The Unholy Intrusion

Chapter 3: The Plan Begins

“Tell me more about this Mark Adrian Gallo,” Selena said finally, her voice steady despite the storm of doubt brewing inside her.

Oliver leaned forward, his eyes lighting up with the hope that she was finally buying into the scheme. “He’s old money, like the kind of rich that comes from generations of wealth. He owns Gallo Vineyards, the biggest wine distributor in the country. His family has been in the business for decades, and the Gallos control most of the luxury wine market.”

Selena raised an eyebrow. “And this is the guy Vivian’s marrying? Sounds like a dream come true for someone who’s all about wealth and status.”

Oliver shook his head, bitterness lacing his tone. “That’s the thing. Vivian’s not like that. She doesn’t care about his money. Her family pressured her into this for some stupid business alliance. She’s practically being sold off to keep their company afloat.”

Selena tilted her head, watching him closely. “And you think me pretending to be pregnant with his child is going to stop all of this?”

Oliver nodded, leaning closer, his voice low and urgent. “Yes. Look, I know how it sounds. But Mark’s marriage to Vivian isn’t about love—it’s a business deal. That’s why I need you to help me. Vivian doesn’t love him, and he sure as hell doesn’t love her. This wedding is nothing more than a merger between their families’ businesses.”

Selena set her glass down and ran a hand through her long dark hair, trying to process everything. “And you think *this* plan will work? Intruding at their wedding and pretending I’m pregnant with the groom’s baby? It’s… It’s insane, Ollie!”

Oliver's eyes flashed with desperation, but there was something more in them now, a confidence that unnerved her. "Selena, you don't understand. Mark doesn’t want this wedding any more than Vivian does. He's a powerful man, but even someone like him can’t escape the politics of business. If he thinks this fake scandal could give him an out—he'll take it. We just have to plant the seed, make it believable enough that he’ll latch onto it.”

Selena felt a chill run down her spine. The stakes were higher than she'd imagined. Mark Adrian Gallo wasn't just any man. He was a multimillionaire with influence, power, and an empire built on wealth. People like him didn’t take kindly to scandals, especially ones that could ruin carefully laid business plans. But then again, Oliver had a point. If this marriage was purely transactional, maybe, just maybe, they could manipulate the situation to their advantage.

“And Vivian?” Selena asked quietly. “What happens to her if this plan works?”

“She’s better off,” Oliver said quickly, his voice thick with emotion. “She’ll be free to make her own choices again. She’s not meant for that life, Selena. She’s… she’s trapped. And I need to save her before it’s too late.”

Selena could see the strain in Oliver’s face, the way his fingers twitched against the table, his jaw clenched. She had known him long enough to know when he was falling apart inside. This wasn’t just about love for him anymore—this was his last chance to pull himself out of the spiral he’d been in since Alyssa left him. But as much as she wanted to help her best friend, the thought of throwing herself into this dangerous charade made her stomach churn.

“Three days, Selena,” Oliver said softly, his voice breaking through her thoughts. “We’ve only got three days until the wedding. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I need you. I’ve always had your back, and I swear—this will work. Mark will be too caught up in the scandal to go through with the wedding.”

Selena sighed, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She had always prided herself on being rational, grounded. But for Oliver, she had done things that defied reason before, always out of loyalty. This time, though, the stakes were far higher.

“And what if Mark doesn’t buy it?” she asked, her tone skeptical. “What if he sees through this and things get ugly?”

Oliver hesitated, then shook his head. “He won’t. Mark Gallo has a reputation for being ruthless in business, but he’s still a man. He’ll be drawn to you, Selena. You’ve got something that people can’t resist, and once he sees you, he won’t be able to get you out of his head.”

Selena bit her lip, uncertain whether to feel flattered or terrified by that. She had always been able to turn heads, but the idea of intentionally captivating someone like Mark Adrian Gallo unsettled her in ways she couldn’t fully explain.

“What do you even know about him?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “He’s not just some guy, Ollie. He’s a multimillionaire, and if we screw this up, we’ll be dealing with someone who has the power to ruin both our lives.”

Oliver’s jaw tightened, but he held her gaze. “I know enough. He’s smart, calculating, and driven. But he’s also trapped by the expectations of his family and their empire. And that’s what we’ll use to our advantage. He’ll see this scandal as a way out.”

Selena sighed heavily. Every part of her screamed that this was a terrible idea, that they were walking into something far more dangerous than either of them could anticipate. But Oliver’s desperation was palpable, his belief in this plan unwavering. And as much as she wanted to walk away, she couldn’t leave him to face this mess alone.

“Fine,” she said quietly, her heart pounding as the words left her lips. “I’ll do it.”

Oliver’s eyes lit up with relief, and he grabbed her hands across the table, squeezing them tightly. “You won’t regret this, Selena. We’ll pull it off, I swear. Everything will go according to plan.”

But as they sat there in the dim bar, Selena couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing about this was going to be that simple. The countdown to Friday had begun, and with only three days left, they were stepping into a game that neither of them fully understood.

And what neither of them could foresee was that once Mark Adrian Gallo laid eyes on Selena, things would shift in a way that no one—especially Selena—could have predicted. Mark wouldn’t just be caught in the web they were spinning.

He would become obsessed. And when a man like Mark sets his sights on something—or someone—he doesn’t stop until he has it. No matter the cost.