The lawyer's name was Martin. He was the head of corporate acquisitions for Sterling Holdings. He had drafted billion-dollar merger agreements. He now stared at the document on his screen, his face pale.
"Sir," Martin said, his voice tight. "This… this appears to be a… personal services contract."
"It is," Alex said, standing by the window of Martin's office. "A very specific one."
"The terminology… 'Relationship Maintenance Stipend'… 'Public Display of Affiliation Mandates'… 'Platonic Conduct Clause'…" Martin adjusted his glasses. "With all due respect, Mr. Sterling, this reads like a… a corporate sponsorship deal for a… a person."
"That's the general idea."
"And the confidentiality is absolute? Beyond standard NDAs, you want a liquidated damages clause of five million for disclosure?"
"Is it legally sound?"
"Well, yes, but…"
"Then include it."
Martin swallowed. "May I ask… the purpose? Is this for a film? A television project?"
Alex turned from the window. His gaze was level. "It's for a private, structured arrangement. Your job is not to ask. Your job is to ensure it is ironclad, mutually binding, and completely discreet. You will sign an NDA covering this meeting and this document. Your bonus this quarter will reflect the sensitivity of the work."
Martin looked at the bonus figure Alex had already input into the system. It was a year's salary. He closed his mouth. He nodded. "I'll refine the language. The termination schedule with graduated severance is particularly… clinical."
"Good."
Alex sat in his penthouse that night, the finalized document open on his tablet. It was a work of art. Twenty-two pages.
Section 4.1: Compensation. A monthly "Stipend" more than most people made in a year.
Section 6.3: Public Appearances. Required events per month, with additional "Fee-Per-Event" compensation.
Section 8.0: Private Conduct. Explicitly stated as non-romantic, non-physical. Defined rules for interactions in private settings.
Section 9.5: Drama Mitigation Bonus. Financial reward for successfully defusing scandals or negative publicity without termination.
Section 10.0: Termination. A six-step wind-down process. Media statements prepared by a joint PR team. A severance package that increased based on time served.
It was a user manual for a fake relationship.
He attached it to an email. No pleasantries. The subject line was: *Sterling-Veres Partnership Framework v.2 (Final Draft).*
He hit send.
The clock read 10:17 PM.
Across the city, Luna Veres sat on the floor of her modern, minimalist loft. A single floor lamp cast a pool of light. Her tablet glowed in her hands.
She read slowly. Her expression was unreadable.
She got to Section 8.0: Private Conduct. A line stated: The Parties agree that this Agreement is founded on mutual professional benefit, and no expectation of romantic sentiment or physical intimacy is created, now or at any point during the Term.
Her lips quirked.
She read the Drama Mitigation Bonus clause. A slow smile spread across her face. It was not a happy smile. It was the smile of a chess player seeing a clever move.
He had thought of everything. Media training provisions. Allowances for wardrobe for specific events. A clause about how to handle interactions with ex-partners (coordinate statements, avoid solo contact).
It was the most honest document anyone had ever presented to her. It laid bare the transaction. It honored her ambition by treating it as a cornerstone of the deal. It protected her with cold, hard legal language instead of empty promises.
There were no lies. Only terms.
She felt a strange sense of relief. No pretending. No games within games. Just a contract.
She picked up her phone. She didn't call her agent. She didn't call her lawyer. She called the number on the document.
In the penthouse, Alex's phone rang, shattering the silence. The caller ID was blocked.
His heart gave a single, hard thump. This was it. Acceptance or rejection.
He answered. "Sterling."
"It's Luna." Her voice was cool, clear. "I've read your framework."
Alex said nothing. Waited.
"Section 7.2, the performance bonus tied to my landing a lead role in a studio film," she said. "The threshold is box office gross. I want it changed to a combination of critical score and streaming viewership in the first month. Gross can be manipulated. I want metrics that reflect prestige and reach."
Alex closed his eyes. A wave of pure, cold triumph washed through him. She wasn't saying no. She was negotiating.
"Agreed," he said. "I'll have the amendment drafted."
"Good. Appendix B, the list of required public events. The quarterly charity gala is fine. The 'family dinner' clause is vague. Define it. One dinner per quarter, maximum two hours, with a list of approved conversation topics provided in advance."
"Noted."
"Finally," she said, and he could hear the sharp smile in her voice. "The signing bonus. It's adequate. But upon execution, I want the first quarter's stipend and the first year's 'Drama Mitigation' bonus advanced. As a show of good faith."
Alex calculated. It was a large sum. A test of his commitment.
"Agreed," he said without hesitation.
There was a pause on the line.
"Then we have a deal, Mr. Sterling," Luna said. "Send the final copy to my lawyer by ten AM. I'll sign at noon."
The call ended.
Alex lowered the phone. He looked out at the night.
In his vision, blue text scrolled, calm and inevitable.
[CONTRACT NEGOTIATION: SUCCESSFUL.]
[FINALIZATION IMMINENT.]
[REWARD: $500,000.00 - PENDING.]
He didn't smile. He simply nodded.
The first piece was about to be set on the board.