Chapter 3 The Wife Who Wasn't Meant to Be

If Xavier King had a warning label, it would read: Caution - Cold-blooded and ridiculously handsome. Handle with sarcasm.

Tessa repeats that to herself like a mantra as she walks through the halls of King corp, a stranger among pinstripes and power moves. Every set of eyes seems to follow her. Curious. Judging. Whispering.

So this is what it's like to be the wife of a billionaire CEO.

Too bad it's just a job.

"Mrs. King," a perky assistant chirps, nearly tripping over her heels as she holds open the boardroom door.

Tessa's eye twitches. Mrs. King. She's barely gotten used to the ring on her finger, much less the label.

Xavier is already seated at the head of the long glass table, flipping through a thick file like he owns the universe - which he probably does, at least a few zip codes of it. His suit is charcoal today, tailored to perfection, every inch of him unreadable as stone.

"On time," he says, glancing at her but not quite smiling. "Impressive."

"Marrying you doesn't mean I'll start being predictable," Tessa replies smoothly, sliding into the seat beside him.

His lips twitch. Barely. But she catches it.

As the board members file in, murmurs rise. Some subtle nods. Some raised brows. An older gentleman, clearly skeptical, says under his breath, "Didn't even know he was dating anyone..."

That makes two of us, Tessa thinks, schooling her features into something resembling grace.

The meeting begins, but her mind wanders. Xavier's voice is smooth and commanding, outlining projections, mergers, and growth strategies. It's like watching a god in his domain - cool, untouchable, and surrounded by spreadsheets.

But beneath the polished surface, she catches something else.

He fidgets once - barely noticeable, but there.

He says "wife" a bit too casually, like he's trying the word on for size.

And twice, his hand brushes hers under the table. Not by accident. Not quite on purpose, either.

🕛 Hours Later

When they step out of the boardroom, Tessa exhales like she's been holding her breath for years.

"I thought they'd throw tomatoes," she mutters, pulling at the collar of her blouse.

"They wanted confirmation that I'm human," Xavier says. "You gave them that."

"Oh great. I'm your humanity now."

"Temporarily."

That stings more than it should. But Tessa masks it with a mock salute. "Glad to be of service, your frosty highness."

He doesn't smile. Not really. But something in his eyes softens - then shutters again.

They ride the elevator in silence, but the tension is different this time. Charged. Unspoken. Confusing.

At the penthouse, the door clicks open, and Tessa kicks off her heels with a dramatic groan. "Can I get hazard pay for these torture devices?"

Xavier tosses his keys in a dish near the door and heads for the bar. "Wine?"

"Do you have anything that pairs well with fake marriage and corporate espionage?"

He pours her a glass of red anyway.

She takes it, sighing. "Thanks. For real, Xavier... you didn't have to marry me, you know. There had to be a dozen socialites lined up to fake marry you for less."

He leans against the counter, studying her. "That's exactly why I didn't choose them."

She blinks. "What?"

"They'd expect to become my wife. For real. You, on the other hand..." he trails off, voice low.

"I'm the anti-wife?"

"You're self-sufficient. Smart. Unimpressed. You won't fall in love."

Tessa chokes on her wine.

He raises a brow.

She sets the glass down carefully. "Let's get one thing straight. Just because I won't fall in love doesn't mean I couldn't fall in love. I'm not emotionally bankrupt."

"Good," he says coolly. "Neither am I. That's why I added the clause."

There it is. The infamous clause.

No love. No complications. Just three months of pretending, public appearances, and a graceful exit.

Easy. Clean.

Soulless.

And yet... she suddenly feels heavier, like something sacred has been stamped with a barcode.

He steps closer, his voice dropping. "You signed it too, Tessa."

"I know."

They're standing inches apart now. She can see the line of his jaw, the flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

"I just didn't think it would feel this... real," she says quietly.

The air shifts. For a moment, she thinks he might say something. Do something.

But the moment snaps like a twig underfoot.

Xavier turns, his back to her. "We should get some sleep. You've got an interview tomorrow. Morning show. The media needs to fall in love with you now."

Tessa stares at his back.

The media might fall in love with me. But what happens if I do the one thing I promised not to?

She touches the ring on her finger.

Bound by a contract. Bound by a ring.

But suddenly... she's not sure she knows the difference anymore.