The flash from the cameras felt like gunfire, but when his lips hit mine, the world really went off.

It looked like a dream when I was at the gala. If I walked on the marble floor, my heels would click. Damien would walk next to me, his hand on the small of my back. Maybe it was because his touch was so light that it burned through my dress.

He said in a low voice that only I could hear, "You're shaking."

I lied and said, "I hate crowds."

He smiled in a cold way. "It will get easier for you to act."

I looked at him. "Did you do that with Cassandra?"

His jaw moved.

I also said, "I've read the tabloids." "You liked her." Beautiful. Rich. Not touchable."

He said angrily, "She was a mistake." "One I won't do again."

I really wanted to ask more and find out more, but we were already in the spotlight.

A lot of people looked at us. Lights flashed like lightning. It got tougher to take each breath.

"Miss West, how does it feel to be engaged to the city's most powerful bachelor?" yelled a reporter.

I spoke up but didn't know what to say, but Damien spoke first. "She's right where she should be."

That sound was like a threat.

For the cameras, we smiled and looked like a picture-perfect pair. But I felt sick to my stomach, and my phone kept buzzing in my hand.

Caller Unknown: He's joking with you.

Find out about Lucas.

Leave while you still can.

I put my phone away and looked up. That's when I saw her.

To Cassandra.

It was hard to miss. It was tall, beautiful, and dressed in blood red. As soon as she walked in, the air changed. Damien's body tensed up next to me.

He said, "Don't react," with his teeth clenched. "She wants that."

"It's too late," I said quietly.

She came straight at us with a smirk on her face.

That's what she said, "Damien." "You've moved up." Does this only last for a short time?"

His hold on my waist got stronger.

He said, "Nice to see you again, Cassandra."

She looked at me. "And your name is Aria West." I think you signed a pretty strict deal.

I opened my eyes.

Damien spoke up. "This is not the right time, Cassandra."

"Oh, but it is," she said, her eyes shining. "Putting on a show was always your thing."

I tried to smile. "What a lovely night. "Let's not mess it up."

"Yes, of course," Cassandra replied. "Enjoy it while it lasts."

When she left, there was a faint smell of something valuable and dangerous.

I looked at Damien. "What the hell was that?"

"She doesn't matter."

"She didn't look unimportant." It seemed like she knew something I didn't.

It wasn't an answer. He instead led me to the stage where the host was thanking donors.

I said in a whisper, "This wasn't in the plan." "Why are we going up?"

"These words make it official."

I went cold. "You said to make an announcement. "You left the stage."

He said in a soft voice, "Smile, Aria." "This is the part where everyone thinks we love each other."

We went out into the light.

The host gave the mic to Damien. "Gentlemen and ladies, please welcome Damien Hawthorne and Aria West, who is his fiancée."

There was polite clapping from the crowd. Damien spoke about business, charity, and the city when he got the mic. I didn't hear any of it. Everything else was lost in the sound of my heart beating so loudly.

After that, Damien looked at me.

He then said, "Let me show you how much I love my fiancée."

He kissed me and cupped his hand around my cheek before I could ask what he meant.

Not even a peck. Not a nice lip brush.

It was on fire.

Fingers got caught in my hair. He touched my mouth with his like he owned it. People in the crowd laughed, cheered, and took pictures, but I wasn't there. I was on fire living.

I didn't know if I was going to push him away or pull him closer when I put my hands on his chest. I only knew he smelled like heat and danger, and for one scary second, I kissed him back.

The world went away. There was no more time. There was only Damien and this kiss.

Until he moved away.

I blinked, out of breath. "What was that?" I made a noise under my breath.

His lips didn't move much. "It worked." They think it's true.

I said, "That wasn't in the script."

He wasn't happy. It didn't bother him.

"Now it is."

Aria's phone rings again when she gets back to the car. Another word from an unknown sender flashes across the screen.

He kissed you to make you quiet down. Cassandra knew Charles. Do not wait, ask her.

While Damien sits next to her and stares out the window, she looks at him.

She takes a deep breath.

"What the hell is Lucas?"

I sat down in the back of the car just in time to look at him.

"That kiss!" I yelled. "Not in line with our agreement."

Damien turned away from me. "It made the story interesting."

"Who did you sell it to?" Who is the crowd or yourself?"

His eyes finally met mine. "Is it important?"

I hissed, "Yes." "For a second, I forgot it was fake."

He clenched his teeth. "Perhaps it wasn't after all."

I held my breath.

My phone rang again before I could answer. One more word. Same number we don't know.

He's not telling the truth. Lucas is known to Cassandra. Ask her before she goes away.

My heart beat fast. "Damien, who is Lucas?"

His eyes got smaller. "Where did you hear that name?"

I held on to the phone. "What makes you look like you saw a ghost?"

He leaned in close and spoke in a low, dangerous voice. "Don't dig where you don't want to get hurt."

The moment I opened my mouth to fight back, the car swerved.

screams. Tires that screech. The car shook to the side.

The glass broke.

And right before everything went dark, I saw the outline of a motorbike speeding off into the.

Someone didn't just want to warn me when they sent the message.

They wished I would leave.

Was it Damien or me who was being watched?

You kissed me to humiliate me," I hissed, pushing him away.

Julian didn't even look up. "No, I kissed you because you kept looking at me the way you wanted to."

A soft sound let the elevator doors open, and I shakily walked into Julian's apartment. The heavy quiet wrapped around me like a cold wind as my heels clicked on the marble floor.

He was already there, taking it easy on the couch like he owned the place. He most likely did.

Though he had a glass of scotch in his hand, he said, "I see you made it home, fiancée."

I mumbled, "This isn't my home," as I set down my small bag. "Just temporarily crazy."

He gave a soft laugh but still didn't turn to face me. "You can call it whatever you want, Aria." The news says it's not, though.

I meant to hit him with something. I took a slow breath in and looked around instead. It was sleek and modern, with black leather, steel, and glass. Power was everywhere. Everything yelled his name.

I blew my nose. "Where is my room?"

"Left the hall." The first door. "Guest suite." He got up and walked toward the kitchen. "Unless you want to sleep with me in the master."

"I'd rather sleep in a grave."

He turned a little, and that evil grin curled on his lips. "Be careful. I might think you care if you show that much emotion.

I didn't say anything back as I left.

The guest room was very big, even bigger than my old place. The sheets were fresh and clean. Not any special touches. Just cold, useful pleasure. Like the man I agreed to pretend to marry.

I leaned my back against the door and closed it. God. What did I do?

That night, I went into the kitchen late at night, hungry and not sure if I could touch anything. Julian was cooking while he stood at the stove.

Before I could stop, I asked, "Do you cook?"

He gave a shrug. "A man has to stay alive." Plus, my cook isn't working tonight. Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

He set down two cups of wine and a plate of pasta in front of me.

I told them, "This doesn't make us friends."

"All right. I already have enough friends. "Just a fake fiancée who can play the part."

There was more quiet between us. I nibbled on the food. He looked at me.

I asked Julian, "Why are you doing this?" I finally asked. "Why me?"

He leaned in. "Because you need help badly." And I plan ahead. You need cash. I need a wife. It's easy."

"No," I said with a stern tone. "You could have picked anyone." You picked me since you knew I'd say yes. You think you can control me.

His eyes were very hot on mine. "Don't be too nice to yourself." You were just... easy to reach.

I didn't want to accept how much the words hurt.

When I got up, the chair hit the tile and made a noise. "Okay, let's be clear." We only share a roof.

He smiled like the task was fun for him. "Okay. But that mouth of yours could make things harder.

"Who is it harder for?" I asked.

It wasn't an answer.

I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the guest bathroom that night. My dress was tight, and the makeup I used at the gala was still on. I seemed like a woman from another world. But my eyes told me the truth. Quite worn out. Mad. Not sure.

I put my lips together. His kiss was still there. Why did that happen to my body?

My phone rang. Julian's message: Tomorrow we'll have breakfast with the board. Put on something nice. Act like you're in love.

I looked at the screen. Act like you're in love. That's not funny.

We were both dressed like power couples and sat across from each other in his sleek dining room the next morning. As he passed the coffee, his hand touched mine.

"Too much?" he asked in a normal way, even though he knew it was on purpose.

I pulled my hand away. "Don't touch me."

He sipped his coffee and said, "You agreed to this, sweetheart."

"I agreed to do something." "Not my soul."

His eyes sparkled. "Are you sure?"

In the evening, when I walked into the living room, Julian was already there, with his shirt half-unbuttoned and a drink in his hand. Behind him, city lights were spilling out.

I put my arms down. "I found the picture."

He slowly looked up. "So?"

"You cared about her."

"She's gone." "Don't bother her."

"You keep things secret."

"And you keep going."

There were sparks of fire in the air as we looked at each other.

"Mary, why do I think you're keeping something big from me?" I asked.

He came closer to me by one step. "Because I am."

His voice was low and scary as he leaned in.

"Ariana, don't open doors you're not ready to walk through. What's on the other side might not be what you want.

As I walked by him in the hallway, I said, "You're impossible."

Julian took hold of my wrist. "Aria, you're the one who lives in that tiny robe." "Who is pulling a fast one here?"

I pulled free. "You believe everything is about luring people in." "Grow up."

He moved closer, and his eyes got dark. "You're on my top floor." "My rules."

I didn't give up as I looked up at him. "Okay. "First rule: don't touch me."

He laughed. "Take note... but not promised."

It hurt my heart so much that I turned to leave, but then I stopped.

His voice got weaker. "Never tell yourself that you didn't want that kiss," she said.

I turned around. "You kissed me to make me look bad" "No," he said in a rough, low voice. You looked at me like you were hungry, so I kissed you. "Because I was"

We were both very quiet.

I didn't like how my breath got caught. I didn't like how my body responded. I didn't like him.

He moved closer, but I didn't move. I didn't even blink when his hand touched my cheek.

He said in a whisper, "Say the word, and I'll stop."

I didn't say anything.

The front door buzzed right then. Julian's face turned serious.

He spoke in a stern voice, "Stay inside."

I asked, "Who is it?"

It wasn't an answer.

He did, however, grab his gun.

It wasn't just outside that was stormy. It was right next to us. It was loud, electric, and ready to destroy everything in its way.

When the thunder hit outside the rooftop windows, it shook the glass like a gunshot. The city was a blur of lights and shades as sheets of rain fell. Inside, things were not any quieter.

He stood at the edge of the living room and looked at me like I was the storm.

"You're not going to sleep on this couch." There is just one bed. Take care of it.

I put my arms across my chest very tightly. "I'd rather sleep on the ground."

He laughed. "I've walked through enemy fire and felt safer than you do."

"Well, maybe you should have married someone whose personality you could deal with."

He moved forward. "Perhaps I didn't marry you because of who you are."

That hurts.

I laughed very hard. "No, you married me to fix things." To get power. For your business."

He didn't say no. They just stared. Again, there was a loud boom of thunder. The lights went on and off.

He ran his hand through his hair. "Listen, I don't want to fight tonight." Take the bed please. "I'm going to sleep on the chair."

"I don't need your fake kindness," I told her.

He walked toward her. "And I don't want another war in my house."

Soon after, the rain cut off the power. When the room went dark, I screamed. In the dark, Julian reached out for me without thinking, and his hands touched my shoulders.

"Simple." "There's just no power."

And I whispered, "I know." I didn't move away, though. I didn't want to accept it, but his touch made me feel grounded.

We sat there in silence, with only lightning strikes for light. I stood up after a while.

"This is stupid." I'll take a bedside table. You choose the other one. Don't talk.

He made a face. "You mean don't touch."

That's right.

We lay on our backs to each other and didn't say a word. But the stress was too much to bear and it was too loud to be quiet. Not light enough for air.

"Are you always this careful?" he asked in a low voice.

"Only with men who kiss me in front of a thousand people and then act like it didn't happen."

It was a sharp breath. "You didn't really push me away."

I rolled over and looked at him in the dark. "That kiss was wrong."

"No, that wasn't it."

His voice made me feel cold. Not because it was cold, but because it was real.

I said in a low voice, "You don't even like me."

"I want you even if I don't like you."

Keep quiet.

A dangerous, suffocating quiet.

My heart beat fast. It hurt me that my body failed me around him. I hated how my breath would catch when he looked at me for too long and how my mind would twist into knots when he got too close.

I asked in a broken voice, "You think I want you?"

"I feel bad that you do that."

I got up. "You think too highly of yourself."

He also got up and turned around to face me. "Tell me that night you didn't feel anything."

I took a breath. "I didn't."

"Liar."

All of a sudden, his hot, eager, wild mouth was on mine. As I kissed him, I gasped and pressed my hands against his chest without pulling away. My mind begged me to stop. My heart begged me to stay.

My chest heaved when I finally broke the kiss.

I yelled, "You can't do that!"

He asked himself, "What should I do?"

"Muddle me up." I don't believe you. "I can't"

He said in a rough voice, "Then don't trust me." "Don't lie to yourself, though."

I moved back and almost fell, so I grabbed the frame for support. "You can't treat me like a puppet when you play with me."

He stood up and said, "You're not a puppet." "You're on fire." I keep getting burned.

"Then stay away."

"I can't."

It was the most powerful thing he had ever said.

I jerked away when he reached for me again.

I said in a whisper, "I'm not ready for this."

He said in a quiet voice, "I know." "But I am."

It was dark, and we both looked at each other. Our hearts were beating too fast and too loud.

Then.... I told them the truth that I didn't want to say out loud.

"I hate wanting you."

Julian's eyes got darker.

The apartment door opened with a creak before he could answer.

Someone in the hall called out.

"I need to talk to you, Julian." Right now."

It made my stomach hurt.

Yes, it was Cassandra.

"Cassandra?" The name cut through the moment like a blade as I breathed.

Julian went cold. He quickly looked at the door and clenched his teeth. "Remain here."

I took his arm. "You didn't tell me she could get into this place."

"She doesn't." His voice was rough and low. "No longer."

Down the hallway, footsteps could be heard. My heart hit my chest hard.

It's Julian. Cassandra's voice was sweet but poisonous. "We need to finish what we started."

He looked at me again, then away. "I'll take care of it."

The covers got tighter around me, and I could hear my heart beating. As he left the bedroom and went into the hall, I snuck up on the door just far enough to hear him.

It's not okay for you to ignore me, she growled.

Julian growled, "I'm no longer yours."

"You were never just mine?" Cassandra lost it. "But she's wrong, Julian." We both know that mistakes can be fixed.

My heart stopped beating.

He didn't answer.

There were no words to fill the silence.

The last hit came from Cassandra: "You think your little contract marriage will protect her?" Do you really believe she won't pay?

I gasped.

The door made a noise. "Aria, we need to talk," Julian said in a low, hard-to-read voice.