I couldn't breathe.
Not because the room was small,
But because he was in it.
I stood in the middle of the bedroom, staring at the massive bed like it had personally offended me.
"This is ridiculous," I muttered under my breath.
One bed.
One room.
One man who clearly didn't trust me, yet insisted I stay close enough to feel his presence every second.
I dragged a hand through my hair, pacing.
"Okay. Think, Zara. Think."
I could sleep on the couch.
Yes.
Perfect.
Problem solved.
"You're not sleeping on the couch."
I froze.
Slowly, I turned.
Liam leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
"Long enough."
Heat crept up my neck.
"Then you should know I'm not sharing a bed with you."
His brow lifted slightly.
"That wasn't part of the agreement."
"We didn't discuss sleeping arrangements," I shot back.
"We're married," he said simply.
My jaw tightened. "Fake marriage."
"For everyone else, it's real." So we have to make it real. We don't know who is watching.
I exhaled sharply.
"Then let them sleep here, not me."
For a second,
Something almost like amusement flickered in his eyes.
Then it was gone.
"You're overthinking it," he said, pushing off the doorframe.
"I'm thinking exactly enough," I replied.
He walked further into the room, completely unbothered.
I, on the other hand, was hyper-aware of every step he took.
Every movement.
Every inch of space between us is shrinking.
"Relax," he said. "I'm not interested."
That shouldn't have annoyed me.
But it did.
"Good," I said quickly. "Because I'm definitely not interested either."
His gaze met mine.
And for a moment,
The air shifted.
Charged.
Dangerous.
Like neither of us fully believed what we just said.
"Dinner is in an hour," he said, breaking the tension first.
I blinked. "Already?"
"Yes."
I groaned softly. "I don't even know what to wear."
He gestured toward the wardrobe.
"It's handled."
Of course it was.
I walked over and opened it,
And froze.
Rows of dresses.
Shoes.
Accessories.
All elegant. All expensive. All completely not mine. Unlike my scattered, simple clothes at home.
.
"This is too much," I said quietly.
"It's necessary."
I turned to him. "For who? Your investors or your image?"
"Both."
I swallowed.
Right.
I was still just part of the performance.
"Pick something," he said.
I hesitated, then reached for a simple black dress.
It was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
"Help me zip it," I said before I could stop myself.
The words hung in the air.
I regretted saying such immediately.
"I mean, I can manage."
"It's fine."
My breath hitched.
He stepped closer.
Way too close.
I turned around slowly, my heart suddenly racing for reasons I didn't want to think about.
I felt it, his smooth hand, the tip of his fingers brushing my back, tingling feeling surge through my body, I gasped.
His presence behind me.
Warm.
Close.
Too close.
"Your hair," he said quietly. "Move it."
I swallowed and lifted it to one side.
His fingers brushed lightly against my back again as he reached for the zipper.
And just like that,
Everything changed.
It was a simple light touch.
Accidental.
Nothing.
But my breath caught like it meant everything.
The air felt heavier.
My skin is suddenly too sensitive.
Too aware.
The slow sound of the zipper moving up felt louder than it should.
Closer.
Closer.
Until,
It stopped.
By now, my eyes were closed trying to soak in the moment.
Neither of us moved.
Not immediately.
I could feel him right behind me.
Close enough that if I leaned back even slightly…
I would touch him.
My heart pounded.
Why wasn't he moving?
"You're nervous."
His voice was low.
Too close to my ear.
"I'm not," I said quickly.
A lie. He moved closer, his chest touching my back.
And he knew it.
I felt it.
The faintest hint of his breath near my neck.
"You are." His voice sounded more like a moan to my ear.
My fingers tightened at my sides.
"Maybe I just don't like being trapped."
That did it.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Colder.
Sharper.
I felt him step back.
And suddenly,
I could breathe again.
"Get used to it," he said coldly.
The warmth was gone.
Replaced with distance.
Control.
"The world we're in doesn't give you space to decide."
I turned to face him, something in my chest tightening.
"This isn't your world anymore," he added.
"It's ours."
That didn't feel comforting.
It felt like a warning, a line not to be crossed.
We left for dinner soon after.
And I thought that would be the hardest part of the night.
I was wrong.
The restaurant was private.
Elegant.
Filled with people who looked like they had never struggled a day in their lives.
And now,
They were all looking at me. Rather, stealing glances at me.
"There he is."
"And that must be her."
"Interesting choice."
I heard the whispers.
Felt the judgment.
Lived in it.
Liam's hand suddenly rested lightly on my lower back.
Steady.
Possessive.
Protective.
Though discomforting, I don't want it to stop.
"Stay close," he murmured.
"I don't plan on running," I replied.
"That's not what I'm worried about."
We approached the table.
A man stood up to greet us, his smile sharp.
"Liam," he said smoothly. "You move fast."
Liam's expression didn't change.
"I adapt."
The man's gaze shifted to me.
Slow. Calculating.
"And this must be the reason."
Something about his tone made my stomach twist.
"This is my wife," Liam said firmly.
The man smiled.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
"Of course she is."
Something wasn't right.
I felt it instantly.
Dinner went on.
Business talk.
Polite smiles.
Hidden tension.
Until,
"I have to say," the man continued, swirling his drink, "this scandal was convenient."
The air went still.
My heart skipped.
Liam's expression hardened slightly.
"Be careful," he said.
The man smirked.
"Or what?"
I felt it then.
The shift.
The truth beneath everything.
This wasn't just gossip.
This wasn't random.
This was planned.
The man leaned back, his eyes flicking to me again.
"You should be careful," he added softly.
A chill ran down my spine.
"Being in the wrong place at the wrong time…"
His smile widened slightly.
My breath caught.
Because suddenly,
I knew.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
And somehow…
I was never meant to walk away from that night.