Chapter 2

Asia's POV

My heart slammed so hard against my chest. 

The stranger’s arm stayed locked around my waist, firm, unyielding. His body heat seeped into my side,solid,overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

Up close, he smelled expensive. Clean. Dangerous.

It made my skin prickle.

I kept the act going, forcing a soft smile while my eyes flicked past his shoulder. Monroe and Chanel stood a few feet away, watching like vultures waiting for something to fall apart.

Monroe’s expression had shifted from smug to irritated in seconds.

Good, that meant this was working.

The man beside me leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of my ear.

“Keep smiling, little kitten,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth. “They’re still watching.”

A shiver ran through me.

My fingers curled into the front of his suit before I could stop myself.

Up close, he was even more intimidating. Broad shoulders. Sharp jaw clenched just enough to show tension. And his eyes,dark, focused, unreadable.

The kind you didn’t look at too long… unless you wanted to get lost in them.

We stood there like that, wrapped in a lie that felt a little too real. Soft piano music floated through the air while guests moved around us,unaware or pretending to be.

Then,

“Whatever.” Monroe’s voice cut through the moment.

“Enjoy your little fantasy, Asia. Let’s go, Chanel.”

He grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the elevators, but not before throwing one last glare over his shoulder.

I held my breath until they disappeared.

The second they were gone, the stranger’s grip loosened, but he didn’t step away.

Instead, he turned me fully toward him.

Two fingers tilted my chin up, forcing my gaze to meet his.

“What's your name,kitten?.”

“Asia,” I said, my throat suddenly dry.

“Asia…” he repeated, like he was testing how it felt on his tongue.

A faint smile touched his lips. “What a name.”

Something about the way he said it made my stomach tighten.

Then his expression shifted.

“I assume you can hold your end of this for the next two days,” He said calmly. “You play my fiancée. That means touching, smiling… acting like you can’t stay away from me…Especially when Monroe is around.”

His hand dropped from my chin.

“He has something I need, distracting him makes things easier.”

My brows pulled together slightly, but he didn't give me a chance to respond.

“You’ll stay in my suite,” he added.

My eyes widened. “Wait,your suite? I can’t..”

“You already kissed me in public,” he cut in smoothly, dark amusement flickering in his eyes. “And claimed me as your man.”

My breath caught.

“You don’t get to hesitate now, little kitten.”

Before I could argue, he took my suitcase from my hand like it weighed nothing and started toward the private elevators, his other hand settling at the small of my back,possessive, guiding.

I followed because I didn’t know what else to do.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding.

He stepped in and pressed the button for the top floor.

Then he turned to me.

“Rules.”

My spine straightened slightly.

“One,no real names in public,you can call me Eden.”

Eden.

The name lingered.

“Two, you don’t run, you don’t disappear.”

His gaze sharpened slightly.

“Three, whatever happens in private stays private.”

Something in the way he said that made my pulse skip.

“Understood?”

“Understood.”I nodded.

The elevator moved, smooth and silent. I stared at the glowing numbers, trying to steady my breathing.

Two days.

Just two days.

I could do this.

Smile. Pretend. Leave.

Simple.

Right?

But the moment the doors opened into a sprawling penthouse suite, my confidence cracked.

The space was massive,elegant,Intimidating.

My gaze drifted and landed on the bedroom.

The door was slightly open.

A king sized bed sat in the center,too big, too inviting.

I bit my lip hard,it hurt.

Eden set my suitcase down near the entrance,already loosening his tie like this was nothing,like this was normal.

“Bathroom’s there,” he said, nodding toward a marble door.

I barely heard him.

“Order whatever you want,”

He stepped closer.

My breath hitched as my back met the cool wall.

One hand braced beside my head, caging me in without actually touching me.

Too close.

Way too close.

His eyes dropped to my lips for a brief second before lifting back to mine.

“But first…”

My stomach tightened.

“We make sure you can sell this.”

My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

A slow smile curved his lips—dangerous, knowing.

“We practice.”

My pulse spiked.

He leaned in, stopping just inches away. Close enough that I could feel his breath against my lips.

“Kiss me again,” he murmured. “Like you mean it this time.”

My chest rose unevenly.

“No panic,no audience.”

His voice dropped further.

“Just you and me.”

For a second, everything else faded.

This was insane.

I didn’t know him.

I shouldn’t want this.

And yet,my body didn’t seem to care.

I hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then, his phone buzzed loudly from the table.

The moment shattered.

Eden pulled back, jaw hardened as he glanced at the screen. Whatever he saw wasn't pleasant.

He looked back at me.

“Change of plans.”

My stomach dropped.

“Monroe might be leaving tomorrow,” he said,while moving back and forth. “And I still need that deal.”

He ran a hand through his hair, pacing once before stopping.

“I have an idea.”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

“We’re having dinner with them tonight.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“Another chance to convince him,” he continued like it was already decided. “You’ve moved on.”

“But we..”

“No,” he cut in smoothly. “Get changed.”

And just like that, he turned and disappeared into the second closet.

I stood there, frozen.

My pulse still hadn’t settled.

My lips still tingled.

And reality was finally starting to sink in.

What exactly had I just agreed to?

Because this.

This was not the quiet vacation I had imagined.

And something told me, It was only going to get worse.