Chapter 2 The talk

I pushed the restaurant doors open with more force than necessary, my heels clicking against the marble floor as I stepped inside. I still couldn't believe I was here. This whole thing was a joke.

My eyes scanned the room, searching for my so-called husband-to-be, and there he was-sitting at the far end of the restaurant, eyes locked on me like I was some kind of ghost from his past.

I tilted my head, studying him. Huh. He hadn't changed much since high school, but at the same time, he had. The acne I used to tease him about? Gone. His face was smooth now, his features more refined. He'd filled out, too-not scrawny like before, though he still had those chubby cheeks that made him look younger than he was. And those big, round eyes? Still wide with that same look of disbelief, like he couldn't believe I was standing here.

The corner of my lips curled into a smirk. Oh, Aaron, don't tell me you're still scared of me.

A spark of excitement shot through me. It had been a while since I'd truly gotten under someone's skin-excluding my father this morning, of course. And something about the way Aaron's gaze flickered between irritation and dread made me all the more eager to play this game.

With a confident sway in my hips, I strutted over to his table and flashed him a small smile.

"Hi, nerd."

Aaron didn't say anything, but the way his jaw tensed told me everything I needed to know.

I pulled out my chair and sat down, placing my Louis Vuitton bag on the table like I owned the place. Which, honestly, I did.

"You know, I expected my groom-to-be to be a gentleman," I mused, locking eyes with him. "You can't even offer me a seat, hubby?"

Aaron's lips pressed into a thin line. Then, in a voice much firmer than I remembered, he said, "You don't know how to sit on a chair?"

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Well, that was new.

Recovering quickly, I let out a short laugh. "So you do talk back now, huh?"

He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. "It's been over eight years, Nessa. Did you really think I'd still be intimidated by you?"

I leaned in slightly, tilting my head. "Ouuu, my little Aaron is all grown up, isn't he?" I teased in a baby voice, just to get a reaction out of him.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Can we just get down to business?"

I gasped dramatically, placing a hand on my chest. "Wow, someone's eager to marry me." I smirked. "I mean, I don't blame you. I'm super hot. So I completely understand the rush. Trust me, I do."

Aaron stood up so fast his chair scraped against the floor.

"You know what? This is not gonna work. I'll leave now."

His tone was sharp, final. He wasn't playing.

My smirk dropped. I wasn't used to people walking away from me, and I sure as hell wasn't about to let him start.

"Sit."

His hands clenched at his sides. He hesitated.

I arched a brow, voice dropping an octave. "I said sit."

For a moment, we locked eyes, the air between us charged. He was trying to decide whether to defy me. But this was my game, and I always won.

Finally, with a sigh of defeat, Aaron sat back down, his gaze flickering away.

Just like that, the corner of my lips curled up again.

"Now," I said smoothly, resting my chin on my hand, "let's talk."

"I can't do this," I muttered, standing up abruptly.

I was done. This was a mistake.

"Sit."

.

Her voice was sharp, commanding. And just like that, I was back in high school-back to being the insecure kid she used to torment. That boy I thought I had buried years ago suddenly clawed his way to the surface, shrinking under her gaze.

I had convinced myself that I had changed. That I had grown. That I had become someone who wouldn't be affected by Nessa Stevens anymore.

But the way my body acted before my mind could stop it-the way I sank back into my seat, avoiding her eyes-told me otherwise.

She smirked. I hated that smirk.

"Good boy," she said, leaning back. "Now, let's talk business."

I exhaled slowly, forcing my hands to stay still on the table. "Fine."

She crossed her legs, taking her time as she studied me. "We're getting married in two months. My father expects me to 'get to know you,' but honestly? I have better things to do. So here's the deal."

She leaned forward slightly. "We'll put on a show-pretend we're head over heels in love. You know, the whole fairytale b*llsh*t. We play our cards right, and once I get my name on those papers, you cause a scene. Say I cheated. We get divorced, and we both walk away happy. Win-win."