THE FIRST CRACK IN THE RULES
1206 Words
*Day 5. 7:00 AM.*
Lily woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon.
That was wrong.
The penthouse was supposed to be silent in the mornings. Rule 2: _Knock before entering. Always._ That included kitchens.
She threw on a robe and walked out.
Damian was at the stove. Bare feet. Grey sweatpants. A white t-shirt that did absolutely unfair things to his shoulders.
Hair was messy. No suit. No CEO mask.
He looked... young. Like the Damian she met in college.
"Morning," he said without turning around. "Coffee?"
Lily leaned against the counter. "Rule 2."
Damian glanced over his shoulder. "What?"
"Knock before entering." She crossed her arms. "You’re in my kitchen."
"This is _our_ kitchen." He poured two mugs. Black. Two sugars. Just how she liked it. "And I knocked. With bacon."
Lily took the mug. Their fingers brushed. Neither of them pulled away fast enough.
"You didn’t have to make breakfast," she said.
"I didn’t sleep." Damian leaned against the counter. "Board meeting went late. Investors asking about the 'advisor'."
Lily sipped her coffee. "What did you tell them?"
"That my wife is the smartest person I know." He said it casually. Like it didn’t mean anything. "And that if they had a problem with it, they could talk to me."
Lily’s chest did something stupid. "Right. The contract."
"Right. The contract." Damian’s eyes were on her. Too long.
Her phone buzzed on the counter.
_Eleanor Hart: Family dinner. Tonight. 8 PM. Both of you. Don’t be late._
Lily showed him the screen. "Your mom."
Damian read it and groaned. "Of course."
"What?"
"She does this every time I bring someone home." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It’s a test."
Lily’s stomach dropped. "I’m not... I’m not someone you brought home. I’m your contract wife."
Damian frowned. "Rule 3."
"Rule 3," Lily agreed quickly. Too quickly. "We don’t pretend to be a real couple outside of work and family events."
"So this counts." Damian pushed off the counter. "We have to go. Both of us. 8 PM."
He walked out, leaving his coffee half full.
Lily stared at the two mugs on the counter.
The first crack.
---
*Day 5. 2:00 PM. Hart Tower.*
Lily was trying to review blueprints when Damian’s assistant knocked.
"Mr. Hart needs you in his office. Now."
Damian was pacing when she walked in. Tie loose. Jacket off.
"Change of plans," he said. "Dinner’s at the estate. Not the city house. My dad’s flying in."
Lily blinked. "Your dad? I thought—"
"He doesn’t do these things unless it’s serious." Damian stopped pacing. "Eleanor told him about the marriage."
Lily sat down hard in the chair. "Damian. We’ve been married for 4 days. On paper."
"I know." He looked exhausted. "Look, just... be yourself. Don’t let my mom get to you. And if Sophia shows up—"
"Sophia?" Lily’s voice went sharp. "Why would she be there?"
"She wouldn’t." Damian lied badly. "I’m just saying. If she does, ignore her."
Lily stood up. "Are you lying to me, Damian?"
Rule 4. _No lying to each other. About the contract. About anything._
Damian ran a hand through his hair. "She might be there. As a 'family friend'."
Lily laughed. It wasn’t funny. "Great. So I get to meet your parents while your ex is there."
"I’ll handle it." Damian stepped closer. "Please. Just get through tonight. For me."
_For me._
Lily looked at him. The CEO was gone. This was just Damian. Tired and desperate.
"Fine," she whispered. "But we’re talking about Rule 3 after."
"Deal."
---
*Day 5. 7:45 PM. Hart Estate.*
The house was huge. White marble. A fountain. Guards at the gate.
Lily felt sick.
Damian parked the car but didn’t get out right away.
"You don’t have to do this," he said quietly. "If you want to leave, I’ll tell them you’re sick."
Lily looked at him. "Is that what you want?"
"No." Damian met her eyes. "I want you to come in with me. As my wife."
The word hit her. _Wife._
"Okay," Lily said. "Let’s go."
The second they stepped inside, Eleanor was there.
"Lily." She smiled. It didn’t reach her eyes. "How lovely. And Damian."
"Mom."
The dining room was already full. Damian’s dad, Richard. Older. Kinder eyes. Two younger brothers she didn’t know. And—
Sophia.
In a cream dress. Sitting next to Richard like she owned the place.
Lily’s heart sank.
"Oh!" Eleanor clapped her hands. "Sophia was just in town and I invited her. You two know each other, right?"
Damian’s jaw ticked. "Yes."
Dinner was torture.
"So, Lily," Richard said kindly. "Damian tells us you’re an advisor. What do you advise him on?"
"Design," Lily said. "Interiors. Branding."
"How... creative." Eleanor cut in. "Damian, pass the potatoes?"
Damian passed them. Then his hand found Lily’s under the table.
Squeezed once.
_I’m here._
Lily squeezed back.
Halfway through, Sophia laughed. Loud. "Damian, remember that trip to Paris? You hated the hotel I picked."
"I remember," Damian said flatly.
"You were so mad you booked us a new one at 2 AM." Sophia smiled at Lily. "He’s romantic like that."
The table went silent.
Lily felt Damian’s hand tighten on hers.
"That was a long time ago," Damian said. "Lily and I are focused on the future."
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. "Future? What future, dear?"
"The company’s future," Damian said quickly. "The Tower renovation."
_Lie._
Rule 4 shattered.
Lily pulled her hand away.
---
*Day 5. 11:00 PM. Penthouse.*
They didn’t talk in the car.
The second the door closed, Lily turned on him.
"You lied."
Damian threw his keys on the table. "I had to."
"To who? Your mom? Or me?" Lily was shaking. "Rule 4, Damian. No lying."
"I didn’t lie about us!" Damian shouted. "I lied about work! There’s a difference!"
"Is there?" Lily threw her bag down. "Because from where I’m standing, you’re pretending this is real when it’s convenient, and pretending it’s fake when it’s not."
Damian stepped closer. "What do you want me to say, Lily?"
"The truth!"
"Fine." Damian’s voice was rough. "The truth is I hated seeing Sophia touch my arm at dinner. The truth is I wanted to announce to the whole table that you’re mine. The truth is I don’t know how to do this contract thing without breaking every rule we made."
Lily stared at him. "Then stop."
"Stop what?"
"Stop holding my hand like I’m yours. Stop looking at me like that. Stop making me feel like this is real when it’s not."
Damian was quiet for a long time.
"If I’m not your husband," he said finally. "Then stop acting like you care when Sophia touches me."
Lily flinched.
"If I’m not your wife," she shot back. "Then stop holding my hand like I am."
Silence.
Both of them breathing hard. Both right. Both wrong.
Damian turned and walked to his room. "Goodnight, Lily."
"Goodnight, Damian."
Lily went to her room and locked the door.
She sat on the bed. Pulled out her phone.
One new text. Unknown number.
_He’s lying to you. Ask him about the prenup._
Lily dropped the phone.
Day 5 of 90.
Rules were already getting broken.
*TO BE CONTINUED
- Writer
