I wasn't naive. Walking out of Julian Carter's office with the promise of a contract didn't mean I'd won.
It just meant the game had started.
And in his world, games could cost you everything.
Still, I walked down that hallway with my head high and my heels sharp, ignoring the stares and whispers from the staff who thought I was just another desperate girl trying to seduce the billionaire CEO.
They didn't know I had something they didn't.
A plan.
Later that night, I lay in bed staring at my phone. No calls. No messages.
The System hadn't pinged since I left Julian's office either.
System Status: Contract Pending. Awaiting Response.
I was caught between two worlds, who I used to be, and who I was trying to become.
I hadn't told anyone about the System. Who would believe me? A floating, digital voice guiding me through tasks, rewarding me with influence, secrets, and skills?
This wasn't a game.
This was my life now.
And revenge? It was personal.
Three days passed.
Three long, torturous days.
Julian didn't reach out. No calls. No emails. Not even a cold rejection.
I was beginning to think he'd brushed me off until the morning my apartment buzzer rang.
A man in a navy suit stood at the door with a black envelope in hand.
"For Miss Grey."
He handed it to me like it was an invitation to the underworld—and in a way, it was.
Inside: a sleek contract printed on thick, expensive paper.
At the bottom, in bold:
"Six months. Public engagement. No emotional entanglement. Termination clause: mutual consent or scandal-level betrayal. Bonus: $1 million if successfully completed without leaks."
And above all that, his signature.
Julian Elijah Carter.
The bastard really signed it.
System Notification: New Quest Activated – "Play the Role, Win the War."
Reward: +100 Influence, Secret Trait Unlocked: Cold Charmer.
> Bonus Quest: Kiss the Enemy Before Midnight. Reward: +25 Allure.
Wait—what?
Before midnight?
I glanced at the time. 8:43 PM.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: Dinner. Wear something red. My driver's downstairs.
I stared at the screen.
He didn't even bother signing his name.
Arrogant devil.
I wanted to scream, but I also wanted to smile.
Because this was exactly what I needed.
The restaurant he picked was dimly lit, intimate, expensive. The kind of place where people made million-dollar deals, and million-dollar mistakes.
Julian sat at a corner booth, wine glass in hand, watching me as I entered.
"Red suits you," he said, nodding at my dress.
"I know," I said, sliding into the seat across from him.
He smirked.
"You read the contract?"
"Every word."
"And?"
"I have two edits."
His brows lifted.
"One, I want full access to Cruz Enterprises' insider info."
He blinked. "You're bold."
"Bold gets results."
"And two?"
I leaned in, voice low.
"If we're going to be seen in public, you'll need to pretend a little harder. That means looks, touches… and occasional kisses."
He stared at me, silent.
"You think I won't notice if you fake it," I said. "But the world will. If we do this, we do it right."
Julian's smile was slow, dangerous.
"Fine. But don't catch feelings."
I snorted. "Please. I'm the last person you need to worry about."
He raised his glass.
"To dangerous deals."
I tapped mine against his.
"To mutual destruction."
> System Prompt: Bonus Task Activated – "Seal the Fake Deal with a Kiss." Time remaining: 3h 01m.
Julian leaned forward slightly.
"You know, we could knock out that clause right now. Save time."
I rolled my eyes. "What, you want to kiss me now? In front of half the city?"
He shrugged. "Why not?"
"Because I like my moves to be strategic. Not desperate."
His smirk didn't fade. "Fair enough. But you'll kiss me eventually."
I tilted my head.
"Don't get cocky, Carter. You may have signed the contract, but I'm still writing the story."
And this story?
It wouldn't end the way he thought.