Chapter 2 Arrival in His World

Mia had never been on a private jet before.

And now, she was apparently married to the man who owned it.

She stared out the window at the clouds below, trying to ignore the fact that her stomach was flipping like she'd just stepped off a roller coaster. This wasn't some romantic fantasy. This was a deal. A transaction.

She wasn't his wife.

She was his cover story.

"You're awfully quiet," Lucas said from across the cabin, sipping from a crystal tumbler of something amber-colored.

She turned to look at him. He was dressed in a crisp white dress shirt and charcoal slacks, sleeves rolled to his elbows, no tie. Relaxed, powerful, untouchable. He looked like he belonged in a catalog for ruthless billionaires-which, she realized, he probably did.

"I'm trying to figure out if I've completely lost my mind," she said.

He gave a dry smile. "That makes two of us."

Silence fell between them again, heavy but not quite uncomfortable. She could feel him watching her.

"What's the first thing your grandfather's going to ask me?" she asked.

Lucas arched a brow. "Probably why I didn't invite him to the wedding."

She winced. "What should I say?"

"The truth."

Mia gave him a flat look.

He smirked. "Fine. The version of the truth we're going with is that we eloped because it was impulsive, passionate, and we didn't want anyone getting in the way."

"And you think he'll believe that?"

"He'll believe what he wants to believe. He's old-fashioned. He likes love stories. We'll give him one."

Mia took a deep breath. "I don't know how to lie to a billionaire family. I barely know how to lie to a customer about the soup of the day."

Lucas leaned forward. "Then don't lie. Play a role. This is just pretend."

"Right. Pretend wife. Pretend marriage. Pretend feelings."

"Exactly."

She looked out the window again. But something about his tone made her chest ache. It wasn't that he was heartless-it was that he'd convinced himself feelings were dangerous.

And she was starting to understand why.

New York - Kane Manor

By the time the jet landed in New York, it was nearly sunset. A black town car waited for them on the runway, complete with a driver in a sleek uniform and sunglasses.

"Welcome home, Mr. Kane," the driver said as he opened the door.

Lucas nodded curtly. Mia climbed in beside him, her heart pounding in her ears.

The city blurred past them as the car made its way into the suburbs, the skyline giving way to tall hedges, iron gates, and wealth that didn't need to show off because it had nothing to prove.

Kane Manor wasn't just a house. It was an estate.

Stone walls. Ivy-covered towers. The kind of place Mia had only seen in movies or on magazine covers. Her fingers tightened in her lap as the car pulled up the long driveway.

"Just smile," Lucas said beside her. "And don't say anything about tequila."

"Noted."

The front door opened before they'd even made it up the steps.

A tall, silver-haired man with piercing blue eyes stepped out onto the veranda, supported by a cane but standing tall.

Lucas exhaled. "Showtime."

"Lucas!" the older man called. "You arrogant bastard. You couldn't even call?"

Lucas gave a small smile as they reached the steps. "Hi, Grandfather."

"Don't 'hi' me," the man growled. "I had to hear about your wedding from a goddamn tabloid. You eloped? Without even telling me?"

"I wanted it to be private."

The older man turned his icy gaze on Mia-and then, surprisingly, he smiled.

"Well, at least you picked someone beautiful. Come here, girl. Let me get a look at you."

Mia stepped forward nervously. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Kane."

"Mr. Kane is my father," he said, waving a hand. "Call me Edward."

He took her hand and gave it a firm shake. "You have a strong grip. That's good. My grandson needs someone who won't let him steamroll her."

Lucas coughed.

Edward ignored him. "So. Tell me how it happened. Where did you two meet?"

Mia looked to Lucas, but he gave her a slight nod.

She forced a smile. "I was working... and he came in. I spilled something on him. He was rude. I was ruder. But he came back."

Edward chuckled. "You gave him hell, didn't you? Good girl."

Lucas slid his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. It startled her, but she kept the smile plastered on her face.

"She had no idea who I was," he said. "That's what I liked about her."

"Everyone knows who you are," Edward muttered.

"She didn't."

Edward studied them for a moment. "And you love him?"

Mia swallowed. "Yes."

It was the first true lie.

And somehow, it hurt the most.

Later That Night

The guest room-her new "wife suite"-was bigger than her entire apartment back home.

It had floor-length mirrors, a walk-in closet, and a view of the Kane private gardens. The bed could sleep six comfortably. And the bathroom had a gold-trimmed bathtub that looked too fancy to actually use.

She sat on the edge of the bed, still wearing the simple white sundress Lucas had bought her before they left Vegas.

Everything felt surreal.

A soft knock came at the door.

She opened it to find Lucas leaning casually in the hallway, sleeves rolled, top buttons undone.

"I wanted to check on you."

"I survived," she said lightly.

He looked at her for a long beat. "You handled him well."

"Thanks. Your grandfather's intense."

"He's also the only family I have left."

Mia studied his expression. "What about your parents?"

Lucas's eyes darkened. "They died when I was a teenager. Plane crash."

"I'm sorry."

He nodded once. "It was a long time ago."

She didn't push. She could tell he wasn't someone who shared freely-and definitely not about pain.

"Tomorrow's brunch," he said. "A few board members. Cousins. My aunt Margot."

"The one the driver warned me about?"

He gave a humorless smile. "She's polite. And deadly. She'll smell you out like a bloodhound."

Mia winced. "Great."

"I'll be with you the whole time," he said, surprisingly gentle. "Just stay close."

There was a moment between them-quiet, almost charged.

Then Lucas cleared his throat. "Sleep well, Mrs. Kane."

He left before she could respond.

Next Morning - Kane Estate Garden Brunch

Mia felt like she was being dissected.

Women in pastel suits and diamonds gave her thin smiles. Men in expensive watches looked at her like she was a shiny new acquisition. Every bite of food felt like a performance.

Lucas sat beside her, hand resting on the back of her chair, perfectly in character as the doting husband. Except she kept forgetting it was an act. He was too good at it. The way he touched her shoulder. The way he leaned in when someone asked a question.

It was terrifying how easy he made it look.

And then she saw her.

Margot Kane.

Tall. Elegant. Wearing a navy-blue dress that screamed money and power. She glided across the patio like royalty and zeroed in on Mia like a missile.

"You must be the Mia," Margot said, air-kissing the air beside her cheek. "My, my. Lucas always did have dramatic taste."

Mia forced a smile. "It's nice to meet you."

Margot's eyes glittered. "I have to admit, I didn't expect a waitress."

Mia's smile didn't falter. "I didn't expect a billionaire."

Lucas chuckled beside her, sipping his mimosa.

Margot narrowed her eyes, but the smile never left her face. "You must be quite something to get him down the aisle."

"It didn't take much."

"I'm sure it didn't," Margot said sweetly. "Still, I do hope you're ready for what comes next."

Mia tilted her head. "And what's that?"

Margot leaned in. "Everyone wanting to tear you apart."

Later That Afternoon - Private Office

Lucas poured a drink behind his desk, watching Mia from across the room.

"She hates me," Mia said.

"She hates everyone," Lucas corrected.

"She's going to dig into my past."

"She's probably already started."

Mia sighed. "Do you think she'll find anything?"

Lucas's gaze met hers. "Is there something to find?"

Mia looked away. "Not really."

Not yet.

But secrets always had a way of surfacing.