Isla Was Never Her Name

The Man In The Column

I didn't see the man again for eleven days.

During those eleven days, I tried to convince myself that I had imagined the strange look in his eyes.

Maybe he was just a stranger.

Maybe he had been looking at someone behind me.

Maybe I had been too nervous that day and had simply misunderstood him.

By the fifth day, I almost believed it.

By the eleventh day, I knew I was wrong.

Because there he was.

Watching me again.

I stood in the middle of the Blackwood estate, surrounded by people I didn't know, wearing a dress that probably cost more than all the money I had ever spent on clothes.

And across the room stood Adrian Blackwood.

He was leaning against one of the marble columns.

He wasn't talking to anyone.

He wasn't smiling.

He was simply watching me.

My stomach tightened.

I quickly looked away.

"Don't look so nervous."

Alexander's voice pulled me back.

I turned toward him.

"I'm not nervous."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You've been holding the same glass for five minutes."

I looked down.

He was right.

My fingers tightened around the champagne glass.

"This was your idea," I whispered.

"I know."

"You said it would be simple."

"It is simple."

I looked around the huge room.

There were expensive paintings on the walls, crystal lights hanging from the ceiling, and more people than I had expected.

"This doesn't look simple."

Alexander smiled.

"You're going to get used to it."

I wasn't sure I wanted to.

Tonight was our engagement dinner.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

In reality, Alexander and I had signed a contract.

One year.

That was all.

One year of pretending to love each other.

One year of smiling for cameras.

One year of attending dinners like this.

Then we would go our separate ways.

Before I arrived, Alexander's assistant had given me a new biography.

A fake one.

According to the papers, I had grown up in Vermont.

I had worked at an art gallery.

My mother was still alive but preferred to live a private life.

None of it was true.

I had read the information so many times that I was beginning to remember the lies better than my real memories.

That scared me.

I didn't want to forget who I really was.

But that was the whole point.

Nobody could know the truth.

Not Alexander.

Not his family.

And definitely not Adrian.

"Smile," Alexander whispered.

I looked at him.

"Why?"

"Someone is taking a picture."

I forced a smile.

Alexander placed his hand around my waist.

His touch felt natural enough to anyone watching us.

But I knew the truth.

This was an act.

Everything was an act.

"You'll be fine," he said quietly.

"And if someone asks about the gallery?"

"No one will ask."

"What if they do?"

"Then I'll answer."

I frowned.

"You can't answer everything for me."

"I can try."

I almost laughed.

That was Alexander.

Always confident.

Always in control.

For the next hour, I met people whose names I knew I would forget.

There were family members.

Business partners.

Friends.

People who smiled at me because they wanted something from Alexander.

Everyone seemed interested in the billionaire's new fiancée.

Some looked impressed.

Others looked jealous.

One woman spent almost ten minutes telling me how lucky I was.

I didn't know what to say to that.

Lucky.

Was that what I was?

I was about to marry a man I barely knew.

I was lying about my past.

I was living inside a contract.

And the only reason I had agreed was because my family was about to lose their home.

If that was luck, I didn't want to know what bad luck looked like.

I took another sip of champagne.

Then the room became strangely quiet.

Not completely silent.

Just quieter.

Conversations stopped one by one.

People began looking toward the entrance.

I didn't understand why until I heard someone whisper.

"Adrian is here."

My fingers tightened around the glass.

I slowly turned.

He walked into the room.

Adrian Blackwood.

He was dressed in a black suit with no tie.

His dark hair was slightly messy, as if he didn't care about looking perfect.

But somehow, he looked more intimidating than everyone else in the room.

People moved aside as he walked past them.

He didn't greet anyone.

He didn't need to.

His presence was enough.

Then his eyes found mine.

Again.

This time, he didn't look away.

Neither did I.

For a few seconds, the entire room seemed to disappear.

There was something about his eyes.

They weren't simply curious.

They were searching.

As if he was trying to remember something.

As if he had seen me before.

But that was impossible.

Wasn't it?

Alexander's hand tightened around my waist.

"Don't."

I looked at him.

"Don't what?"

"Don't look at him."

I lowered my voice.

"Why?"

"Because I told you to stay away from him."

Before I could answer, Adrian started walking toward us.

My heart began beating faster.

Alexander's expression changed.

"Stay here."

He stepped forward.

Adrian stopped a few feet away.

For the first time, I saw the two men standing face-to-face.

They looked nothing alike.

Alexander was polished and controlled.

Adrian looked dangerous without even trying.

"Alexander," Adrian said.

"Adrian."

Their voices were calm.

But there was something underneath them.

Something cold.

Adrian's eyes moved to me.

"And you must be Isla."

I forced myself to smile.

"Yes."

He stared at me.

For too long.

Then he said something that made the blood drain from my face.

"That's interesting."

I swallowed.

"What is?"

His eyes never left mine.

"Because that isn't the name I remember."

My heart stopped.

Alexander went completely still.

The room suddenly felt too warm.

I couldn't breathe.

Adrian took one step closer.

"Tell me," he said quietly.

"Who are you really?"

I couldn't move.

I couldn't speak.

And for the first time since I had changed my name, I realized something terrifying.

Maybe my past hadn't stayed buried.

Maybe it had been waiting for me.

And maybe Adrian Blackwood was the man who had come to dig it up.

Then he leaned closer and whispered words only I could hear.

"I know what happened the night of the fire."

My glass slipped from my fingers.

It shattered on the marble floor.

Everyone turned to look at me.

But I barely heard them.

Because Adrian was still watching me.

And somehow, I knew the truth was about to destroy everything.

Including my marriage.