Lina's POV
"I can't believe you didn't tell us you were dating Rio Kalinawan!" Jessica gushes as we wait for our dessert. "Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position?"
I force a laugh, acutely aware of Rio's hand resting casually on my thigh under the table. Even through the fabric of my dress, his touch sends little sparks of electricity up my spine. "It all happened so fast. We wanted to keep it private until we were sure."
"Well, you two are absolutely magnetic together," Sarah adds. "The way he looks at you... God, I'm jealous."
Rio's thumb traces a small circle on my leg, and I nearly jump out of my skin. When I glance at him, he's smiling that devastating smile and watching me with dark eyes that seem to see everything.
"I'm the lucky one," he says, his voice low and intimate. "Lina's extraordinary."
Before I can respond, a familiar voice cuts through the warm atmosphere like a knife.
"Well, well. Look what we have here."
My blood turns to ice. Standing at the entrance to our private dining room, looking like they own the world, are Marcus and Essie. She's wearing a dress that probably costs more than my monthly salary, her massive engagement ring catching the light like a weapon. Marcus has his arm possessively around her waist, his face wearing that smug expression I used to think was confidence.
"Marcus," I breathe, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Lina!" Essie's voice is sickeningly sweet as she glides toward our table. "What a surprise! We were just having dinner downstairs when we heard you were here. I hope you don't mind us crashing your little gathering."
Mind? I want to crawl under the table and disappear. This was supposed to be my moment of triumph, my chance to show everyone that I'd moved on to bigger and better things. Instead, I feel like a fraud about to be exposed in front of the two people who already made me feel small enough.
"Of course not," I manage, though my voice sounds strained even to my own ears.
Rio's hand tightens on my thigh—not painfully, but reassuringly. When I look at him, his expression hasn't changed, but there's something sharp and calculating in his eyes now.
"You must be Marcus," Rio says, standing smoothly and extending his hand. "I've heard so much about you."
There's something in his tone—polite but with an underlying edge—that makes Marcus's confident smile falter slightly. They shake hands, and I notice Rio's grip lingers just a bit too long, just firm enough to send a message.
"And you're the famous new fiancé," Marcus replies, trying to regain his footing. "Interesting timing, don't you think? Right after our wedding invitations went out."
Marcus was saying something that hurts me. My friends look uncomfortable. I feel embarrassed. Marcus wants to make me look bad in front of everyone.
But before I can even attempt to defend myself, Rio moves.
"Actually, the timing couldn't be more perfect," he says, his arm sliding around my waist as he pulls me to my feet. "Lina and I have been together for months, but we wanted to keep things private while I finalized some business deals. Your engagement news gives us the perfect reason to share our story with everyone.
He says it so smoothly, so convincingly, that even I almost believe it.
"Months?" Essie's perfectly sculpted eyebrow arches. "That's funny, because Lina never mentioned you. We're very close, you know. Best friends since college."
"Were," I find myself saying, the word slipping out before I can stop it. "We were best friends."
The temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees. Essie's smile becomes razor-sharp.
"Oh, Lina. I know you're upset about Marcus and me, but there's no need to be dramatic. We didn't plan for this to happen—"
"Of course you didn't." Rio's voice cuts through her explanation like silk over steel. "Love rarely follows our plans, does it? Take Lina and me, for instance."
He turns to look at me, and the expression on his face is so tender, so convincing, that my heart actually skips a beat.
"I never expected to fall for someone so quickly, so completely." His hand comes up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing across my skin. "But sometimes you meet someone and you just know. Everything else becomes irrelevant."
The way he's looking at me, touching me, speaking about me—it feels real. Devastatingly, dangerously real.
Rio's POV
The moment I see the predatory gleam in Marcus Villareal's eyes, I know exactly what kind of man he is. The kind who breaks things just to watch them fall apart. The kind who would humiliate a woman in public because his own ego demands it.
The kind of man I've built my entire life to be stronger than.
Lina is trembling slightly under my touch, and I can feel the tension radiating from her body. She's trying to be brave, but she's terrified. These people have hurt her before, and they're here to do it again.
Not on my watch.
"So, Rio," Marcus says, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "what is it you do? Besides sweep heartbroken women off their feet, I mean."
The insult is delivered with a smile, but it lands like a slap. I feel Lina flinch, and something cold and dangerous unfurls in my chest.
"I run Kalinawan Innovations," I reply mildly. "We develop AI technology for medical applications. Perhaps you've heard of us—we're about to close a five hundred million dollar investment round."
Marcus's smile wavers. "Five hundred million? That's... impressive."
"Rio's being modest," Lina says suddenly, and I'm surprised by the strength in her voice. "His cardiac AI system is going to revolutionize heart disease treatment. He's saving lives."
The pride in her voice, the way she looks at me when she says it—something warm and unexpected blooms in my chest. She believes in me. This woman who barely knows me believes in my work, my mission, my mother's memory.
"How romantic," Essie says with a laugh that doesn't reach her eyes. "A medical AI system. Though I have to ask—how exactly did you two meet? The story seems to change every time someone asks."
She's fishing, trying to catch us in a lie. But I've been handling hostile takeover attempts since I was twenty-two. A jealous ex-friend is child's play.
"At a charity gala for cardiac research," I say smoothly, pulling Lina closer to my side. "She was there representing her marketing firm, and I was speaking about my mother's foundation. The moment I saw her, I knew I had to talk to her."
It's complete fiction, but I deliver it with such conviction that even Lina looks up at me in surprise.
"Your mother had heart disease?" she asks softly, and for a moment I forget we have an audience.
"She died when I was fifteen," I say, and the pain in my voice is completely real. "Everything I do now is to honor her memory. To make sure no other child has to watch their parent die from something that could be preventable."
Lina's eyes fill with tears, and her hand comes up to rest over my heart. "I'm so sorry."
The gesture is so gentle, so naturally compassionate, that I almost forget we're performing. Almost forget that this woman is supposed to be a stranger playing a role.
"She would have loved you," I whisper, and I'm shocked to realize I mean it.
Marcus clears his throat loudly, breaking the spell. "Well, this is all very touching, but—"
"But you should probably get back to your own dinner," I interrupt, my arm tightening protectively around Lina. "I'm sure your fiancée is eager to get home and plan your wedding. Only two weeks away, isn't it?"
"Actually," Essie says, her voice tight, "we were hoping to catch up with Lina. We have so much to talk about—"
"I'm sure you do." I lean down and press a soft kiss to Lina's temple, feeling her sharp intake of breath. "But as you can see, we're celebrating our own engagement tonight. I hope you understand."
Before either of them can respond, I turn Lina in my arms and capture her lips in a kiss that's meant to be for show but feels like something else entirely.
She's soft and warm and she tastes like wine and strawberries. For a moment, she goes rigid with surprise, but then she melts into me, her hands fisting in my shirt as she kisses me back with an intensity that makes my head spin.
When we break apart, we're both breathing hard. Lina's eyes are wide and her lips are pink and swollen, and I have to fight the urge to kiss her again.
"Get a room," Marcus mutters, but his voice is strained with jealousy.
"We have one," I reply without taking my eyes off Lina. "The penthouse at the Ritz. Champagne and rose petals, the whole romantic package. Right, darling?"
"Right," Lina breathes, still staring at me like she's seeing me for the first time.
I guide her back to her chair, my hand never leaving her body. As I settle beside her, I pull her close so she's practically in my lap, her head resting against my shoulder.
"This is ridiculous," Marcus snaps. "Lina, you can't seriously expect us to believe—"
"That someone like me could fall for someone like her?" I interrupt, my voice deadly quiet. "That a woman as intelligent, beautiful, and remarkable as Lina could inspire this kind of devotion?"
I stand slowly, and something in my expression makes Marcus take a step back.
"You're right to find it hard to believe," I continue. "Because clearly, you never saw what I see when I look at her. You never appreciated what you had. Your loss is my gain."
Marcus's face flushes red. "You don't know anything about our relationship—"
"I know enough." I step closer, and now I'm using every inch of height and presence I possess. "I know you broke her heart. I know you humiliated her. And I know you came here tonight thinking you could do it again."
The entire table has gone silent. Even Essie looks uncomfortable now.
"But you don't get it," I say clearly. "Lina doesn't need your approval or friendship. She has something better. She has someone who thinks she's valuable, loves her, and would never make her feel unimportant."
I turn back to Lina, who's watching me with an expression I can't quite read.
"Come here, beautiful," I say, extending my hand.
She takes it without waiting, stands up, and moves into my arms like she fits there. I kiss her again, slower and deeper, putting all my feeling into it
When we stop kissing, I rest my forehead against hers.
"I love you," I whisper, just loud enough for our audience to hear.
"I love you too," she whispers back, and for a moment, I almost believe it's real.
Marcus makes a strangled sound. "This is bullshit. Lina, when this blows up in your face—and it will—don't come crying to me."
"She won't need to," I say, not bothering to look at him. "She has me now."
There's a long moment of tense silence, then the sound of retreating footsteps. When I finally turn around, Marcus and Essie are gone.
The table erupts in excited chatter about the drama we just witnessed, but I'm only aware of Lina in my arms, still looking at me like I've just rearranged her entire world.
Maybe I have. The terrifying part is, I think she might have rearranged mine too.