The Rejected Luna: Claimed by the Cold CEO Alpha

Chapter 10: A Date That Wasn't Fake

"Get ready," Victor said. "8 PM. Black dress."

"For what?" I asked.

"Our first date," he replied like it was obvious. "To sell the 'girlfriend' story."

Fake date. Right.

At 8 PM, his driver took us to the top of the city. A private restaurant. Just us. Candles. City lights.

"This is too much," I whispered.

"Then they'll believe it," Victor said. But his eyes didn't look fake.

Dinner was quiet at first. Awkward.

"So," I said. "What do you do for fun, Mr. Cold CEO?"

Victor almost smiled. "Work."

"Shocking."

"Your turn. What did you do before me?"

I shrugged. "Survived. Worked 3 jobs. Tried to forget Damian."

Victor's expression darkened. "Don't say his name on our date."

"Our fake date," I corrected.

Victor put his fork down. "Is that what you think this is? Fake?"

I looked away. "Isn't it?"

Silence.

Then Victor stood up and walked to my side of the table. He held out his hand.

"Dance with me."

"There's no music."

"I'll hum."

I laughed. I couldn't help it. And I took his hand.

He pulled me close. One hand on my back. The other holding mine.

And he hummed. Low. A song I didn't know.

We swayed. Just us. 80 floors above the city.

"You don't have to do this," I whispered.

"I know," Victor said against my hair. "But I want to."

My heart skipped. "Victor..."

"Don't," he said. "Don't make this harder than it already is."

"What do you mean?"

He stopped dancing. Pulled back to look at me. His eyes were dark. Torn.

"Clause 8, Luna. No feelings. And I'm failing. Badly."

The air left my lungs.

"Me too," I admitted. "I think about you. All the time. Even when Damian--"

"Don't." Victor cut me off. His thumb brushed my cheek. "I don't want to hear his name."

"Then what do you want?"

Victor leaned in. Slow. Giving me time to pull away.

I didn't.

His kiss was soft. Questioning. Not possessive like before. Just... real.

When we pulled apart, we were both breathing hard.

"This was a mistake," Victor said.

"Was it?" I asked.

Victor didn't answer. He just paid the bill and took me home.

At my door, he stopped. "Goodnight, Luna."

"Goodnight," I whispered.

He walked away. But he looked back once.

And I knew.

This contract was going to ruin both of us.