint." Alexander said from the doorway of the dressing suite.

I turned to him. He was already in a charcoal-gray suit, his tie perfect and his cufflinks gleaming.

He seemed too cool and reserved, as if we were about to walk into a business lunch instead of announcing our marriage to the world.

"I have handled billionaires, board meetings, and hostile takeovers." He said, approaching me.

"But I have never introduced my wife to the

press before."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Is the mighty Alexander Devonte nervous?"

"Terrified." He said with a faint smirk.

I smiled. That made me feel better, that he was feeling the same emotions as me. At least I knew I wasn't the weird one here.

We were headed to a private luncheon with board members, his family included, and the elite press.

Alexander's assistant had already sent out the announcement: Alexander Devonte, newly appointed CEO of Devonte Hotels, is officially off the market. Surprise wedding, details to follow.

The internet was exploding. Literally.

"I still can't believe this is happening." I murmured, pulling on the hem of my dress.

"Best believe it." He replied.

"I want everyone to see you on my arm today. We give them the fantasy, and we move on."

I nodded, trying to swallow the lump in my throat.

"Hey." His voice softened. "You okay?"

My gaze met his eyes. And for the first time since this deal, I saw something real there. Not cold nonchalance. Not calculating. Just pure concern.

"I'm fine." I lied.

He offered his arm. "Let's go play husband and wife."

The ballroom was buzzing with excitement when we arrived. Cameras flashed, reporters surged forward, and whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire.

Alexander was calm, collected, and smooth as ever. He proceeded to introduce me to everyone. Investors, shareholders, hotel executives, and his family.

"This is my wife, Vanessa."

Not my new wife. Not my sudden wife.

Just my wife.

I smiled, nodded, and laughed when appropriate. I don't know how but I became charming and poised. Maybe from all the etiquette lessons I had taken. But every moment was a high-stakes performance.

Just like the calm before the storm. The Devonte twins, Estrella and Marina, and their mother Bernice walked up to us.

"Well, well, well. I see you didn't waste any time, dear brother." Marina said in a mocking tone.

I knew of the evil Devonte twins. From gossip I mean. The ones that Anna had always shared with me.

This is my first time seeing them in person, and unlike what I had heard, they were stunning. Literal goddesses. Beauty must run in the Devonte genes.

They had spread the rumor that Alexander was an illegitimate child. But the truth is, Alexander's mother is the first wife of Leonardo Devonte, and she died during childbirth.

For the sake of the family Leonardo had to marry Bernice when Alexander was just three years old, so Alexander grew up without motherly love and because Bernice didn't give birth to a male child and couldn't have any more children after she had the twins her hatred for Alexander grew because she wanted her son to be the heir to the Devonte fortune instead of Alexander.

She had also raised the twins to despise Alexander. Leonardo was aware of the bad blood between them, but he said and did nothing about it and that's how it has always been.

"So did you two fall in love before or after dad stated his conditions to the handover process?" Estrella asked with a smile, too sweet to be genuine.

"Don't be like that, girls. Let's give the newest addition to the Devonte family a warm welcome." Bernice said, smiling sweetly as she opened her arms for a hug.

Paparazzi were lurking around and I couldn't take the risk of acting out of character.

Well, two can play this game.

I mustered up my sweetest smile and went in for the hug with Bernice and kissed her cheeks.

"It's so nice to finally meet your family, baby." I said with a chuckle as I turned to face Alexander, who was already looking at me, giving me a knowing smirk.

"Thank you so much for your warm welcome, Mrs Devonte. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." I said, still smiling sweetly.

"Whatever, Veronica." Marina sneered.

"It's Vanessa, darling." I corrected.

"Just in case you didn't hear when my husband announced it. Or you could call me, Mrs Devonte."I said, caressing Alexander's arms.

"And you're Estrella, and you're Marina, and of course, Mrs Bernice, but I will call you mother from now on because we are family." I said, pointing at each of them.

"How dare you, low life, speak to us that way?" Marina snapped.

"Careful, Marina. You don't want to cause a scene now, do you?" Alexander tutted. "Your face has been in the blogs enough."

"I could say the same about you, dear brother. Especially when lies unravel easily." Estrella retorted.

I could see Alexander's jaw tighten from the corner of my eye.

"Let's go, girls. Let's give the newlyweds some space." Bernice said, smiling smugly.

As soon as they left, I released the breath I didn't know I was holding, and my stomach churned.

If they as much as got a whiff of our arrangement, it was going to be game over and Alexander would lose his inheritance and I can kiss my dreams of owning a hotel goodbye.

"Are they going to be a problem?" I asked.

"They already are." He said, his demeanor turning cold.

I looked up to see the evil twins and their mother smirking at us. I stared back at them with narrowed eyes.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted as all the guests began checking their phones and throwing suspicious glances at Alexander and me.

My eyes shifted back to the twins. Marina winked at me while Estrella raised her wine glass at me in mock toast.

Alexander finally noticed the looks from the guests and pulled out his phone.

Turned out someone had released a video of me working as a receptionist at the hotel with a caption "Real marriage or fake."

Alexander turned his phone to me, my eyes widened in shock and a shiver ran down my spine. Meanwhile, Alexander looked like he was about to commit murder.

"They want real right?" Alexander said through clenched teeth. "We are going to give them a show."

I stared at him like he had suddenly lost his mind. Completely oblivious to what was going to happen next.