Chapter 5 BENEATH THE SURFACE

The days following the gala felt like they had passed in a blur. Isla found herself constantly grappling with the growing tension between the public persona she was expected to maintain and the reality of what was happening behind the scenes.

The contract she had signed was crystal clear: there were no emotions involved. But the longer she spent in Lucien's world, the harder it became to separate the man from the image, the business mogul from the man who had shown, even if only for a moment, that there was something more beneath the polished exterior.

That moment at the gala, when he had admitted that he had never done this before, that he wasn't accustomed to pretending, had stayed with her. What did it mean? Was it a crack in his armor? Or just another layer of the calculated man he wanted everyone to see?

Isla wasn't sure anymore. She had been clear with herself from the beginning: she was here for the money, for the temporary escape from her financial struggles. Nothing more. But with each passing day, the line between reality and performance seemed to blur.

She woke up the next morning with a sense of unease that lingered long after she had gotten out of bed. The red dress, the press, Lucien's cold demeanor, it all felt like part of some elaborate game she had to play to survive. But survival wasn't enough.

A knock on her door broke her thoughts. She hesitated for a moment, then walked to answer it, already guessing who it might be.

"Lucien," she said, her voice steady but tired.

He didn't offer any greeting, just stepped inside the moment the door opened, his expression unreadable as usual. He was dressed in a sharp suit, as if a business meeting had already claimed the day. He looked every bit the part of the cold, calculating CEO.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone blunt, as always.

Isla raised an eyebrow but stepped aside to let him in. "About what?"

He didn't wait for an invitation, just moved into the living room, his eyes scanning her apartment with an appraising glance. It wasn't a luxury apartment by any means, but it had always felt like hers, small, cozy, with mismatched furniture and books scattered across every surface. It was the life she had built for herself, nothing extravagant, but it was real.

"You've been doing well so far," he started, his voice low but commanding. "But I need you to step up your performance. We've got another event this weekend, and I need you to make the public believe in this engagement."

Isla crossed her arms over her chest, taking a steadying breath. "I've been doing what you asked. You've gotten your media coverage, your image is intact."

Lucien looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "You're missing the point. It's not just about being seen together. It's about convincing the people who matter that we're the real deal. You and I, our connection, it needs to look authentic. It needs to feel authentic."

Isla didn't respond right away, unsure of what he wanted from her. Wasn't that the whole point? Wasn't she already playing the part?

She tilted her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "And what exactly do you mean by 'authentic,' Lucien?"

He didn't flinch at her directness. In fact, there was something almost calculating in his eyes as he studied her. "I mean I need you to stop acting like you're doing me a favor. Stop keeping your distance. You're supposed to be my fiancée, not just some hired hand. I need you to invest in the role. Play the part like you mean it."

Isla's heart pounded at his words. Was he suggesting something deeper than what they had agreed on? Was he asking her to cross a line she hadn't been prepared to cross?

"You want me to pretend to care about you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Lucien didn't seem fazed. "Yes. If you're going to be convincing, you need to make people believe it. You need to make me believe it."

His words lingered in the room, thick and heavy.

The silence stretched between them, and for a moment, Isla was caught off guard. She had expected coldness from Lucien, expected the business-like detachment that came with his calculated nature. But this? This was different. He was asking for something that felt more personal, more intimate. It was as if he wanted her to step beyond the role of the fake fiancée and into something deeper, something real.

Her mind raced. She had to remind herself that this was just a contract. This was just about the money. Nothing else.

But why did the idea of pretending to care about him feel so unsettling?

"Are you suggesting we fake an actual relationship?" she asked, keeping her voice steady, even though she could feel the tension in the pit of her stomach.

Lucien finally broke his gaze from her and glanced around the room, as though unsure how to phrase his response. "No. I'm not asking you to fall in love with me. I'm asking you to be convincing. This isn't a game anymore. The stakes are higher now."

His words hit her harder than she expected. The stakes were higher? What did that mean? Was this more than just a contract now?

Isla stood there for a long moment, unsure how to respond. She felt a surge of frustration, of confusion. The lines between what was real and what was fabricated were becoming too blurred for her comfort. Was Lucien testing her, or was he being serious?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing on the coffee table. She picked it up without thinking and glanced at the screen. It was a message from her landlord.

"Rent is due today. Please make sure to pay by 5 PM."

Isla's heart sank as she read the message. The rent. The bills. The mounting pressure. She knew she had to make the payment soon, but the money she'd earned from Lucien's contract wasn't due until the end of the month.

She put the phone down with a sigh, feeling the weight of her financial burden. Her reality had been so far removed from this world Lucien inhabited. He lived in an entirely different sphere, one where money wasn't a problem, where everything was controlled, where he could buy whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

"I don't have time for this right now," Isla muttered, more to herself than to Lucien. "I have other things to worry about."

Lucien's expression softened, just for a moment. There was a flicker of understanding in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came. I know it's hard. But I need you to stay focused. This is more than just us.

The people we're dealing with, my board, the media, they expect a certain image. And I can't afford for this to fall apart."

She nodded slowly, knowing he was right. She had no choice but to keep playing the part.

But something inside her stirred, something she couldn't quite explain. Was this just about the contract? Or had she started to want more from this? More from him?

Lucien was a man who believed in control, in strategy, and in making everything bend to his will. She was just a pawn in his game. But even as she thought that, she felt a small twinge of doubt. Could it be possible that there was more at play here than just money and business? Could there be something real beneath the surface?

For the first time, she wasn't sure.

Lucien stood up, breaking her thoughts. "We'll talk more later. I'll have a car sent for you tomorrow. Don't forget about the event this weekend."

Isla nodded, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her once more. "I won't forget."

As he walked out of the apartment, leaving her alone with her thoughts, Isla found herself standing by the window, staring out at the city below. She had always believed that survival was all that mattered. But now, the rules of the game had changed, and she wasn't so sure she could keep pretending for much longer.