Chapter Three: Terms And Conditions Apply

Amara didn’t answer immediately. She couldn’t.

Everything Adrian had just said kept replaying in her head.

A fake fiancée.

Paid.

A few months.

It sounded simple.

Too simple.

And that was exactly the problem.

“This is a terrible idea,” she muttered again, more to herself this time.

Adrian didn’t argue.

Didn’t interrupt.

He just stood there, watching her think about it.That somehow made it worse.

“…Say something,” she finally said, looking at him.

“I already did,” he replied calmly.

Amara frowned. “That’s not helpful.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.”

She exhaled sharply. “Why me?” she asked again.

“I’m not even your type.”

Adrian raised a brow slightly. “And what exactly do you think my type is?” he asked.

Amara paused. “…Someone less problematic,” she said honestly.

That earned a small, amused look. “Problematic works for me,” he replied.

She stared at him. “…You’re serious,” she said slowly.

“Yes.”

Silence followed.

Amara looked away again, her thoughts racing. This could fix so many things.

Her financial problems.

Her stress.

Her constant struggle to keep up.

But at the same time, This could go very, very wrong.

“And what happens when this ends?” she asked.

Adrian didn’t hold back. “It ends.”

That answer felt too simple. “No complications?” she pressed.

“None.”

She watched him for a moment, trying to read and understand him.

“You make it sound easy,” she said.

“It is, if you follow instructions.”

Her eyes rolled. “I don’t like instructions.”

“I noticed.” He said.

That almost made her laugh.

Almost.

“And what exactly are these ‘instructions’?” she asked.

Adrian straightened slightly.

“You stay convincing,” he said.

“You don’t create unnecessary problems.” He added.

Amara gave him a look. “I am the problem,” she pointed out.

“I’m aware,” he said calmly.

She folded her arms. “Anything else?”

“Yes.”

She waited. “You don’t fall in love with me.”

That…, that caught her off guard.

Then she laughed.

Actually laughed.

“Oh, don’t worry,” she said, shaking her head. “That definitely won’t ever happen.”

Adrian didn’t respond.

He just watched her.

That made her laugh fade slightly. “…What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he said.

That “nothing” didn’t feel like nothing, really felt like something.

Amara looked away again, trying to ignore the strange feeling creeping in.

“Okay,” she said after a moment.

Adrian’s gaze became sharp slightly. “…Okay?” he repeated.

“I have conditions,” she added quickly.

He nodded once. “Go on.”

Amara inhaled, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

“First,” she said, raising a finger, “This stays strictly business.”

“Agreed.” He said.

“Second,” she continued, “No controlling my personal life.”

“Define ‘personal life.’” He said.

She frowned. “Everything outside of this fake relationship.”

“That depends,” he said.

“On what?” She added.

“On whether it interferes with the agreement.”

Amara rolled her eyes. “Of course it does.”

Adrian didn’t respond.

“Third,” she said, “If things get messy, I walk away.”

A brief pause. Then, “Noted,” he said.

Amara watched him carefully. “You agree to something too easily,” she said.

“You’re predictable,” he replied.

She didn’t like how exact that felt. “…And the last thing,” she added.

Adrian waited. “You don’t get to embarrass me,” she said firmly.

That earned a slight move of his head.

“I already saved you from embarrassment,” he pointed out.

“Don’t remind me again,” she muttered.

Silence followed.

Then, Adrian extended his hand. “Do we have an agreement?” he asked.

Amara stared at it.

This was it.

The moment everything would officially begin.

Her heart beat faster. Louder. “This is a bad idea,” she whispered again.

Adrian didn’t disagree. “I know.”

That didn’t help.

Not even a little.

But still, Slowly, Amara reached out. And shook his hand.

“Fine,” she said.

A pause. “I’ll do it.”

Adrian’s grip was firm.

Steady.

“Good,” he said.

And just like that, Everything changed from there.