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1004 Words
Elena didn’t get home until late that evening.
After leaving the hospital, she had spent several more hours with Daniel. Telling him that she had managed to secure a loan from work to cover his surgery had been one of the happiest moments she had experienced in months.
The relief in his eyes was unforgettable.
For the first time in a long while, he looked hopeful.
He smiled more.
He laughed more.
And when the doctor stopped by to confirm that the surgery could finally be scheduled, Elena had nearly cried all over again.
Now, sitting on the edge of her bed in her small apartment, reality was beginning to settle in.
The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the ceiling fan above her.
Her laptop sat open.
Her phone rested beside her.
And displayed on both screens was the same thing.
What to Know About Alexander Vale.
Elena groaned.
She had been reading for almost two hours already.
There was simply too much information.
She learned that Alexander preferred black coffee without sugar. He hated being late. He rarely took vacations. He donated millions every year to different charities but never spoke about it publicly.
The more she read, the more confused she became.
Was she studying her future husband or preparing for a final exam?
Determined not to embarrass herself at dinner, Elena opened another tab and searched for Patrick Hartwell.
The moment Elena clicked on the first image, her confidence disappeared.
“Oh no.”
Patrick Hartwell looked terrifying.
Even in photographs.
His sharp eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through lies.
Every article described him the same way.
Brilliant.
Demanding.
Fearless.
Ruthless when necessary.
A self-made billionaire who had transformed a struggling company into a global empire.
The more Elena read, the worse she felt.
One article described him as a man who could determine whether someone was lying within minutes of meeting them.
Another claimed he once rejected a business deal worth hundreds of millions because he didn’t trust the person sitting across from him.
Elena’s anxiety skyrocketed.
This was the man she needed to fool tomorrow.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
She dropped backward onto her pillow.
“What have I gotten myself into?”
The ceiling offered no answers.
After a few minutes, she forced herself upright again.
Giving up wasn’t an option.
Not anymore.
She opened the document and started studying again.
Hours passed.
The apartment became darker.
The city outside grew quieter.
Yet Elena remained exactly where she was.
Reading.
Memorizing.
Repeating the words in the document.
Trying desperately to prepare.
By midnight, her eyes were burning.
By one in the morning, she had memorized Alexander’s favorite restaurant.
By two, she knew the names of his family members.
By three, she was practicing answers to imaginary questions.
How did you meet Alexander?
What attracted you to him?
When did you realize you were in love?
The answers sounded ridiculous every time she said them aloud.
At four in the morning, she finally closed her phone.
“I can’t do this.”
But the moment she lay down, her brain refused to cooperate.
What if Patrick asked something unexpected?
What if she forgot an important detail?
What if Alexander forgot part of their story?
What if Patrick hated her immediately?
The questions refused to stop.
She tossed and turned.
Checked the time.
Tried sleeping again.
Failed.
Eventually, sunlight began creeping through the curtains.
Elena groaned.
She hadn’t slept at all.
Not even for a minute.
Around eight o’clock, she was sitting on the couch drinking coffee when a sharp knock sounded at her door.
She frowned.
Nobody visited this early.
Another knock followed.
More impatient this time.
Elena placed her mug down and walked toward the entrance.
The moment she opened the door, she froze.
A delivery man stood outside holding several large luxury shopping bags.
The kind she had only seen outside expensive designer stores.
“Miss Elena Hart?”
“Yes?”
“The man smiled politely.
“These were sent to you.”
Elena blinked.
“Sent by who?”
The delivery man checked his tablet.
“Mr. Alexander Vale.”
Her stomach dropped. Of course.
Who else would send luxury shopping bags to her apartment at eight in the morning?
The delivery man handed them over before leaving.
Curiosity immediately took over.
She carried the bags inside and placed them on the couch.
Then she opened the first one.
Her breath caught.
Inside was a stunning evening dress.
The fabric looked expensive.
Elegant.
Sophisticated.
Beautiful.
The kind of dress celebrities wore on red carpets.
The kind of dress Elena had never imagined wearing herself.
She carefully lifted it out.
The material felt soft beneath her fingertips.
Another bag contained matching heels.
Another contained jewelry.
And inside the smallest box sat a delicate diamond bracelet.
Elena stared at everything.
Speechless.
This was more expensive than anything she had ever owned.
Combined.
Then she noticed a small envelope tucked beneath the dress.
She opened it carefully.
Inside was a single note.
Wear this tonight. My driver will pick you up at seven— Alexander
Elena stared at the note.
Then at the dress.
Then back at the note.
Her heart immediately began racing.
Everything suddenly felt real again.
Elena couldn’t afford to make a mistake tonight.
Patrick Hartwell had to believe that she and Alexander were genuinely in love. The problem was that she didn’t belong in Alexander’s world. His life was filled with power, wealth, and influence, while hers had always been ordinary and full of struggles.
Still, she had no choice but to make the act convincing.
Sitting on her bed, she opened the document again and carefully reviewed every detail about Alexander—his habits, preferences, family, and personal life. If Patrick asked questions, she needed to answer confidently. Tonight could determine the success or failure of their entire arrangement.
Determined, she spent hours memorizing every detail about Alexander again and again, preparing for the toughest test of her life.
- Writer
