Chapter Four: The Price of Pretending
953 Words
Elena barely had time to process the whirlwind of the gala before the real consequences of their arrangement came crashing down.
The moment they stepped out of the car at Adrian’s penthouse, he loosened his tie with a sigh. “Not bad,” he muttered.
She scoffed, kicking off her heels. “Not bad? I deserve an Oscar for that performance.”
He smirked. “You managed to charm a room full of billionaires and walk away unscathed. Impressive.”
Elena rolled her eyes, but deep down, she knew he was right. She had survived the lions’ den.
But at what cost?
Her phone vibrated.
Mom (4 missed calls)
Ava (2 new messages)
Her heart sank.
“Shit.”
She had been so caught up in Adrian’s world that she forgot about her own.
She immediately called her mother back.
“Elena Marie Carter, what is going on?” Her mother’s voice was laced with panic. “I just saw you on the news! Engaged?!”
Elena winced. She should have prepared for this.
“Mom, I—”
“And with Adrian Sinclair? The same man who has been on every tabloid cover for the past five years?”
“Mom, I can explain—”
“I should’ve known something was up when you refused to introduce us to your ‘boyfriend.’ And now, you’re engaged?! To a billionaire?!”
Elena closed her eyes. “It’s… complicated.”
“That’s not an explanation,” her mother snapped. “Are you in trouble?”
Her throat tightened. Yes. But not in the way her mother thought.
“I promise, I’m okay.”
A long pause.
Then, softer. “Sweetheart… if you’re in some kind of mess, you don’t have to do this alone.”
Elena swallowed hard. “I know, Mom. I love you. I’ll explain everything soon.”
She ended the call, rubbing her temples.
When she turned around, Adrian was watching her.
“Problems?” he asked casually, pouring himself a drink.
She exhaled. “My family doesn’t buy it.”
He smirked. “Your mother is sharp. I like her.”
“This isn’t funny,” she snapped. “People are already questioning us.”
Adrian leaned against the bar, swirling his drink. “Of course they are. You’re an unknown bookstore owner. I’m the most unattainable bachelor in New York. No one believes in fairytales anymore.”
Elena’s stomach twisted. He was right.
“Then what do we do?”
He set his glass down. “We convince them.”
“How?”
Adrian pushed off the counter and strolled toward her, his gaze intense.
“By blurring the lines between pretend and real.”
Her pulse jumped. “What does that mean?”
He smirked. “It means, sweetheart, that starting tomorrow, you’re moving in with me.”
A Cage of Luxury
Elena stood in the middle of Adrian’s penthouse the next morning, staring at her suitcases.
This is insane.
“I had your things sent over,” Adrian said, casually sipping his coffee.
She turned to him. “You had no right—”
“You signed a contract,” he reminded her smoothly. “We’re supposed to be engaged. Couples live together.”
Her jaw clenched. “This is suffocating.”
Adrian arched a brow. “It’s a penthouse, Elena. Not a prison.”
It felt like both.
She turned away, staring out at the New York skyline. The city stretched endlessly below, but she had never felt more trapped.
Adrian came up behind her, his voice softer now. “This is temporary.”
She swallowed, refusing to let him see the turmoil in her chest.
“Then I want my own room.”
A smirk tugged at his lips. “Done.”
But somehow, she knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
The First Crack
It took three days before the first c***k in their arrangement appeared.
The media swarmed them.
“Elena, is it true you were Adrian’s assistant before he proposed?”
“Adrian, when’s the wedding?”
“Elena! Rumors say you’re a gold-digger—care to comment?”
Adrian’s grip on her waist tightened at that last one. A warning.
She forced a smile, but inside, she was seething.
Later, when they finally escaped to the car, she turned to him. “Gold-digger?” she snapped. “Are you kidding me?”
Adrian’s jaw ticked. “You knew this would happen.”
“That doesn’t make it okay.”
His gaze met hers. “It’ll pass.”
But Elena wasn’t so sure.
Because the more they pretended, the more real it felt.
And that was dangerous.
Lines Blurring
The days blurred into a routine.
Mornings: Breakfast together for the paparazzi.
Afternoons: Public outings, appearing like the perfect couple.
Nights: Avoiding each other in the penthouse, pretending their worlds weren’t colliding.
But one night changed everything.
Elena was curled up on the couch with a book when Adrian walked in, his tie undone, hair slightly disheveled.
“Long night?” she asked without thinking.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You have no idea.”
She watched him pour a drink, his shoulders tense.
For the first time, he looked exhausted.
“Adrian…”
He glanced at her.
She hesitated, then softened. “You okay?”
A long pause.
Then, a small smirk. “You almost sound like you care.”
She rolled her eyes. “Forget I asked.”
He chuckled, but there was something different in his gaze.
Something unreadable.
And that was when she realized—
This wasn’t just a game anymore.
The lines were blurring.
And neither of them were ready for what came next.
- Writer
