His Contract Wife

Chapter 14: Fake Dating Hell

Adrian’s apartment was on the 42nd floor. The view was the entire city. Expensive. Cold. Quiet.

Just like its owner.

Naya stood in front of the large glass door, a small suitcase in her hand.

At 8 AM sharp, the driver had picked her up right on time. No small talk, no chit-chat. Very professional.

The door opened before she even had the chance to knock.

Adrian had already changed into casual clothes, a black T-shirt and slacks. His hair was still damp from a shower.

“Good morning,” he said flatly.

“Good morning, Mr… Adrian,” Naya corrected herself quickly.

Adrian nodded, then stepped aside.

“Come in. The guest room is on the left. The contract starts today.”

Naya stepped inside. The apartment was huge. Minimalist, all gray and black. No photos, no plants. Empty.

Just like its owner’s heart.

“Simple rules,” Adrian said as he walked to the kitchen.

“Breakfast together at 7 AM. Acting practice for 30 minutes at 8 PM. No guests. No going out at night without permission. And don’t touch anything in my office.”

Naya set her suitcase down, feeling like a house arrest prisoner.

“So the 500 million includes being a servant too, huh?”

Adrian stopped and turned.

“You can leave anytime. But the 100 million down payment won’t be refunded.”

Naya sighed.

“Fine, Boss.”

Day one passed awkwardly.

They ate breakfast together without speaking. The acting practice was stiff. Adrian made Naya call him “Honey” in front of the mirror.

“You sound like you’re about to throw up,” Adrian commented.

“You sound like you’re reading a financial report when you say ‘Honey’,” Naya shot back.

Adrian paused for three seconds, then let out a quiet laugh.

Small. But real.

That evening, the first event began: dinner with Adrian’s younger brother, Kevin.

Kevin was 24, the complete opposite of Adrian. Friendly, chatty, with a wide smile.

He immediately hugged Naya when they met.

“So you’re Naya! My brother’s been talking about you nonstop for three days!”

Naya was startled. Adrian cut in immediately.

“I didn’t.”

Kevin laughed.

“Liar. This morning he asked ‘Has Naya woken up yet?’ five times.”

Dinner went smoothly. Naya’s acting was good. She held Adrian’s hand for photos, laughed at Kevin’s jokes, and called Adrian “Honey” without stumbling.

When Kevin left, he whispered to Naya.

“My brother has a hard time falling in love. Take care of him, okay?”

Naya could only give an awkward smile.

*The next few days were hell disguised as heaven.*

Living with Adrian was like living with a walking ice sculpture. He woke up at 5 AM, worked out, worked, came home, worked some more.

But he never broke the rules. He never crossed the line.

And that made it worse.

Because Naya started noticing things.

How he always left her favorite iced latte on the counter even though she never said she liked it.

How he lowered his voice when he talked to her after 10 PM so she could sleep.

How his eyes softened for half a second every time she laughed.

“Naya,” Adrian called one night during practice.

“Yes?”

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re trying to figure me out,” he said, avoiding her gaze.

“It’s annoying.”

Naya smirked. “Maybe you’re just bad at hiding things.”

Adrian didn’t answer. He just walked away.

*Week two was crazier.*

There was a birthday party for one of Adrian’s coworkers. Everyone brought a partner. Adrian’s ex, Selena, showed up too.

Selena was beautiful, elegant, and her gaze toward Adrian was full of possession.

“I didn’t expect you to actually bring a girlfriend, Adrian,” she said while hugging him a little too long. Her perfume was suffocating.

Naya stood to the side, feeling like an extra.

Adrian immediately grabbed Naya’s hand, his grip warm and firm.

“This is Naya. My girlfriend.”

Selena smiled faintly, eyes scanning Naya up and down like she was inspecting a product.

“Girlfriend? It’s only been two weeks, right? I hope it lasts. Adrian gets bored easily.”

Naya’s chest tightened, but she kept her smile.

“We’ll see,” she said lightly.

Adrian didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he pulled her toward the balcony.

The city lights stretched out below them, cold and distant.

“Breathe,” Adrian said softly once the door closed.

“She’s doing it on purpose.”

Naya leaned against the railing, exhaling shakily.

“Why don’t you just tell her it’s fake?”

“Because if I do, Grandma will be heartbroken,” Adrian answered honestly.

His voice was lower than usual, almost vulnerable.

“Naya… thanks for sticking with this. I know it’s not easy.”

Naya went quiet. For the first time, she saw Adrian without the cold mask.

Just tired. Lonely, maybe.

“Adrian… you’ve never dated for real, have you?” Naya asked quietly.

Adrian looked out at the city.

“The last time was in college. We broke up because I worked 20 hours a day. She said I loved my work more than her. She was right.”

He paused.

“Since then, I haven’t had time. Or maybe I didn’t want to make time.”

Naya exhaled.

“No wonder you were so stiff during acting practice.”

Adrian chuckled, the sound low and rare.

“My fault?”

“No. But you learn fast,” Naya said with a small smile.

“See? You even know how to hold my hand without looking like you’re holding a contract.”

Adrian glanced at their joined hands. He didn’t let go.

*That night, the atmosphere between them changed.*

On the way home, the car was quiet. Not awkward quiet, but comfortable quiet.

When they got out, Adrian opened the door for her.

In the elevator, Naya slipped by accident. Adrian reflexively caught her waist.

Close. Too close. Their breaths mingled.

“Are you okay?” Adrian asked quietly, his voice rough.

Naya nodded, but didn’t move.

Her heart was loud. Too loud.

Adrian stayed still too. Three seconds. Five seconds.

His thumb brushed her waist for half a second before he realized and pulled back slowly.

“Sorry.”

Naya shook her head, cheeks warm.

“It’s okay.”

The elevator doors opened. They walked out without saying another word.

But Naya’s mind was screaming.

*Later that night, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling.*

This was supposed to be fake.

She was supposed to act, take the money, leave.

So why did it feel like her chest hurt when Selena touched him?

Why did she keep replaying the way Adrian’s hand felt on her waist?

Why did she care if he smiled at someone else?

“Naya, get it together,” she whispered to herself.

“It’s an act. It’s always been an act.”

But her heart didn’t listen.

*The next morning, things were different.*

Adrian made breakfast. Pancakes. Burnt on one side, but edible.

“I asked the chef to teach me,” he said casually, like it wasn’t a big deal.

“You said you liked sweet things.”

Naya blinked, stunned.

“You remembered?”

Adrian shrugged, avoiding her eyes.

“It was in the file.”

Naya laughed softly. “Liar.”

They ate in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable anymore.

For the first time, it felt… normal.

Like they were a real couple.

*That night during practice, Adrian stopped her mid-sentence.*

“Naya,” he said, voice serious.

“If this ever feels too much, you can stop. I won’t hold you to the contract.”

Naya frowned.

“Why would you say that?”

“Because I don’t want you to regret this,” he said.

“And because…” He hesitated.

“Because I don’t want to be the reason you’re unhappy.”

Naya’s chest tightened.

“Adrian, I’m fine. Really.”

He studied her for a long moment, then nodded.

“Okay.”

But his hand lingered on hers a second longer than it should have.

*By the end of week two, Naya had a problem.*

She was falling.

Falling for the man who wasn’t supposed to be real.

Falling for the quiet gestures, the rare smiles, the way he said her name like it mattered.

And she had no idea if he felt the same.

Because Adrian Blackwood never let anyone in.

Not even her.

But maybe… just maybe, he was starting to try.