By the time the car slowed to a stop, my heart was already in my throat.
From the outside, the building looked like a glittering glass monument. Music and laughter leaked into the street, mixing with the staccato crack of camera shutters. Paparazzi clustered like a pack of predators, their lenses glinting under the streetlamps.
I turned to Alex. "You didn't say there'd be this many."
He adjusted his cufflinks without looking at me. "You'll get used to it."
"I'm not sure I want to."
"You agreed to the part," he said, finally meeting my eyes, "now play it."
---
The driver opened my door, and immediately, voices surged toward us.
Alex! Over here!
Who's she?
Smile for the camera!
The flashes were blinding, white bursts that left afterimages dancing in my vision. Alex's hand found mine — warm, firm, guiding. He leaned down just enough to murmur, "Eyes on me, Sarah. Always on me."
So I did.
I let my lips curl into a smile, the kind that was just soft enough to look real. The crowd leaned in, hungry for it. My heart was pounding so hard I was sure it was visible through my dress.
---
Inside, the noise dulled to a low hum. The air was scented with expensive perfume and something buttery from the buffet tables. Everywhere I looked, there were people dressed in shimmering gowns, tailored suits, diamonds catching the light like tiny suns.
Alex's arm rested along the small of my back, a casual touch that felt anything but casual.
"Breathe," he murmured.
"I am breathing," I whispered back.
"Not like you're about to run out of air."
His gaze was fixed ahead, but I could feel the heat of his attention even without him looking directly at me. It made my skin buzz.
---
A woman in a red dress approached, lips painted the exact same shade. "Alex, darling," she purred, air-kissing him twice. Her eyes slid to me with a smile that didn't touch them. "And who is this?"
"This is Sarah," Alex said smoothly. "My girlfriend."
The word landed heavier this time, maybe because her brows lifted just enough to say really?
I extended a hand, my voice steady. "Nice to meet you."
She shook it like she was testing my grip, then glanced back at Alex. "She's lovely. Different from your usual."
I didn't miss the smirk that played at the corner of her mouth as she drifted away.
---
The rest of the night was a blur of faces, champagne, and practiced smiles. Alex never left my side, his touch a constant reminder that I wasn't just here — I was on display.
But halfway through, I realized something.
I wasn't the only one acting.
Every time he laughed at a joke, leaned in to listen, or rested his hand over mine in that easy, protective way — his eyes stayed watchful. Calculating. Like every move was part of a larger strategy only he knew.
And I couldn't decide if that scared me… or fascinated me.
---
Near the end of the night, a photographer caught us near the balcony, the city skyline glittering behind us.
"Closer," the man said. "Look at her like you're in love."
Alex didn't even hesitate. He stepped in, his hand curling at my waist, his gaze locking onto mine.
It wasn't just a look. It was a pull — deep, steady, magnetic.
My breath caught, because for a split second, I forgot it wasn't real.
The camera flashed.
Later, in the car, he broke the silence.
"Tomorrow morning, that photo will be everywhere. And when it is… you won't be able to walk away"