Amber is still in disbelief. She collects the letter from Rina and reads it again. This time, aloud.

"Your debt has been acquired by Leon Viremont. You're expected at 106 Vale Crescent in 48 hours. Come alone."

The note had no signature, just clear instruction.

She still wasn't sure of what she had just read. "This must be a scam. Leon Viremont? The most influential and powerful billionaire in Ravelle? The heir of Viremont Holdings? What business does he have with me or my father's debt?"

"Girl, this ain't no scam. It's a blessing in disguise!" Rina jumped. "This is Ravelle. Anything can happen. But, there must be a catch. You should find out what it is! And who knows, he may end up being your prince charming," she giggled.

"Rina, please." Amber said as she pressed her lips together. "You play too much."

The door opened suddenly, "Enough of the chit chat. Break's over, get back to work, girls," one of their colleagues interrupted.

"Here we go again," she sighed and rolled her eyes, folding the paper neatly back in her bag, and they resumed back to work.

Amber had gotten off duty, and on her way home, she couldn't stop thinking about the letter she had received. Drifting away in her thoughts, the honk of an incoming vehicle brought her back to reality, "Watch where you're going!" The driver yelled. She quickly adjusted herself and bowed slightly in apology.

When she got home, the house was quieter than usual. Her mother had probably gone to the neighborhood casino center, and Zara was fast asleep. She quietly slipped into her room, making sure not to wake Zara.

Amber paced to and fro and reached out for the letter. She opened it again, read it continuously like it was going to change if she had read it for long.

"What does a billionaire have to do with a girl like me?" she plundered. It was too good to be true. She had only heard about Viremont on TV, saw them on billboards, and knew how much influence they had in Ravelle, but she never thought she could be summoned by Leon Viremont. "He probably wants to use my weakness for his selfish gain." She thought as she dropped the letter on the table beside her bed, laid down, and fell asleep.

The next day, the alarm rang at exactly 6:00am as usual. Amber got up grudgingly and continued her daily routine.

On getting to work, before she could even breathe, Rina dragged her to a corner, "So, when are you going to the Viremont mansion?" She asked. Amber looked at her with a stern look, "Going? What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere."

"What? Are you crazy? What do you mean you're not going? This is a rare opportunity. At least, you should know about the said requirements in the letter even though it may not be of interest to you."

Amber sighed with confusion in her eyes, but she shoved it off, and they both went back to work.

On getting home, she walked into the living room to her mother, holding the letter.

"How did you get that? Were you going through my stuff?" She asked furiously.

"Oh, so, you planned to keep this away from me, huh?" Her voice is sharp and clear.

"I didn't think it was important. And besides, I'm not going." Amber responded as she walked past her.

"Come back here. What do you mean you're not going? Do you think you have a choice in this? People like us don't get to say no!"

"People like us? What do you mean by that?" Amber echoed.

"Yes! People like us who only survived by knowing where to shut up and obey. Whether you like it or not, you leave first thing tomorrow morning, no excuses."

Amber's chest burned down with rage and humiliation. She always knew her mother resented her for being a burden, but she never knew it was to the extent of selling her out. She didn't care to know the reason. All she cared about was money.

She entered her room, and while she was still trying to figure out what had just happened, Zara walked in. She had overheard the conversation between their mother and Amber. Without hesitation, she gave her a hug and whispered, "Everything's gonna be fine. I believe in you." These words melted Amber. She didn't know when the tears rolled down her cheek. After a moment of shared emotions between them, Zara left for her room.

The silence in the room was deafening. Amber stood up, walked towards her window, and stared at the sky. "Dad, what do I do?" she whispered, somehow, expecting an answer. Then, suddenly, someone tapped her from behind with a soft voice calling out, "Am, my dearest," it was her dad.

"Dad? How are you here?" She asked, looking like she had seen a ghost.

Her dad was dead, so she had technically seen a ghost. He looked exactly like he did before he died.

"Come, sit with me." He pulled her as she followed. They both sat on the bed.

"Dad, I miss you so much. It's hard without you here. I'm tired, I'm exhausted, I don't know what to do anymore." Amber said with a cracked voice.

"You don't have to worry. Sometimes, our breakthrough comes in mysterious ways. There's always a silver lining."

"But dad..."

"Shhhhh, no buts. Just be rest assured that everything will be fine." He cuts in. "Remember what I always tell you, "No matter the situation you find yourself in, there's always a way out. Be strong and face your fears," they both recited in sync.

"I'll always be here for you, my darling."

Just as she was about to hug him, he faded away with the breeze. It was then she realized it was all a hallucination. She sat on her bed, holding her knees together and sobbed quietly, not knowing what the next 24 hours would be.

Leon's POV.

I've never encountered a girl like her before. She is bold, clear, outspoken, and not to mention, elegant. Her actions caught my attention, something no one had ever done. I sat on the leather chair in my study, leaning back, reminiscing on the scene that had happened at the charity event. The way she stood her ground, fire in her eyes, her voice steady, chin lifted... It was the kind of moment that burned itself into memory. While I was at it, I heard a soft knock on my door.

"Sir," Darious said as he entered, "your mother is here to see you." I instantly knew the reason for her visit.

"Leon," she called, walking in right after Darious gave a polite bow and made his way out, "the family dinner is tomorrow by 7pm. Make sure you come with Isabel so we can discuss the engagement plan there after."

Isabel Miller is the daughter of Owen Miller and the heiress to her father's multi-million dollar tech company. They believe pushing her to me will make Viremont Holdings stronger, gain more power in Ravelle, and help in securing multiple deals. She's elegant and poised. My mother adored her.

"Good morning to you too, mother," I replied, not minding the supposed dinner she had earlier mentioned.

"Spare me the sarcasm, Leon. Don't be late tomorrow," she said.

"I'll come for dinner, but not with Isabel. I already told you I can not marry her."

"And what is that supposed to mean, Leon? Your father mustn't hear you say such. You know how important this union is to Viremont Holdings, and besides, Isabel is the perfect fit for you," she argued.

I stood up from my seat and walked towards the bar at the corner of the room, "There would be no wedding, mother," I said, pouring myself a drink.

"There will be!", her voice now sharper. "Do you want to ruin this for us? This is not only about you, it's about the company, our future. We can't afford to lose that contract just because of your silly ego. The board needs to see that you're capable, and one of the ways to prove that to them is by having someone by your side. Someone like Isabel."

I picked up the glass of whiskey, took a sip, and said calmly, "I'm seeing someone else," fixing my faze on her.

I could see the shock and disbelief in her eyes, "since when?" She questioned.

Does it matter? All that matters is that she's real and I'm not getting married to Isabel."

She stared at me for a moment, "I don't care. You will be at dinner tomorrow with Isabel."

Then she turned and walked out, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.

I stood there for a while, twirling the glass of whiskey in my hand. Eventually, I returned to my desk, picked up the file that had Amber's information in it, and scanned it through again.

My phone buzzed. It was Isabel. I watched it ring for a second before answering.

"Hey, Leon," she said, "your mother called, or should I say my future mother-in-law," giggling over the phone.

"Okay, and?"

"Well, I bet she already told you about the dinner tomorrow. So, I was thinking... maybe we could go together and make an entrance, you know."

I paused. "There would be no need for that."

"Come on, Leon. You're always doing this. Did I do something wrong? You've been distant lately," she said, as her tone dropped into something more personal. "I know you don't fancy the idea of us to getting married, but I can assure you, once you stop fighting it, you'll see that we're perfect for each other."

Listening to her talk was already tiring. How can one be so... obsessed? No matter how much I spell it to her, she refuses to listen to me. I placed my palm on my face, rubbing my eyes.

"Look, Isabel, I am not fighting anything," I said flatly, "I'm seeing someone else, and we plan to get married soon."

"Someone else?" She scoffed, "It's quite funny how you think that matters to me, Leon. I've waited for this moment for as long as I can remember... You can't just shove it off by telling me there's someone else. Quit the joke,"

"You think this is a joke?" I asked as I turned my chair to the window, tension prickling down my spine.

"Whether it's a joke or not, I don't care," She said, her voice warm and dangerous.

I'll see you at dinner tomorrow. Wear something black. You look sexy in it." She ended the call without waiting for a response.

I let the silence settle around me. The sound of Isabel's voice echoed in my hears. It was very glaring that she wasn't in love with me. She was in love with the idea of me.

With a sigh, I tossed my phone on the desk and leaned back into my chair.

I wasn't sure if this whole idea of seeing someone else would work, but Amber isn't just like any other woman. She was... different.

She must have received my message to her about her debt that I had now acquired. I was quite certain she'd show up. I mean, she wouldn't want to ignore a message from Leon Viremont.

But why am I really doing this? What do I want from her, really? Knowing that her father was the man who had helped me in the past, I could just pay her debts and look away. But I can't help it. She has triggered something in me. Somehow, I knew she was the one who could burn this whole charade to the ground.

Slowly, I stood up from my chair, grabbed the glass of whiskey I had earlier poured for myself, and walked towards my windows, looking down at the city of Ravelle as it glitters gold and ruthless.

I tucked my left hand in my pocket and took another sip.

Let's see what you do, Amber Rose.

Tomorrow, the game begins.

Amber's POV.

I don't remember falling asleep, but I remember waking up. The morning slipped in so quickly. It was like a millisecond. I stared at the ceiling wishing that the night would be longer to at least give me time to breathe or just maybe everything that had happened was a dream. But reality doesn't care about your step, especially not in Ravelle or when you're summoned by Leon Viremont.

I dragged myself out of the bed like a puppet who is being controlled with a remote, already tired of what the day has to offer. I got dressed and was preparing to step out of my room when I heard my name from down the hallway, sharp and loud. I could instantly guess it was my mother. She was probably coming to see what I was up to and of course, made sure I went to see Leon Viremont.

She barged into my room, paused for a second and asked, "What are you wearing?" looking at me from head to toe.

"And... What's wrong with my outfit?"

"I'm sure you don't want to go visit a billionaire looking like that. You need to make a good impression."

"I'm fine and comfortable with what I'm wearing, mother."

"Whatever, just make sure you don't ruin this for us," she concluded and walked out of the room without shutting the door.

She didn't need to shut it anyways, I was already stepping out. Zara was still in bed, so I didn't bother to disturb her beauty sleep.

The drive to 106 Vale Crescent felt like I was entering into another world. All I could think of was what I was going to say and what could be waiting for me. It took about 30 minutes before we finally got there. I got down from the cab and walked towards the gate. It was majestic, all steel with white roses around it and guarded by two men in black suits who didn't blink as they asked for my name.

"Amber Rose," I said with a firm voice and then they stepped aside like they had already been expecting me.

This time, I had already developed cold feet. My heart was pounding like it could explode any minute, it was like I was drenched in ice. The shiver was real.

The driveway was neat and the garden? Filled with beautiful flowers. There was a fountain with a beautiful sculpture at the center of the compound. It wasn't just a building, it was a fortress.

As I walked through, a woman in her mid 50s walked towards me. She didn't seem like his mother. Her clothes were casual and she had an apron tied around her waist. She should be his housekeeper.

"You must be Miss Rose," she said with a bright smile on her face, "follow me," as she led the way in.

The interior was more than I expected. Everything was bright and shining. There were large windows, high ceilings, polished floors and a painting I was sure cost more than everything I'd ever owned.

She led me to a door, knocked politely and opened the door, directing me in with her hands. I went in slowly and the door shut from behind. The room smelled like polished wood and luxury and there he was, Leon Viremont, impossibly tall, sharp cheekbones, darker eyes, standing behind a minimalist desk, with a glass of something that looks like wine in his hands fixing his gaze at me with a slight smile on his face.

"Miss Rose! Thanks for coming," he said.

I nodded stiffly. "Why am I here?"

"Why don't you take a seat first before the question," he gestured a seat but I was too eager to leave so I didn't take it.

"Okay, you can stand as well," he took a sip from the glass in his hands and continued, "To answer your question, you're here because I acquired your father's debt. And I believe I deserve compensation for that."

What does he mean he deserves compensation? I mean, I didn't beg him to acquire anything, I didn't ask for his help in any way.

"Compensation? I never asked to be saved. I was doing just fine," I replied with a grounded voice, folding my arms to keep them steady and hide my unease.

"I know you didn't ask for help, just see this as my way of repaying your father's kindness to me in the past."

"You... knew my father?" I blinked.

"Not closely, but... well enough. He once saved me from the hands of death."

I didn't know what to say. It didn't seem like he was lying. But, if he actually wanted to repay my father's kindness, why didn't he just pay off the debt and walk away? Why summon me?

"So, this is about repaying a favor. What do you want from me then?"

"Great question, Miss Rose!" He dropped the glass, walked around the desk and stood in front of me, far too close.

"I'm in need of a temporary fiancée," he continued, "and you, Miss Rose, will play that role. It's going to be for a few months. Maybe 2 or 3, thereafter, we will go our separate ways. You do this, and your debt is cleared, entirely."

I was dumbfounded. My ears couldn't believe what it had just heard. He wanted me to be his fake fiancée for 3 months. This wasn't just ridiculous, it was humiliating. A billionaire playing god with my life, expecting me to just... agree?

I let out a bitter laughter, "What? You're joking. This must be a joke, right?"

He didn't flinch. He maintained his gaze on me, hands in his pockets... he looked very serious. The laughter soon disappeared.

"Wait, you're serious. You want me to pretend to be your lover? To what end?"

"I need to sign a deal and to do that, I need to prove to them that I'm capable, which includes having someone by my side," he explained, "It's a win-win situation for both of us. I sign the deal, you clear your debt- no strings attached."

I stood there, half boiling with anger and half boiling with resentment. My fists clenched like they'd hold me together. The rich in Ravelle sure know how to oppress others. They find your weaknesses and use it for their selfish gain.

"So, I'm just a pawn in your little game. You must be crazy to think I'd jump at this just because you acquired my father's debt."

"Think about it, Miss Rose," he concluded.

I could see the confidence in his eyes. In anger, I stormed out of the office breathing heavily, making my way to the entrance.

Just then, I received a call from my mother.

"The creditors called. They threatened to take the house if you don't make payments soon. Do whatever he says and let go of your pride."

Before I could utter a word, she ended the call. Like that wasn't enough, my whole world came crumbling the instant I received a message from my boss. He fired me.

My heart tightened, and I couldn't control the tears that rolled down from my eyes. It seemed like the universe had turned against me. I didn't know if this man was offering me salvation or setting a trap. But, one thing I knew was that I didn't have the luxury of saying no.