Chapter 5 THE CHARADE BEGINS

You!" We both screamed, our voices echoing through the upscale restaurant. Just then, my father intervened, a look of confusion on his face. "Ava, do you know him?" he asked, his eyes darting back and forth between me and Alex.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I didn't want to reveal the true nature of our earlier encounter, but I also didn't want to lie to my father. "I...I...we met," I stammered, trying to come up with a plausible explanation.

Just then, Alex turned to my father and said, "Mr. Ralph, it's nice to meet you." He smiled charmingly and shook my father's hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "Ava and I met at a cafe, actually, sir. We're friends."

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell my father the truth, but Alex cut me off. He took my hand in his, intertwining our fingers in a gesture that was both intimate and possessive. "Come sit with me," he whispered softly, his breath tickling my ear.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized what he was doing. He was pretending, putting on a show for our fathers. And I knew I had to play along. Two could play this game, after all. So I took his hand and went with him, trying to look like the happy couple we were supposed to be.

As we walked to the table, I could feel the weight of our fathers' gazes on us. They were buying it.

We settled into our seats at the elegantly set table, the soft glow of the candelabras casting a warm ambiance around us. Alex still held onto my hand, his grip firm but not unyielding. I tried to subtly pull my hand away, but he didn't seem to notice. Or maybe he just didn't care.

I scooted closer to him, my eyes fixed on his profile as I whispered through clenched teeth, "Can you let go of my hand now?" My voice was barely audible, but I knew he heard me.

For a moment, he didn't react. Then, as if my hand had suddenly transformed into a hot coal, he dropped it like it was burning his skin. His eyes flicked towards me, a hint of surprise and annoyance flashing in their depths.

I felt a surge of satisfaction at having reclaimed my hand, but it was short-lived. Alex's gaze lingered on mine, his expression unreadable. I wondered what he was thinking, if he was plotting his next move or simply trying to intimidate me.

Just then, my father cleared his throat, snapping me out of the daze I had fallen into. He stood up, a self-satisfied smile spreading across his face as he gently clicked his glass against the table. The sound echoed through the room, commanding the attention of everyone present. I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

"Please, can I have the attention of everyone here?" he asked, his voice booming through the restaurant. I felt my heart sink, my palms growing sweaty as I realized what was about to happen. Oh God, what is this man doing?

My father's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on each face before moving on to the next. He was milking the moment, savoring the attention. "My daughter, my pride and joy," he began, his voice dripping with insincerity. We both knew he didn't love me, not really. He loved the idea of me, the idea of having a daughter to parade around and show off to his friends.

But I was more than just a prop, more than just a means to an end. I was a person, with thoughts and feelings and desires. And right now, my desire was to escape, to get out of this restaurant and away from this farce.

"...is getting married to a really nice boy, Alex," my father continued, his voice dripping with false enthusiasm. "So, I want you all to toast to them." The room erupted into a chorus of congratulations and applause, with everyone raising their glasses in a gesture of goodwill.

I felt my face burn with embarrassment, my eyes scanning the floor as if searching for an escape route. This was a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up. I was trapped in this situation, forced to play along with my father's game.

I heard Alex chuckle beside me, the sound low and husky. He leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered, "Are you ready, wife?" The word sent shivers down my spine, and I felt a surge of resentment towards him. How dare he enjoy this moment, this public declaration of our fake engagement?

I didn't respond, couldn't respond. My voice was trapped in my throat, refusing to come out. Instead, I nodded curtly, my eyes still fixed on the floor. The room was spinning around me, and I felt like I was going to pass out.