THE ENEMY WITHIN
812 Words
The pen felt heavier than it should have.
Lily stared at the signature line for a long moment.
This was reckless. Irrational. Dangerous.
But so was walking away.
She signed.
The scratch of ink across paper sounded louder than it should have.
Alexander didn’t smile.
He simply took the contract back, as if he had known all along what her decision would be.
Wise choice, he said.
“It doesn’t feel wise.”
“It will.”
She wasn’t convinced.
Your schedule changes immediately,he continued. “You’ll move into my penthouse tonight.”
Tonight? Her voice rose before she could stop it.
“Yes.”
“That’s insane.”
“It’s necessary.”
For credibility?she asked sharply.
“For protection.”
Her heartbeat faltered.
Protection from who?
For the first time since she had met him, Alexander hesitated.
Just slightly.
And that frightened her more than his control ever had.
“There are people who would benefit from my downfall.”
The words were flat. No emotion. Just fact.
Lily waited.
Alexander didn’t continue.
“That’s it?” she asked. “That’s your explanation?”
His gaze moved back to the contract on the desk.
“You don’t need the explanation. You signed.”
A flicker of irritation sparked in her chest.
“You asked me to move into your house and pretend to marry you. I think I deserve a little more than half a sentence.”
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Then he spoke again.
“My former fiancee recommended you.”
The statement was so unexpected Lily almost laughed.
Your ex… recommended me?
“Yes.”
Why would she do that?
He shrugged slightly, like it didn’t matter.
“She thinks you’re harmless.”
The word stung.
Before Lily could respond, his phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at it briefly, then turned the screen face down.
Dismissed.
“Her name is Victoria Hale,” he added.
Again, like he was stating a line from a report.
Lily searched her memory.
Nothing.
“She’s important,” Alexander said, noticing the confusion in her face.
“How important?”
He leaned back in his chair.
“Her father owns thirty percent of Sterling Media.”
Lily blinked.
“That’s… a lot.”
“Yes.”
“And she wants you back?”
His expression didn’t change.
“She wants control.”
The way he said it made something uneasy twist in Lily’s stomach.
“And this fake engagement stops her?”
“It complicates things for her.”
“That sounds like it’ll make her angry.”
“It already has.”
Lily rubbed her forehead.
“So let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “Your ex-fiancée hates you, her family owns part of your company, and now I’m supposed to pretend to be your future wife.”
“Yes.”
“And you don’t see how that might become a disaster?”
Alexander studied her quietly.
For a moment, she wondered if he was reconsidering.
Then he said,
“If you wanted safety, you signed the wrong contract.”
That answer didn’t comfort her at all.
“Your family must love this idea,” she muttered.
Something shifted in his expression then.
Not much.
But enough.
“My family doesn’t get a vote.”
“That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“My uncle sits on the board,” he said.
“And?”
“He prefers Victoria.”
Of course he did.
Lily let out a slow breath.
“So everyone is basically waiting for you to fail.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“And you’re dragging me into the middle of it.”
Alexander’s gaze sharpened.
“You signed willingly.”
“That was before I knew your life was a battlefield.”
A faint, humorless smile appeared.
“Everything is a battlefield.”
The calmness in his voice sent a chill through her.
Lily looked down at the contract again.
“Tell me something honestly,” she said.
“If this backfires… what happens to me?”
Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
He stood instead, walking toward the window overlooking the city.
For a long moment he said nothing.
Then, without turning around, he replied,
“Stay close to me.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the safest option you have.”
Something about the way he said it made her pulse quicken.
Not comforting.
Warning.
Before she could ask another question, her phone vibrated in her hand.
Unknown number.
She hesitated… then answered.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice slid through the speaker.
Smooth. Calm. Dangerous.
“You must be Lily.”
The blood drained from her face.
She slowly lifted her eyes to Alexander.
“Who is this?” she asked carefully.
A quiet laugh answered her.
“Let’s not pretend you don’t know.”
- Writer
