The boardroom air still clung to Sam's suit—too much perfume, too many smiles hiding fangs. She loosened her collar as she strode down the hall, her heels a steady metronome against the marble floor.
Her secretary glanced up from her desk, a flash of nervousness crossing her face.
"Ms. Sam, you have a visitor. She's inside your office."
Sam stopped mid-step. "You let someone in my office without me?"
"She said she's your girlfriend."
Sam blinked, slowly. "So anyone who claims to be my girlfriend can just waltz right in?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. She—she looked trustworthy. Beautiful, actually. Didn't seem like a bad person."
A sigh escaped Sam's lips. "That's exactly what makes people dangerous." She brushed past, pushing open the door to her office.
Inside, the city bled silver light through the window blinds. A familiar silhouette stood by the glass—tall, graceful, haloed by afternoon sun.
"I can't believe you got past my secretary just because of your looks," Sam said, setting her folder on the desk.
The woman turned, lips curving. "So you do think I'm beautiful, then?" Alexandra's voice carried that teasing softness that always landed just beneath Sam's ribs.
Sam rolled her eyes, though her pulse betrayed her. "Why are you here, Alex? I don't recall inviting you. The wedding isn't for another month—no need to play the part yet."
"I came to visit my girlfriend," Alexandra said lightly, walking closer. A bouquet of pale roses hung from her hand, dew still clinging to the petals. "And I brought flowers."
Sam looked at the bouquet, then back at Alexandra's unreadable eyes. "There's no one here to fool."
"Your employees, Sam," Alex countered. "Appearances matter."
"Stop it, Alex. You know that's not necessary." Sam's voice cooled, professional armor snapping back into place. "So—what's the real reason you're here?"
Alex hesitated, the playfulness dimming. "Fine. I wanted to talk about the wedding."
"Cassey's wedding?"
"Yes." A pause. "So it's an extension then?"
"Oh. You mean the contract." Sam turned toward her desk, pretending to look for something. "Yes, I'll have another one drawn up—and payment, as usual."
The words tasted like rust in her mouth. She had almost believed, for a moment, that Alexandra had come for her.
"So... we keep pretending until next month?" Alexandra asked softly.
"Yes," Sam replied without looking up. "But not through the wedding. We'll stick to the plan. The breakup will happen before then—I'll decide when."
"Oh." Alexandra's expression faltered.
"I'll call you when the new contract is ready," Sam said briskly, already reaching for another file. "If that's all, you can go. I have work to finish."
Alexandra lingered a heartbeat longer, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Then she nodded. "Okay. Goodbye, Sam."
The door clicked shut.
For a long moment, Sam stared at the empty space where Alexandra had stood.
What were you even expecting, Sam? That she'd be happy just to see you? That the flowers meant something more than a script?
You're paying her. That's why she's here. That's the truth.
She sank into her chair, pressing her fingers to her temples.
Whatever this ache is—forget it.
Love is complicated. And love, she reminded herself, wasn't part of the contract.
-
The city was sinking into dusk when Sam's phone rang. She had been staring at her screen, trying to pretend the day's meetings hadn't drained her completely. The name flashing on the screen pulled an instant smile to her face.
Nana.
She picked up. "Hello, Nana."
"Hello, my Sammy! How's my favorite granddaughter doing?"
Sam let out a small laugh, soft and tired. "I'm surviving. Meetings, deadlines—you know, the usual circus."
"Perfect," Nana said, and Sam could hear the grin in her voice. "Then you deserve a good meal. Come over tonight. I'm making my special roasted chicken—your favorite."
Sam felt something inside her ease. The tension in her shoulders loosened. "You had me at roasted chicken, Nana. I'll be there."
"Drive safe, my love. I'll see you soon."
When the call ended, Sam sat there for a moment, staring at her reflection on the black screen of her phone. For a second, she thought of Alexandra—the sharpness in her voice earlier, the way she'd left without looking back.
She shook her head, gathering her things. Stop thinking about her.
But the ache didn't listen.
-
Nana's house smelled like comfort—butter, herbs, and the faint trace of old flowers from the garden. Sam inhaled deeply the moment she stepped inside. The scent alone felt like being hugged.
Carmen, the housemaid, greeted her with a polite bow. "Good evening, Ms. Sam."
"Evening, Carmen." Sam handed over her bag, already loosening the top button of her blouse. "Where's Nana?"
"They're already in the dining area, Ms. Sam."
They? Sam frowned. "She has company?"
"Yes, miss."
Before Sam could ask, a voice—light, teasing, unmistakable—floated through the hall.
"Hi, babe!"
Sam stopped dead.
Her heart tripped once, twice. That voice.
When she stepped into the dining room, her breath caught.
Alexandra sat there, radiant under the amber chandelier light—hair tumbling in soft waves, a glass of wine cradled carelessly in her hand, the ghost of a smirk on her lips.
"Alex?" Sam managed, her voice thinner than she wanted it to be.
Alexandra smiled—slow, knowing. "Surprise."
For a heartbeat, Sam forgot how to breathe. Then reality crashed back in with Nana's warm laughter.
"Oh, Sammy, there you are! I invited Alexandra to join us. She was so sweet, she couldn't say no."
"I couldn't," Alexandra said, turning to Nana with a charming grin. "The smell of dinner alone was enough to keep me hostage."
"Oh, wait until you taste it," Nana said proudly. "It's Sam's favorite."
Alexandra's eyes flicked toward Sam. "Really? I thought her favorite changed recently. Pretty sure it's spelled A–L–E–X, right, babe?"
Sam's jaw tightened. She forced a smile, widening her eyes just slightly—a silent not here.
Nana, oblivious, laughed. "Oh, you two are adorable! Come, sit down, dear."
Sam took the seat beside Alexandra. The faint brush of Alexandra's perfume—jasmine and something darker—reached her, a quiet tug at the edge of her control.
"Here." Alexandra placed a piece of chicken on Sam's plate, then added vegetables with an easy grace that looked... practiced. Too practiced.
Sam watched her—the curve of her wrist, the easy warmth in her movements—and felt something twist in her chest. It wasn't real. It was never real. But god, Alexandra was good at pretending.
"Thank you," Sam murmured.
Alexandra only smiled. "You're welcome, babe."
Dinner was full of laughter and the sound of clinking glasses, but Sam felt adrift in it all—her mind half somewhere else, half trapped by the magnetic pull of the woman sitting too close.
"So," Nana said, her tone sweet and curious, "tell me how you two met?"
Sam froze. But Alexandra, always quick, leaned forward, her expression softening as if she were dipping into something real.
"We met at a charity event," she said, her voice smooth, honeyed. "Would you believe me if I said it was love at first sight? I saw her across the room, and for a moment, everything blurred—just her, standing there, smiling. I knew then I was done for."
Her eyes lingered on Sam as she continued. "Her eyes glowed under the lights, her smile—god, it's even better up close. And when she laughed..." She shook her head slightly. "It felt like something inside me woke up."
Nana gasped softly, delighted. "Oh, that's so romantic!"
Sam's pulse thrummed in her ears. Her fingers tightened around her fork. The words shouldn't have meant anything—they were part of the act—but they carved through her like glass all the same.
"Aww, that's my Sammy," Nana said proudly. "She gets that charm from her grandmother, don't you think, Alex?"
"Absolutely," Alexandra said with that same easy charm. "You're both breathtaking."
Sam's face burned. She smiled, small and careful, while her thoughts screamed at her to get a grip.
When dinner ended, Alexandra pushed her chair back and smiled softly.
"This has been really nice... I hate to cut it short, but I need to get home and help my mom with her prescriptions."
"Oh, sweetheart," Nana said. "Sam, why don't you drive her home?"
Alexandra shook her head quickly. "No, no—I can manage. You two should have some time together. Sam's been working hard."
"You sure?" Sam asked. Her voice came out gentler than she intended.
"I'm sure," Alexandra said. Her eyes met Sam's for a brief, heavy second—and something in that look made it hard to breathe again. "Your Nana missed you."
Sam could only nod.
"Thank you for dinner, Nana," Alexandra said, standing to hug the older woman.
"You come anytime, dear," Nana said warmly. "I'll make anything you like."
"That's a promise?" Alexandra teased.
"Of course. You and Sammy are always welcome."
Alexandra turned toward Sam then. "I'll go now."
Before Sam could speak, Alexandra leaned in—close enough for Sam to smell the faint trace of her perfume—and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
It was quick. Just a whisper of warmth. But it left a scorch that felt anything but innocent.
Sam froze. Her breath hitched.
When she looked up, Alexandra was smiling again—that unreadable, beautiful smile that never quite gave away what was real.
"Goodnight, Sam," she said softly.
And just like that, she was gone—leaving only the lingering scent of jasmine and the slow, traitorous flutter in Sam's chest that she couldn't quite silence.