Smile and Chew, Maddox

River didn’t wait for Jace’s reaction. He turned, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

Jace stood there in silence. He wasn’t used to being spoken to like that. People didn’t talk back, not in his world. Not unless they were trying to impress him or destroy him.

River didn’t seem interested in either.

Sasha walked in a few minutes later, holding her phone and a tablet at once. She looked exhausted and thrilled at the same time.

“You two are trending again. And I mean everywhere. T*****r, TikTok, the news. The world thinks you’re in love.”

“I don’t like lying,” Jace said.

“Too late. You’re already in it. And honestly? It’s working. Investors are backing off. Crane’s been quiet all day. You’re not just a CEO now, Jace. You’re the mysterious, emotionally unavailable tech genius who fell for his bodyguard. People are obsessed.”

Jace rubbed his temple. “This is ridiculous.”

“No, this is genius. We keep the story tight. No interviews yet. Just appearances, one dinner, one photo together. You don’t even have to touch him.”

He didn’t say anything.

Sasha tapped her screen. “I’ll have a schedule ready by morning. For now, just stay in the penthouse. No surprise moves.”

“I never make surprise moves.”

“That’s exactly why this fake romance is gold,” she said, grinning. “It’s the first unexpected thing you’ve ever done.”

When she left, the silence returned.

Jace stared out the window. New York looked smaller from up here. It was quiet, clean. Nothing like the chaos inside his own life.

He didn’t like being touched, or watched, or questioned. But River Hale made him feel all three things at once.

And Jace didn’t know what to do with that.

Down the hall, River unpacked in the guest room. He moved with quiet efficiency, but his mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

Pretend boyfriend? Fake relationship? This wasn’t what he signed up for.

He didn’t trust rich men. He’d worked for enough of them. They used people like tools. And Jace Maddox, no matter how calm or polished he looked, was still one of them.

River had agreed to this setup for one reason: the attack wasn’t random. The man had military training. He moved with purpose. And River knew what that meant, this wasn’t some headline scandal. This was something darker.

He wasn’t going to fall for anyone, but he wasn’t walking away either. Not until he figured out what was really going on.

The next morning, Jace stood in front of his wardrobe, staring at rows of tailored black suits.

River leaned on the doorframe, watching him.

“You planning to dress like a funeral again?”

“This is how I dress.”

“You want people to believe you’re in love? Maybe try not looking like you’re headed to a boardroom meeting with the Grim Reaper.”

Jace raised a brow. “Are you always this rude?”

“Only when I’m not being paid to flirt.”

Jace looked at him carefully. “Is that what you’re doing now?”

River shrugged. “Depends. Are you buying dinner tonight?”

Jace turned back to his suits. “I don’t do dinner dates.”

“Guess you do now. Smile and chew, Maddox.”

He pulled out a slightly softer grey suit, holding it against himself in the mirror. “This better?”

River smirked. “It says ‘emotionally repressed’ instead of ‘completely dead inside.’ So, progress.”

“You really don’t care who you offend, do you?”

“Not really. People usually shoot at me before they ask for manners.”

Jace’s eyes flicked to him in the mirror. “You’ve been shot?”

River didn’t blink. “Twice.”

Jace turned fully. “Where?”

River lifted his shirt slightly, revealing a scar on his side. “Here and here,” he said, pointing to his shoulder. “Afghanistan. Long time ago.”

Jace didn’t reply, but something in his expression shifted.

“I’m not some reckless thug,” River added. “I know what I’m doing. And I know danger when I see it.”

“I never said you didn’t.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Sasha’s voice echoed down the hall. “You two better be ready. Cameras will be outside the restaurant by six. Smile like you mean it, or at least like you’re not planning each other’s murder.”

River muttered under his breath. “This is going to be a disaster.”

Later that evening, Jace stepped out of the car into flashing lights and shouted questions. River followed closely behind, one hand resting lightly on his back. It was for show. For protection. But it still made Jace tense.

They sat across from each other at the private table. Waiters hovered nearby, photographers were outside. Every move was being watched.

Jace picked at his food. River drank water and stared at him.

“You hate this, don’t you?” River asked.

“Every second.”

“Good. At least we’re honest.”

They were silent for a moment, the clink of glasses and the occasional camera flash filling the air.

“You don’t do relationships?” River asked suddenly.

Jace hesitated. “No. I don’t…function well in them.”

“Because of your schedule? Or your control issues?”

Jace’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t hold back, do you?”

“Not my style. Besides, pretending to be your boyfriend means I should know what I’m pretending to deal with.”

“I don’t let people close,” Jace said quietly. “It’s safer that way.”

River leaned back, watching him. “Safer for who?”

Jace sighed. “You said something last night.”

River’s expression didn’t change. “Yeah?”

“You said you don’t fall for men like me.”

River met his eyes.

“I meant it.”

“Why?”

River leaned in, his voice low and stern. 

“Because men like you get people like me killed.”