Until the vows break

CHAPTER3

Chapter Three

Elara sat across from Dante in the dimly restaurant stirring the untouched cup of tea in front of her. . She still couldn't quite wrap her head around his proposal. It was a marriage of convenience and he was a billionaire? It sounded like something out of the novels she read, not real life.

Dante leaned back in his chair, watching her with a bit of amusement. "You’re thinking too much"

She blinked at him. "You just asked me to marry you like it’s a business transaction. You don’t think that requires a little thought?"

He smirked. "But it is a business transaction. I need a wife and you need stability. This arrangement benefits us both"

Elara exhaled sharply. "And why exactly do you need a wife? You don’t seem like the type to care about societal expectations"

Dante narrowed his eyes at her words. She wasn't far from the truth though. "My business requires it. Investors, the board… they like stability. A married man with a family is seen as reliable"

She crossed her arms. "And why me? You could have any woman you want. Hell, you could pay someone much more qualified for the role"

He tilted his head. "You intrigue me, Elara. I saw you that day in the hospital, struggling, and yet, you didn’t break. That kind of resilience is rare"

She scoffed. "So, you’re offering me a deal because I was broke and desperate?"

"I’m offering you a way out" he corrected. "You won’t have to worry about money, a home, or the baby’s future. In return, we put on a convincing show of a happy marriage until I no longer need it. Then, we part ways…no complications"

Elara stared at him for a long moment. "And no… physical expectations?"

His lips twitched. "No. This is strictly business"

She tapped her fingers against the table, considering. "You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?"

Dante chuckled. "I don’t make impulsive decisions"

Elara let out a dry laugh. "Good for you. I’m desperate"

A spark of amusement flickered in his eyes. Without another word, he reached into his coat and pulled out a black card and placed it placing it on the table in front of her. "Buy everything you need to look the part. High fashion, look elegant. You’re a Sinclair now"

She hesitated before picking it up. "You really trust me with this card?”

He shrugged. "If you run, I’ll find you. if I can't find you I'll block your access to money. Although it's highly impossible I won't find you"

She swallowed hard giving him a sarcastic smile. " How comforting"

Dante stood, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small velvet box. He flipped it open, revealing a diamond ring that had a bit of emerald imbeded in it. "Put this on from now on, if any body asks you, you're engaged. We aren't taking any chances"

Elara’s felt the air around her suffocating. She had never seen such an amazing looking peice of jewelry. "You’re really not giving me time to think, are you?"

He smirked. "You already decided the moment you didn’t walk away"

She took the ring with a sigh, slipping it onto her finger. It was perfect which was a bit strange but she didn't question it. "And if I fail at playing my role?"

"You care about your baby and you are just going to answer Mrs Scliair that's not hard"

“Well, you have a point I gueess”

“Come on let's get you home” he said simply. Then, without another word, he escorted her out, guiding her to his car. He drove her home in silence.

As he pulled up in front of her apartment, she hesitated before stepping out. Then, with a small, uncertain wave, she murmured, "Maybe this won’t be so bad"

Dante smirked, watching her disappear into the building. "We’ll see"

Elara stared at the black card in her palm, its weight far heavier than it should have been. It bared his name that was sure. No mistaking who it belonged to. He was a billionaire for real.

The previous night’s conversation still echoed in her head. He had been unnervingly calm, as if he had planned this entire thing down to the last detail. He had laid out the terms like a businessman closing a deal… it was a deal after all.

All she had to do was act the part of his fiancée, and in return, he would ensure she never had to worry about money again. But there will be no love, Just an arrangement built on necessity.

And yet, despite how absurd it all sounded, here she was, holding his black card, tasked with transforming herself into the kind of woman who looked like she belonged on his arm.

Elara exhaled slowly as she looked at herself in the mirror one last time “I guess we’re really doing this" she muttered to herself before reaching for her coat. She had work to do.

The luxury shopping district wasn’t a place she had ever stepped foot in before. The air itself seemed different here. It felt lighter and fresher, as if money alone had the power to cleanse it.

The women walking past her wore silk blouses and stilettos that cost more than her rent.

Elara swallowed hard and squared her shoulders. She needed to act little she belogned.

She pushed open the doors to the first boutique and was immediately met with the scent of expensive perfume. A woman in a black dress and red lipstick approached her with a practiced smile.

“Welcome to Verano’s. How may I assist you?”

Elara hesitated. What was she supposed to say? ‘I’m here to spend a billionaire’s money and pretend I belong in his world’?

She cleared her throat. “I need an entirely new wardrobe"

The woman’s expression remained polite, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. “Of course. Do you have a particular style in mind?”

“I… No, I don’t"

The saleswoman’s smile widened. “That’s alright. Let’s start with a few basics"

She gestured for Elara to follow her toward the racks of clothing that looked impossibly elegant. The first thing she pulled out was a deep emerald-green dress” she smiled at her choice.

“This would look stunning on you"

Elara ran her fingers over the fabric, marveling at how soft it was. “I don’t even know where I’d wear something like this"

The woman chuckled. “If you’re shopping here, I imagine you’ll have plenty of places to wear it"

Elara bit her lip, debating, before nodding. “I’ll take it"

“Excellent choice"

The next hour passed with selection of silks, cashmere, and leather. The saleswoman, whose name she learned was Celeste, pulled together entire outfits with an efficiency that Elara found both intimidating and impressive.

At the end, she had blazers that made her look like she belonged in a boardroom, designer jeans that hugged her figure perfectly. Soft blouses in colors that made her skin glow. She had never spent more than forty dollars on a pair of shoes, and now she was trying on heels that cost more than three months’ worth of groceries.

She hesitated over a pair of black stilettos with red soles, running her thumb over the smooth leather. “Are these even comfortable?”

Celeste smirked. “Comfortable enough for a woman who walks like she owns the world"

Elara huffed a laugh. “Well, I guess I’d better learn how to do that"

By the time they moved on to accessories, Elara’s head was spinning. She had never owned real jewelry before, yet here she was, picking out diamond earrings like it was nothing.

Celeste eyed her engagement finger. “Will you be needing a ring as well?”

Elara stiffened. “No, I already have one"

Celeste nodded knowingly. “Understood. Let’s move on to handbags"

Thirty minutes and countless bags later, Elara stepped outside finally. Her arms were aching from the weight of her purchases.

She couldn’t even process the amount of money she had just spent. She wasn’t sure she wanted to.

Her phone buzzed and she saw it was a message from Dante.

“I trust you got everything you need. I’ll send a car to pick you up tomorrow morning”

She exhaled, staring at the message for a long moment before tucking her phone away.