Bought For a Lie

CHAPTER 4

Moving In

Fina's POV

As I entered Michael's apartment, I said to myself, "I had never idea a place could smell like money."

Glass walls, white floors, and gold borders were all glistening. Ahead was a lengthy corridor that led to an area larger than my whole bakery. I was gripping my overnight bag as if it were a bomb-filled luggage. My fingers gripped the strap more tightly. Nerves made my stomach turn, but I remained confident.

Michael turned to face me after dropping his keys on a silver dish at the entrance. "To the right, down the corridor, is your room. I want you to see something first, however.

He didn't hold off till I responded. He left as if he owned the whole atmosphere, and maybe he did. With each sluggish stride, my heart pounded louder as I followed.

We arrived in the living room. Windows from floor to ceiling illuminated the whole city in the evening light. The lights on the ground seemed to be stars. Rich, serious, and untouchable, Michael seemed to be from a movie as he stood in front of the glass with his hands in his pockets.

"I often work late," he muttered. However, I want you to feel at ease while you're here. Even if something is phony, I want it to seem authentic.

Despite the dryness in my throat, I nodded. "All right."

He looked over at me. His eyes were inscrutable and dark. Then he stepped forward. And yet another.

All of a sudden I realized how near we were. His fragrance had a spicy scent that I could sense. The tension between us was palpable to me, like a cord on the verge of breaking. For a moment, I forgot this was only a performance as I gazed up at him.

"Are you certain you're prepared for this?" He sounded harsh and low, as if he were asking a question that was too huge for him.

No, I wasn't certain. I didn't want to back out, however. Not right now. Not with his eyes staring into mine as if they could see everything I was trying to conceal.

I gave another nod. "Yes."

He extended his hand and caressed a lock of my hair. Slowly. Then, as if to test me and see whether I would draw away, his fingers lightly touched my face.

I didn't.

I unintentionally leaned into his contact as his palm cradled my face. It was too genuine. It's too hot. My breath froze in my throat as he touched my bottom lip with his thumb.

Then his mouth touched mine.

Not pliable. Not timid.

Firm and demanding.

I was surprised at how quickly my body responded. I moved my hands to his chest. I just wanted to feel him, even though his suit felt nice to the touch. Only him.

He brought his hands to my waist and drew me in. My body crushed into his, and a flood of heat swept through me. I gave him a deeper kiss in return, letting go of all the rules I believed I had.

Like he couldn't stop himself, he moaned into my lips.

We parted ways, both of us panting.

I pressed his forehead to mine. He said, "This wasn't part of the arrangement."

I ought to have taken a step back. I should have apologized or placed the responsibility on the situation.

However, I said, "Do you want it to be?" instead.

He didn't respond verbally. Once again, his lips found mine. Deeper, slower this time. He ran his hands over my hips, waist, and back. I had the impression that I was melting into him.

As if I weighed nothing, he lifted me with ease. Without thinking, I put my legs around his waist. He kissed me all the way as he carried me down the corridor.

I could feel the gentle pressure of the bed under me as the bedroom door pushed open.

Michael's eyes were piercing and dark as he leaned over me. I was not afraid, even though I wanted to be. I desired him.

He removed his jacket. My shirt came next. In contact with one another. Warm. electrical.

His lips moved slowly and cautiously down my neck. His hair entangled my fingers. I made a little noise, and he stopped.

"Fina," he murmured in a deep voice. "Stop, and I'll do it."

I didn't want to quit, however. Not even close.

I yanked him back down. "Don't stop."

Once again, his lips seized mine. And I felt desired for the first time in a long time. I had a sense of being seen.

Everything else vanished.

How long we remained like way is unknown to me. Later, however, as I laid next to him with my body tingling and my pulse pounding, I had the odd realization that I no longer felt like a foreigner in his world.

I had a sense of belonging there.

However, that moment was short-lived.

Because I was about to fall asleep when his phone began to softly ring.

He did not step aside when he scooped it up. He squinted his eyes.

Then he became rigid.

Confused, I turned to face him.

"What is it?" I inquired.

He didn't respond to me.

He just murmured to himself while staring at the television.

"It's beginning earlier than I anticipated."

As Fina sits up, bewildered and naked under the blankets, she watches Michael's icy, unreadable face light up in his phone's blue light.

He pulls away as she reaches out to touch his arm.

She gets a shiver in the dark, not from the cold, but because of how unusual his voice sounded. Far away. Making calculations.

Fina hears him utter something that chills her to the bone as he gets up and goes to the balcony, phone still in hand.

She's not sure yet. However, she will.

With my heart hammering hard in my chest, I sat up and drew the blankets tightly about me. Michael stood against the glass wall, his wide form outlined by the city lights. The guy who had caressed me only moments before was no longer the same person. Something had changed.

He didn't say anything for too long.

I silently got out of bed after wrapping the sheet over my body. “Who was that, Michael?”

He didn't turn around. "Business."

I felt the pain of just one word. icy and definitive.

I added gentler this time, hoping he would allow me in, "I thought we weren't doing secrets."

Slowly, he turned. The warm tenderness in his eyes had vanished. They were keen once more now. Protected.

This served as a diversion. A decent one. But now I have to move things forward. You must be prepared.

I scowled. "What are you ready for?"

He didn't respond. As if we were still in that tender moment, he moved closer and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear, but his eyes told me differently.

He continued in a low voice, "You asked whether I wanted this to be part of the arrangement."

My breath caught.

"I didn't. However, now that it is... Fina, there is no going back.

His phone buzzed once more before I could reply.

"She's here," he mumbled, glancing at the screen.

"Who is she?" I inquired.

His expression was inscrutable when he glanced up. "My former partner. The one who still has my ring on.