Chapter 5 Terms and Conditions

The morning after their big media debut, Tessa wakes up to the scent of dark roast coffee and something warm drifting from the kitchen - bacon? Maybe eggs? Definitely not something she expected from a man like Xavier, who seemed more capable of burning toast than boiling water.

She wraps a shawl around her shoulders and tiptoes out of the guest room - though, legally, it's her room too now. A soft clinking draws her to the open kitchen, where Xavier, sleeves rolled up, is plating eggs like a professional chef.

"You cook?" she says, still groggy.

He doesn't look up. "I eat. And I don't trust most people not to poison me."

Charming.

She leans against the counter, folding her arms. "You're full of surprises. First the perfectly timed Austen quotes, now breakfast."

He slides a plate toward her. "Don't get used to it. I had an early meeting canceled."

Tessa eyes the plate, impressed. "So... you're human after all."

"Barely."

They eat in silence for a while, interrupted only by the sound of forks tapping plates. It's odd, this domestic quietness. Not tense, just new. And maybe a little dangerous.

After a few moments, Xavier stands and walks over to a sleek drawer in the living room console. He pulls out a thin folder and places it in front of her with deliberate care.

"What's this?" she asks, wiping her mouth.

"Terms. Of our arrangement."

Tessa frowns. "I thought the contract we signed at the lawyer's office was enough."

"That one was for legality. This..." He taps the folder. "Is for living together."

With a sigh, she opens the folder and reads the typed page.

---

📄 Unofficial Agreement Between Mr. Xavier King & Ms. Tessa King

1. No public romantic entanglements during the course of this arrangement. If either party is seen with someone else, both reputations suffer.

2. Separate bedrooms. Any rumors of intimacy are to remain rumors.

3. Joint appearances must be agreed upon at least 24 hours in advance.

4. No falling in love.

She looks up sharply. "Number four?"

Xavier raises a brow. "It's the most important clause."

"Because you're so sure you're irresistible?"

"Because it complicates things."

Tessa shakes her head, half amused, half annoyed. "Do people really do this? Set rules like it's a business merger?"

"For some of us, that's exactly what it is."

There's a long pause.

She flips the page over. "Fine. I'll sign. On one condition."

He folds his arms, interested. "Which is?"

"You agree to attend my sister's engagement dinner this weekend."

His face stills. "That wasn't part of the arrangement."

"Well, now it is." She leans in. "You want real? This is real. She thinks we're actually in love. If you don't show, she'll suspect something's off. And then it all unravels."

He narrows his eyes, but there's a twitch at the corner of his mouth - not quite a smile, but not irritation either.

"Fine," he says. "But I draw the line at family games and homemade pie."

"Too bad. My sister bakes under pressure."

---

🕯️ The Engagement Dinner

Tessa's younger sister, Lila, opens the door with squeals and hugs and just enough enthusiasm to knock Tessa back a step. Lila's fiancé, Ben, is calmer, with a shy grin and flour on his sleeves.

"Xavier!" Lila gushes, eyes lighting up. "Wow. You clean up really well."

Xavier smiles - tight and polished. "You must be Lila."

"And you must be the man who put a ring on my sister without telling anyone. We've got questions. Hope you're ready."

Dinner is chaos - laughing cousins, nosy aunts, someone's baby screaming every ten minutes. Xavier, to his credit, handles it with practiced charm, answering every question like a well-trained politician.

"You two look so perfect together," one cousin says.

Tessa just smiles and sips her wine. She almost believes it, too.

Until her mother leans close during dessert.

"You okay, Tess?"

Tessa freezes. "What do you mean?"

Her mother lowers her voice. "You're smiling a lot. But your eyes aren't."

For a second, Tessa forgets how to breathe.

"I'm fine," she lies. "Just... adjusting."

Her mother squeezes her hand and says no more.

---

🌃 A Parking Lot Revelation

They're walking to the car under a sky glittering with stars when Tessa finally speaks.

"You did well in there."

Xavier glances at her. "You're surprised."

"A little."

"You weren't too bad yourself."

There's a pause, and then she says it - the thing she's been holding in since her mother's observation.

"Do you ever wonder if you'll be able to tell when you've stopped pretending?"

He doesn't answer right away. Instead, he looks up at the sky like it holds something useful. Something real.

"When the pretending ends," he finally says, "it's supposed to hurt less. Not more."

Tessa stares at him.

And for the first time since the fake vows, she wonders if Xavier King is pretending even harder than she is.