New Rules, New Life

Jessica woke up to silence.

No blaring alarm. No neighbours shouting through paper thin walls. No smell of burnt toast or cracked tiles above her bed. Just stillness....and expensive linen sheets wrapped around her silk. For a second, She forgot where she was.

Then she saw the massive window, sunlight flooding from the room, and remembered she was in his world now.

Romeo Blackwood's penthouse.

Her new home. For the next 365 days.

She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. The clock on the nightstand read 7:14 am. A note was placed neatly next to it:

"Breakfast is at 8. Do not be late".

So formal. So him.

She slipped out of bed and tiptoed across the plush rug to the bathroom. It looked like a spa. White marble counters, rainfall shower, and a mirror that lit up when she steppedin front of it.

Laid out on the counter was a black box with a silver ribbon. A tag on top read:

"Wear this".

Inside was a knee- length white dress sleek, simple, elegant. Alongside it sat a delicate gold necklace and a matching watch.

Jessica starred at them for a moment.

Am i a bride or an employee?

Either way, she had no choice.

By 8am, she was seated at the long dining table, opposite Romeo. He was already dressed in a crisp gray suit, sipping black coffee while reading something on a tablet.

He didn't look up when she entered.

"Morning", she said softly.

"You're late", he replied.

Jessica blinked. She looked at the clock on the wall .

"It's exactly eight".

"Exactly eight is still late. Be five minutes early

next time".

Her jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

A maid brought over a tray a food: avocado toast, eggs, fresh fruit, and a smoothie that looked too fancy to drink.

"Is this what breakfast looks like everyday?"

She muttered under her breath. Romeo didn't answer.

Instead, he finally set the table down and looked at her.

"We're attending a charity gala this saturday.

You'll be introduced as my wife in front of the

board, the press, and several potential partners".

Jessica's heart skipped. "This Saturday?"

"Yes. You'll be prepped beforehand. Hair, makeup,

speech coaching if needed".

"Speech coaching?" She repeated.

"You're representing me now. There's room no for mistakes.

"Do you even want a wife.... or just a prop?"

Romeo's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't flinch.

"I want results. Don't take it personally".

Jessica pushed her fork into the eggs without eating. Her appetite had vanished.

After breakfast, she was shown around the penthouse properly by Maria, the housekeeper -a warm older woman with soft eyes and a thick spanish accent.

"You are very beautiful, Mrs Blackwood ",

She smiled kindly. "I think maybe this marriage wll not be so bad, hmm?"

Jessica gave a weak laugh. "It's not really a marriage".

Maria winked. "Sometimes the best ones start like that".

Later, Jessica found herself alone again in her room. She stared out the window, the city stretching endlessly below.

There was so much distance between this life and the one she came from. So much pretending already.

She picked up her phone and stared at the mother's number. Her thumb hovered over it... then pulled back.

Not yet. I can't lie to her again. Not today.

A knock pulled her out of her thoughts.

It was Juliet- Romeo's assistant dressed in heels and holding a clipboard.

"You have a 2:00pm. fitting with Mr. Lorenzo.

He's the stylist".

Jessica blinked, "Stylist?"

"For Saturday's gala. And afterward, you'll be

doing a mock press interview.

Mr. Blackwood insisted.

Jessica exhaled. "Of course he did".

Juliet gave her a small smile.

"Look on the bright side. You're about to be the

most photographed fake bride in the country".

Jessica didn't laugh.

Instead, she turned back to the city view and whispered.

"This isn't just a new life. It's someone else's"

And now, she had to wear it like it fit.