Chapter 4: First Assignment

I said yes, and everything changed.

That was the thought stuck in my head as I stood beside Alex, knowing the world was about to look at us as something we were not. Or maybe something we were becoming. I did not know which one scared me more.

“Relax,” Alex said quietly. His voice was calm. Too calm. “You’re thinking too loud.”

“I’m not nervous,” I replied at once. The lie came easily. That scared me too.

“You are,” he said. “Your shoulders are tight.”

I hated that he noticed. I hated that he cared enough to notice. And I hated that a part of me felt safer because of it.

“This is just one appearance,” I reminded him. “You said simply. You said quickly.”

“I did,” he agreed. “And it will be.”

I looked at him then. Really looked. His face was unreadable, but his eyes were sharp. Focused. Like a man who never walked into a room without knowing how to own it.

“You look like you belong here,” I said without thinking.

He smiled. Not wide. Not playful. Just enough to be dangerous.

“So do you.”

That was the problem. I did not want to belong in his world. His world was clean on the surface and ruthless underneath. I had escaped one cage already. I did not plan to step into another.

We walked forward together. Side by side. Close enough that his arm brushed mine. The contact was light, but it sent a rush through me that had nothing to do with nerves.

Voices started calling his name. Cameras flashed. Questions flew fast.

“Alex, who is she?”

“Is this serious?”

“Are wedding bells next?”

I froze for half a second. Old instincts kicked in. Hide. Smile. Say nothing.

Alex did none of that.

“This is Izzy,” he said clearly. “She’s with me.”

That was it. No explanation. No story. Just possession.

Something in my chest tightened.

His hand settled at my lower back. Firm. Steady. Claiming.

I turned my face up to him, playing my part. My smile was soft. Controlled. Convincing.

“You didn’t warn me about this part,” I murmured through my smile.

“You’re doing great,” he said under his breath. “Trust me.”

Trust.

The word burned.

We moved through the crowd like that. His hand never left me. Every step felt unreal. Like I was watching myself from outside my body. The questions faded into noise. All I could hear was my own heartbeat. Fast. Loud. Wrong.

At one point, a reporter leaned too close.

“Miss, is this a rebound?”

Something snapped inside me.

I smiled wider. Sweet. Sharp.

“No,” I said. “It’s an upgrade.”

Alex laughed. A real laugh. Low. Surprised.

His grip tightened for a second, and I felt it. The approval. The spark.

We were supposed to be acting.

It did not feel like acting anymore.

Inside, my thoughts spiraled. Ryan’s face flashed in my mind. His voice. His threats. His texts never stopped.

You think you can replace me?

You think he won’t get tired of you too?

I pushed the thoughts away. Not today. Not now.

When we finally reached the car, I let out a breath I did not know I was holding.

“That was intense,” I said.

“You handled it well,” Alex replied. “Better than most.”

“I’ve had practice,” I said before I could stop myself.

He glanced at me. “With people like that?”

“With men like you,” I corrected.

His jaw tightened slightly.

“That’s not fair,” he said.

“Neither is this,” I replied. “But here we are.”

The car door closed. The noise outside vanished. Silence filled the space between us.

It was heavy. Charged.

Alex leaned back, studying me like a puzzle.

“You surprised me,” he said.

“I don’t like being underestimated.”

“Good,” he said. “Neither do I.”

I crossed my arms. “Are we done for the night?”

“Almost,” he said. “There’s one more stop.”

My stomach dropped. “You said one appearance.”

“I said simple,” he corrected. “This is still simple.”

“For you,” I snapped.

He sighed. “Izzy, if you want to walk away, say it now.”

I looked at him. At the calm confidence. At the honesty in his eyes.

“I didn’t say I was walking away,” I said quietly. “I just want to know the rules.”

The car stopped. We did not get out right away.

Alex turned toward me fully now.

“The rules are easy,” he said. “No lies in private. No feelings in public.”

I laughed softly. Bitter. “That makes no sense.”

“It will,” he said. “Eventually.”

“And what about boundaries?” I asked. “What’s fake and what’s not?”

His gaze dropped to my lips for half a second before returning to my eyes.

“That,” he said slowly, “depends on you.”

My pulse jumped.

We stepped out of the car, and that was when I saw them. More cameras. More eyes. Waiting.

My breath caught.

“You planned this,” I accused.

“I anticipated it,” he replied. “Big difference.”

Before I could argue, his hand found mine. Fingers lacing through mine like it belonged there.

A flash went off at that exact moment.

Perfect timing.

I turned my face toward him, anger mixing with something else I did not want to name.

“Smile,” he whispered. “They’re watching.”

I smiled.

Inside, I was unraveling.

Someone shouted, “Alex, kiss her!”

The crowd laughed. Cheered.

My heart slammed hard.

Alex did not move right away. He looked at me instead. Really looked.

“Say no,” he murmured. “And I won’t.”

I should have said no.

I thought of Ryan. Of control. Of losing myself.

I thought of how Alex gave me a choice.

“Yes,” I whispered.

His hand cupped my face gently. Slowly. Like he was giving me time to change my mind.

The kiss was brief. Soft. Controlled.

But it shook me to my core.

The cameras went wild.

When he pulled away, his forehead rested against mine for a second.

“That was not in the plan,” I breathed.

“No,” he agreed. “It wasn’t.”

The ride back was quiet. Too quiet.

My phone buzzed.

Ryan.

I didn’t open it. I didn’t need to. I knew what it would say.

When we finally stopped, I turned to Alex, my emotions spilling over.

“We need to talk about the rules,” I said. “Right now.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

“No touching unless necessary,” I said. “No surprises. No using me as bait.”

“You weren’t bait tonight,” he said calmly.

“Then what was I?”

He hesitated. Just for a moment.

“Someone I wanted beside me,” he said.

That answer scared me more than any lie.

I took a step back. “This is a contract. Not a feeling.”

“I know,” he said. “I’m not crossing lines.”

I laughed softly. “You already did.”

His eyes darkened.

“Did I?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Because I don’t know where the act ends anymore.”

He stepped closer. Not touching. Just close enough.

“Then we redefine it,” he said. “Together.”

I swallowed hard.

“And if I lose myself?” I asked.

His voice dropped.

“Then I’ll stop,” he said. “Even if it costs me everything.”

I searched his face for deception. I found none.

Still, fear wrapped tight around my chest.

“Remember this,” I said. “I won’t break myself for anyone again.”

Alex leaned in, his lips near my ear, his words sending a shiver down my spine.

“Rules?” he whispered. “I don’t rule with you.”