Pretend

Chapter 6

Singapore at night was breathtaking.

Lights from towering buildings reflected on the water like thousands of scattered stars. The city felt alive, elegant, and impossibly fast.

Unfortunately, I barely had time to enjoy it.

Because the moment we arrived at the hotel, Sebastian dropped another surprise on me.

“You’ll need to get ready,” he said as we stepped into the elevator.

“For what?”

“Dinner.”

“With investors?”

“Yes.”

That sounded normal enough.

Until he added something else.

“And you’ll need to stay close to me.”

I frowned slightly.

“I thought I was just part of the marketing team.”

“You are.”

“Then why do I need to stay close to you?”

Sebastian didn’t answer immediately.

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the quiet hallway leading to our rooms.

Only then did he turn toward me.

“Because tonight,” he said calmly, “they believe you’re my girlfriend.”

For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.

“I’m sorry… what?”

“My girlfriend.”

“You didn’t tell me about this.”

“You didn’t ask.”

My jaw dropped.

“That’s not how conversations work!”

Sebastian simply handed me a small bag.

“What’s this?”

“Your dress.”

I stared at it.

“You bought me a dress?”

“Yes.”

“Without asking me?”

“Yes.”

I sighed in disbelief.

“This is insane.”

Sebastian’s expression remained calm.

“Investors prefer dealing with people they believe are stable.”

“And having a girlfriend proves that?”

“It makes me appear more… human.”

I folded my arms.

“So you decided to use me as part of your image?”

“Yes.”

“At least you’re honest.”

He studied me for a moment.

“You’re free to refuse.”

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it again.

Because the truth was simple.

I couldn’t refuse.

This was still my job.

“…Fine,” I muttered.

Sebastian gave a small nod.

“Dinner is in one hour.”

With that, he walked into his room and closed the door.

Leaving me alone in the hallway with the bag in my hands.

I opened it slowly.

Inside was a deep blue evening dress.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

And definitely expensive.

“Of course,” I whispered.

Only Sebastian Montefalco would buy something like this for a fake relationship.

An hour later, I stood in front of the hotel mirror.

The dress fit perfectly.

The soft fabric flowed around my legs, and the color made my eyes look brighter.

I barely recognized myself.

There was a knock on my door.

I opened it.

Sebastian stood there in a black suit.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

His eyes slowly moved over my appearance.

And for the first time since I met him…

He looked surprised.

“That dress suits you,” he said quietly.

“Thank you.”

His gaze lingered a second longer before he stepped aside.

“Shall we?”

The restaurant was on the rooftop of a luxury hotel.

Soft music played in the background while the city lights sparkled below.

Several businessmen were already seated at the table.

As we approached, Sebastian placed a hand lightly on my back.

The contact surprised me.

Warm.

Protective.

Almost natural.

“This must be Mr. Montefalco,” one of the men said with a smile.

Sebastian shook his hand.

“And you must be Mr. Tan.”

The man’s eyes moved toward me.

“And who is this lovely lady?”

Sebastian didn’t hesitate.

“My girlfriend, Avah.”

The word sounded strange coming from his mouth.

I forced a polite smile.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Dinner began smoothly.

Business discussions.

Investment plans.

Expansion strategies.

I mostly stayed quiet, occasionally adding marketing suggestions when Sebastian gave me a subtle nod.

But halfway through the evening, something unexpected happened.

One of the investors suddenly leaned forward.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Miss Alfonso… your name sounds familiar.”

My stomach tightened.

Sebastian’s hand on the back of my chair grew slightly firmer.

“Does it?” I said carefully.

The man frowned, clearly thinking.

Then his expression suddenly changed.

Recognition.

“Oh,” he said slowly.

“You’re the woman from that wedding.”

The air at the table went completely still.

My heart dropped.

Of course.

Of course someone here had seen it.

The video.

The headlines.

The humiliation.

“Bride Abandoned at the Altar.”

The man looked slightly embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean to—”

Before he could finish, Sebastian spoke.

“Yes,” he said calmly.

“That was her.”

I felt my chest tighten.

But Sebastian’s next words surprised everyone at the table.

“And she’s also the most talented marketing strategist I’ve hired in years.”

The investors looked impressed.

“She rebuilt an entire campaign for our Southeast Asian launch in two days.”

That wasn’t entirely true.

But it wasn’t completely false either.

Sebastian’s hand rested lightly on mine under the table.

The gesture looked natural to anyone watching.

But I could feel the subtle pressure of his fingers.

A silent message.

I’ve got this.

Mr. Tan smiled again.

“Well, then we’re very lucky to have you here tonight, Miss Alfonso.”

The conversation returned to business.

But my heart was still racing.

When dinner finally ended, we stepped outside onto the rooftop terrace.

The night air felt cool against my skin.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then I turned to Sebastian.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Defend me.”

He looked out at the city lights.

“I wasn’t defending you.”

“Then what were you doing?”

His eyes shifted toward me.

“Protecting my company.”

I rolled my eyes slightly.

But something about his expression made my chest tighten again.

Because for just a moment…

Sebastian Montefalco didn’t look like a man who hated me.

He looked like a man who was trying very hard not to care.