Terms and Conditions

CHAPTER 13

Lexi's POV

The silence stretched once more.

He didn’t flinch under it; he never did.

I took a sip of my water just to keep my hands busy while he watched me the entire time.

“You said six months,” I began. “What happens after that?” I tried to break the silence.

“We divorce,” he said plainly, as if it were a business merger ending. “Quietly. I’ll ensure the press believes it was mutual. They’ll speculate, of course, but they always do.”

“And what about after that? Do I just… vanish?”

“You’ll have enough money to start over anywhere. A clean slate. No strings.”

I sat back. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It is,” he replied. “If you can handle pretending, that is.”

“And what exactly do I have to pretend?” I asked. “Smiling for cameras? Going to events with you? Holding your hand? What…kissing in public?”

His eyes didn’t move. “Occasionally. Yes.”

My stomach twisted, but I didn’t let it show. “And in private?”

“There will be staff, security. Anyone could be watching. When we’re in public or in view, we act the part.”

“And when we’re alone?”

He paused. “We drop the act.”

“So no touching. No… anything. We draw a line.”

“That works in your favor, Miss Torres. I’m not interested in complicating this any more than it already is.”

My jaw tightened. “Good. Because I’m not sleeping with you.”

He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Noted.”

“And I don’t want any interference in my personal life.”

His expression flickered at that. “You won’t have a personal life.”

“Excuse me?”

“If we’re together publicly, you’ll be watched. You can’t be seen going out with anyone else. You can’t text exes or friends who might post the wrong thing. I’m not saying you can’t live,I’m saying everything will matter now.”

I looked at him. “So I become your accessory?”

“No. You become part of the story.”

“But I have work. I can’t just drop everything,” I said, trailing off.

“That’s why you need to quit,” he insisted.

“Excuse me?” I repeated, more firmly this time.

“You have to quit. My fiancé can’t be working not just one but three jobs. That’s why I said everything you need will be provided for you.”

“I don’t care. I can drop the weekend gigs, but you can’t make me quit the cafe and restaurant.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Actually, I do.”

“If people think we have been dating all this time, don’t you think they would expect me to have quit a long time ago?”

He didn’t respond immediately.

Then he said, Secretly.

“What?”

“Secretly, they think we’ve been dating, and you quitting would have been suspicious, don’t you think, Alexis?”

He continued, “You can continue working at either the cafe or the restaurant, but nothing more. Trust me, you’ll want to quit later on because you’re going to be engaged to me, and my world, it’s going to be a lot.”

I hated that he was right. Even more, I hated how easily he said it, like I was a character in a narrative he’d already written.

“Do I get any say in what I wear, where I go, how I speak?” I asked.

“Yes. But there will be image consultants, PR teams, stylists. If something major happens, a crisis, a leak, a scandal, you listen to what my people say.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course. Can’t let the poor Latina ruin the brand.”

His gaze didn’t waver. “I don’t care where you’re from, Lexi. I care that you can do this without falling apart.”

“I won’t fall apart.”

“Good.”

I leaned in slightly. “And I need everything in writing. A contract that protects me. Protects Aria. If you back out, I still get paid. If the press harasses my sister, I expect protection.”

He didn’t blink. “Done.”

“And if, for whatever reason, the six months extend…”

“They won’t,” he interrupted. “But if they do, you’ll be compensated more. Negotiated ahead of time.”

“And medical costs?”

“I’ve already started the paperwork,” he replied. “Private care. Best surgeons. Post-op care and a six-month supply of her medication.”

The lump that rose in my throat came quickly, unexpectedly.

I looked away for a second, then cleared my throat. “Aria's surgery is supposed to be in two weeks.”

“And I’m already making preparations,” he said.

“And Dan?” I asked.

At that, he raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know who he is. I know you’re a creep and you know everyone I’m acquainted with, so drop the act.”

“What about him?” he asked.

“He’s… important. He’s going to notice. If I say yes, he needs to be left alone.”

“You can tell one person. Him. But you understand that any leak from anyone ends this, and with it, your deal.”

“I get it. I trust him.”

“And if you walk away now,” he added coolly, “no one will know. No pressure. You leave this table, and this arrangement never happened.”

I stared at the linen tablecloth, at the perfect folds, at the way everything here had sharp, clean edges, white and crisp.

I was none of those things.

He leaned back slightly. “Final question,” he said. “Why haven’t you said yes already?”

I looked up, meeting his gaze.

“Because I still have a sliver of pride left,” I said quietly. “And I’m terrified that if I say yes, I won’t know who I am by the time it’s over.”

His expression didn’t change, but something in the room shifted. I don’t know if it was his posture or the quiet between us, but something… moved.

He nodded once. “Then take one more night.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“One more night,” he repeated. “To think. To ask yourself if you can survive this. If you can play the role. If you can lie.”

“Why?” I asked, feeling suspicious now. “You’re not the patient type.”

“I’m not. But I don’t want someone who’ll run when things get tough. If you say yes tonight out of panic, I’ll know. So take one more night.”

I stood slowly, my legs feeling numb.

“So we’re done here? I have to get home,” I said.

“For now. My driver can drop you off,” he replied.

“And before you say no, remember you were already late coming here. I assume your sister is waiting for you.”

I didn’t respond to that.

“Do you have any rules?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow.

“If I say yes, do you have any rules for me?” I clarified.

He looked at me for a long moment before answering.

“Yes. Just one.”

I raised my brows, curious.

“Don’t fall in love with me.”

I let out a dry laugh. “I think we’re safe.”

Then I walked out and saw a car waiting outside. When the man called my name, I knew it was the driver. I got on before I could overthink it again.

I felt like I had just signed a deal with the devil.

But also… like the devil had just met his match.