Chapter 3 THE GALA

The dress arrived just as Lucien had promised, delivered to her apartment with impeccable timing, as though he had orchestrated every detail himself. Isla stared at the garment lying across her bed, the deep emerald fabric shimmering faintly under the soft lighting.

It was the kind of dress she had only seen in magazines or on celebrities attending red-carpet events. The fabric was sleek and form-fitting, designed to flatter, to attract attention. It was beautiful. But it felt... foreign.

Isla ran her fingers along the delicate material, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. A gala. Tonight. She was expected to step into a world she didn't belong to and pretend that she was part of it.

Pretend to be engaged to Lucien Cross, the most elusive and powerful man she had ever encountered. She could almost hear the whispers of the press, feel their eyes following her every move.

She sighed and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She had never been one for high society events, never thought she would be part of a world where money, power, and appearance were everything. But here she was, standing on the precipice of it all, preparing to play a part in a game she didn't understand.

After a quick shower, Isla dressed. The emerald gown clung to her in all the right places, and the slit up the side added a touch of boldness she wasn't used to. Her hair, usually worn in a simple ponytail or messy bun, was styled into soft waves that cascaded down her back. She applied makeup with a light hand, enough to enhance her features but not make her seem out of place. She wanted to look good, but not too good, not enough to stand out. After all, this was supposed to be a temporary role.

When she was ready, she stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress and swallowing down the nerves that made her stomach churn. A few deep breaths, and she tried to gather her courage. This was what she had signed up for. She had to make it work.

The doorbell rang just as she was about to grab her purse.

It was him.

Isla's heart fluttered despite herself as she opened the door. Lucien stood there, dressed in a sharp, black tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He looked as though he had just stepped out of a magazine spread: tall, imposing, his jawline sharp and defined. The crispness of his attire matched the cold precision in his gaze. His eyes flicked over her, but his expression remained unreadable.

"You look..." He paused, his voice giving nothing away, "...adequate."

Isla bristled at his choice of words, but it was quickly swallowed by the unease that seemed to coil tighter around her chest. Adequate? She had just spent an hour getting ready, and this was what he thought?

She forced herself to smile. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Lucien nodded, not offering any further comments. "Let's go. We can't be late."

As they walked out to the waiting car, the cool night air hit Isla's skin, making her suddenly aware of how exposed she felt. Lucien was quiet beside her, his every movement calculated and composed. He was a man of purpose, and everything he did was precise, down to the exact moment when they arrived at the gala.

The venue was nothing short of breathtaking, an extravagant ballroom in the heart of the city, filled with glittering chandeliers and towering flower arrangements. The rich hum of conversation, the clink of champagne glasses, and the soft rustling of expensive fabrics filled the air. It felt like a world Isla had no business being in.

Lucien's hand rested at the small of her back as they walked inside, and though the touch was light, it felt like a reminder of the role she was expected to play. She couldn't help but feel small in this world, so different from the dimly lit apartments and dingy restaurants she was used to. This place was all polished surfaces and designer labels. She was an outsider here. But she had to blend in, to play the part of Lucien's fiancée.

The crowd parted as they entered, eyes flicking toward them with curiosity, whispers floating in the air.

Lucien didn't acknowledge any of it, his gaze focused straight ahead as if the world didn't exist beyond the carefully curated space they occupied. Isla, on the other hand, couldn't help but notice how all eyes seemed to land on them, especially on her. She wasn't used to being the center of attention, and it made her stomach twist.

They walked to a table near the front, where a few high-profile guests were seated. Lucien introduced her as his fiancée to several of the attendees, each handshake cold and efficient. He made no effort to engage in small talk with anyone, leaving Isla to pick up the pieces. She had been instructed to smile, nod, and appear engaged, just like a real fiancée would.

And so, she did.

Despite her nerves, she found herself falling into the rhythm of the evening. The conversations were superficial, but they were easy enough to navigate. She could pretend to be what they wanted her to be: the perfect fiancée, poised, charming, and above all, unemotional.

But there were moments, small moments, when Isla caught Lucien's gaze. And when she did, the mask slipped just enough for her to see the man behind the walls he had built. There was a flicker of something in his eyes, something deeper than the cold façade he wore. For just a moment, it was as though he wasn't the billionaire CEO, the unfeeling businessman. It was as though he were just a man, someone struggling with something, someone who was, like her, just trying to survive.

The realization sent a ripple of unease through her. What was it about him that made her feel this way?

"Everything all right?" Lucien's voice cut through her thoughts, and she looked up to find him studying her. The intensity in his eyes made her heart skip a beat.

She nodded quickly. "Yes. Just getting used to all of this."

Lucien's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "You're doing fine."

The praise was brief, but it was enough to make Isla feel a strange sense of validation, even if she knew it meant nothing. He didn't care about her. He didn't care about anything other than the deal they had struck.

She took a sip of the champagne offered to her by a passing server, feeling the bubbles tickle her throat. The evening stretched on, the hours slipping by in a blur of conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. And all the while, Isla found herself caught between two realities: the one she had known, and the one she was pretending to live.

As the night wore on, Isla's mind wandered, and she found herself asking the question she had been avoiding all evening: Why was she here?

What had possessed her to agree to this? To pretend to be someone she wasn't for three months?

The answer was simple: money. She needed the money.

But was that really the only reason? Or was there something else at play here?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Lucien stood up, offering his hand to her. "It's time," he said, his voice a smooth command.

She blinked, unsure of what he meant. "Time for what?"

"To leave," he replied, his expression unreadable. "The night is over. We've played our part."

As they walked toward the exit, the weight of the evening settled on her shoulders. It had been just another performance. Nothing more, nothing less.

But even as they left the ballroom behind, a small voice in her head wondered: Could she keep pretending for much longer? Could she keep playing the role of the perfect fiancée without letting it change her?

And more importantly, could she keep pretending she didn't feel something: a spark, a connection, something that shouldn't have been there?