The Billionaire's Bargain

Chapter 6 : The Dinner Party.

The week flew by in a whirlwind of preparations, meetings, and constant reminders from Alexander about the importance of their upcoming dinner party. Sofia quickly realized that this wasn’t just a casual gathering. It was a performance, a carefully curated spectacle for his family and close business associates.

The day of the party arrived, and Sofia found herself standing in front of her closet, staring at the array of dresses Alexander had arranged for her. Each one was exquisite, undoubtedly expensive, but far more formal than anything she’d ever worn.

"Ms. Morales," Clara, the housekeeper, called from the doorway. "Mr. Blake asked me to ensure you’re ready by seven."

"Of course he did," Sofia muttered under her breath.

After much deliberation, she settled on a sleek black gown that hugged her curves and left her shoulders bare. The dress was both elegant and understated, a perfect balance for someone who wanted to blend in but not be overshadowed.

As she applied the finishing touches to her makeup, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Sofia said, expecting Clara again.

Instead, Alexander stepped inside, looking dashing in a tailored navy suit. His eyes flicked over her, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw approval in his gaze.

"You clean up nicely," he said, his tone neutral.

"So do you," she replied, brushing past him to grab her clutch. "Let’s get this over with."

The dining hall was nothing short of breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in soft light, and the long table was adorned with gold-trimmed plates, intricate floral arrangements, and glasses that sparkled like diamonds.

Guests began to arrive, each one more polished and self-assured than the last. Sofia plastered a polite smile on her face as Alexander introduced her to a seemingly endless stream of people.

"And this is Sofia Morales," Alexander said, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back as he addressed a group of older gentlemen. "My fiancée."

The word still made her stomach flip, even though she knew it wasn’t real. She nodded politely, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, all the while acutely aware of Alexander’s steady presence beside her.

"Fiancée, huh?" one of the men said, his tone laced with skepticism. "I don’t recall hearing about an engagement."

"It was a private affair," Alexander said smoothly, his smile never faltering. "We prefer to keep our personal lives just that—personal."

Sofia forced herself to nod, her fingers curling tightly around her glass of champagne.

As the evening wore on, Sofia found herself cornered by none other than Victoria, Alexander’s cousin. The tall, striking woman had been watching her all night, and now she made her move.

"So," Victoria said, her red lips curving into a sharp smile. "You’re the infamous Sofia."

"Infamous?" Sofia echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you must be someone special to have captured Alex’s heart," Victoria said, her tone dripping with condescension.

Sofia met her gaze head-on. "And you must be someone special to think you can question it."

Victoria’s smile faltered for a split second before she recovered. "I’m just looking out for him, that’s all. This family doesn’t take kindly to gold diggers."

Sofia’s jaw tightened, but before she could respond, Alexander appeared at her side.

"Victoria," he said, his tone cool. "I hope you’re not giving Sofia a hard time."

"Of course not," Victoria replied, her smile now saccharine sweet. "We’re just getting to know each other."

"Good," Alexander said, his hand once again finding the small of Sofia’s back. "Because I’d hate for this evening to be spoiled by unnecessary drama."

Victoria’s smile turned icy, but she said nothing more as she excused herself.

"Thanks for that," Sofia said quietly as Alexander led her to a quieter corner of the room.

"Don’t thank me yet," he replied, his voice low. "Victoria doesn’t let things go easily."

"Good to know," Sofia muttered, taking a sip of her champagne.

The rest of the evening passed without incident, but Sofia couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking a tightrope. Every glance, every word, every gesture had to be carefully calculated.

When the last guest finally departed, she let out a sigh of relief.

"You did well," Alexander said as they walked back to her room.

"High praise coming from you," Sofia replied, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Get some rest," he said, ignoring her sarcasm. "Tomorrow, we’ll need to discuss the next phase of this arrangement."

Sofia nodded, but as she closed the door behind her, she couldn’t help but wonder how much longer she could keep up the charade. For all the rules and performances, one thing was clear: nothing about this arrangement was simple, and the deeper she got, the harder it would be to untangle herself.

And for the first time, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to.