THE GALA AND THE LIE
1615 Words
EPISODE 3: THE GALA AND THE LIE - PART 1
Saturday came too fast.
Elena stood in front of the mirror and didn’t recognize herself.
The dress was red. Silk. It hugged her body in ways that made her uncomfortable. Low back. High slit. Mrs. Hale said it was “donated by Dior.”
Her hair was curled. Makeup done by a professional who didn’t ask questions. Diamond earrings that probably cost more than her old apartment.
She looked like a Moretti.
And she hated it.
“Milo’s ready,” Mrs. Hale said from the door. “Sir is waiting downstairs.”
Elena took a deep breath. “Okay.”
Downstairs, Luca was waiting.
Black tuxedo. White shirt. No tie. Hair slicked back. He looked like sin and money and power all mixed together.
And when he saw her, he froze.
Just for a second.
Then the mask came back on. “You look... fine.”
“Fine?” Elena raised an eyebrow. “That’s all you got?”
Luca’s jaw ticked. “You look expensive.”
“Wow. Romantic.”
“Don’t.” He stepped closer. Adjusted the strap on her dress without touching her skin. “Tonight we are engaged. Act like it.”
Elena swallowed. “Right. The lie.”
“The contract.”
Milo came running in then, in a tiny tuxedo that matched Luca’s. Holding a stuffed bear. “Mommy! You’re pretty!”
Elena’s heart melted. “Thank you baby. You’re handsome too.”
Luca looked at his son. And for a second, the CEO disappeared. Just a dad. “Yeah. You are.”
The car ride was silent. Milo fell asleep between them.
The gala was at the Moretti Tower. 50 floors. Glass. Lights. Paparazzi everywhere.
“Smile,” Luca murmured as they got out. His hand went to the small of her back. Warm. Possessive. “And call me Luca. Not Mr. Moretti.”
“Got it. Luca.”
Cameras flashed. “Mr. Moretti! Who’s the girl?” “Is that your son?” “Engagement rumors are true?”
Luca pulled Elena closer. “This is Elena Rose. My fiancée. And this is Milo. Our son.”
The words hit her like a slap. Our son.
They walked the red carpet. Elena’s hands were shaking.
Inside, the ballroom was huge. Chandeliers. Champagne. People worth billions pretending to be nice.
“Mrs. Moretti,” an old woman said, kissing the air near Elena’s cheeks. “We’ve heard so much about you.”
Elena forced a smile. “It’s Miss Rose. For now.”
Luca squeezed her hand. Warning.
“Luca, darling!” A blonde woman in gold came over. Tall. Thin. Perfect. “I didn’t know you were dating.”
“Isabella.” Luca’s voice went cold. “This is Elena. My fiancée.”
Isabella’s smile dropped. “Oh. The nanny.”
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Luca’s hand tightened on hers. “My fiancée.”
Isabella looked Elena up and down. “Right. Well. Congratulations.” She walked away.
“What was that?” Elena whispered.
“Nothing.” Luca’s eyes were scanning the room. “Stay close to me.”
---
The speeches started. Luca went on stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming.” His voice filled the room. Confident. Untouchable. “Tonight is special. Because I’d like to introduce my family.”
He held out his hand. Elena took it. Milo ran up and grabbed his other hand.
“This is Elena. And this is Milo.”
Cameras flashed. Applause.
Elena felt sick. This was a lie. All of it.
After, people came to congratulate them. Handshakes. Fake smiles.
“Such a beautiful boy,” one woman said to Milo. “He looks just like you, Luca.”
“I know,” Luca said. And for the first time, he sounded proud.
Elena slipped away to the bathroom. She needed air.
She splashed water on her face. Stared at herself in the mirror.
What was she doing?
The door opened. Isabella walked in.
“Well well. The nanny.”
Elena didn’t turn. “Can I help you?”
“Just wanted to warn you.” Isabella leaned against the counter. “Luca doesn’t do relationships. Especially not with girls like you.”
“Girls like me?”
“Poor. Desperate. With a kid.” Isabella smiled. “He’ll use you. Then throw you away. Like he did with me.”
Elena’s chest hurt. “We’re engaged.”
“For a year.” Isabella laughed. “Read the contract, sweetie. You’re just a placeholder until he finds someone better.”
She walked out.
Elena gripped the sink. Tears threatened.
The door opened again.
Luca.
He saw her face. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Elena.”
“She told me I’m a placeholder.” The words came out before she could stop them. “That you’ll throw me away.”
Luca’s expression went blank. “Did she.”
“Is it true?”
Luca stepped in. Closed the door. “No.”
“Then what is it?”
He was quiet for a long time. “It’s complicated.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Luca ran a hand through his hair. Messed it up. He looked tired. “The contract is 1 year. Yes. But you’re not a placeholder, Elena. You’re the mother of my child.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“I know.” He stepped closer. “Look. I don’t do this. I don’t... care. About people. But Milo—”
“What about Milo?”
“He deserves parents who aren’t fighting.” Luca’s voice was low. “And you deserve to be safe.”
Elena shook her head. “This isn’t real, Luca.”
“I know.” His eyes met hers. Dark. Torn. “But can we pretend? Just for tonight?”
Elena looked at him. At the man who ruined her 5 years ago. At the man who showed up at 2am. At the man who read her son a story in Italian.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Just for tonight.”
Luca nodded once. “Come on. They’re waiting.”
They walked out together. Hands linked.
And for a few hours, Elena let herself believe the lie.
The rest of the night was a blur.
Photos. Toasts. Dancing.
Luca’s hand never left her back. Milo fell asleep on Luca’s shoulder during dessert.
“Time to go,” Luca murmured in her ear. His breath was warm. “Before I do something stupid.”
Elena nodded.
The car ride home was quiet. Milo was asleep between them again.
At the estate, Mrs. Hale took Milo to bed.
Elena and Luca stood in the foyer. Still in their gala clothes.
“Thank you,” Luca said. “For tonight.”
“It was a job.”
“Was it?” He looked at her. Really looked. “Because it didn’t feel like it.”
Elena’s heart pounded. “Luca—”
“Don’t.” He stepped back. “Rule 1.”
“Right.” She nodded. “Rule 1.”
She turned to go upstairs.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“I’m sorry. About Isabella. And about 5 years ago.”
Elena didn’t turn around. “Goodnight, Luca.”
She went to her room. Locked the door.
And cried.
---
The next morning, the news was everywhere.
“LUCA MORETTI ENGAGED TO MYSTERY WOMAN”
“CEO ANNOUNCES SON AT GALA”
“WHO IS ELENA ROSE?”
Her phone, which Luca had given her, was blowing up.
Unknown numbers. Reporters.
She turned it off.
Milo was watching cartoons in the living room when she came down. Luca was already gone. “Board meeting,” Mrs. Hale said. “He left at 6am.”
Elena felt empty.
At noon, there was a knock at the gate.
A delivery. Boxes. Dresses. Shoes. Jewelry.
A note: “For the contract wife. - L”
Elena didn’t open them.
That evening, Luca came home late. He looked exhausted.
“Dinner?” he asked.
“I’m not hungry.”
Luca nodded. Went upstairs.
At 2am, Elena heard footsteps.
Her door opened. Luca stood there.
“I can’t sleep,” he said.
“Me neither.”
He came in. Sat on the floor across from her bed.
They didn’t talk for a long time.
Finally, Luca spoke. “I’m scared.”
Elena sat up. “Of what?”
“Of messing this up. Of messing him up.” He looked up at her. “Of you.”
Elena’s breath caught. “Luca...”
“I know. The contract.” He laughed bitterly. “I wrote the damn thing and I can’t follow it.”
Elena got out of bed. Sat on the floor across from him. Close, but not touching.
“What do you want, Luca?”
He looked at her. “I don’t know. But I know I don’t want to lose you again.”
The words hung between them.
Elena reached out. Hesitated. Then took his hand.
His hand was warm. Big.
Neither of them let go.
Rule 1: No emotional involvement.
They broke it at 2:14am. On the floor of her bedroom.
Not with a kiss.
With a hand hold.
With honesty.
“I’m scared too,” Elena whispered.
Luca squeezed her hand. “We’ll figure it out.”
“One year.”
“One day at a time.”
They stayed like that until sunrise.
When Mrs. Hale knocked at 7am, they jumped apart.
But it was too late.
She saw.
And Elena knew.
The contract was already falling apart.
[END OF EPISODE 3]
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