Chapter Two: The Proposal

Monterrey, Mexico – 8:45 a.m.

The air inside the elevator was thick with silence, but Valeria couldn’t shake the buzzing in her ears. Her heart was still racing from the insane proposal she’d just agreed to. She was going to pretend to be Alejandro Herrera's fiancée. For one day. Maybe two. In front of an investor. But the more she thought about it, the more questions kept coming up.

Why her? Why not someone else? There had to be a reason he picked her, and it wasn’t just about her design skills, surely.

Alejandro stood next to her in the elevator, his tall frame still radiating the kind of confidence that bordered on arrogance. His eyes were locked on the ascending numbers above them, but Valeria could feel the weight of his presence beside her, like a shadow, dark and looming.

"You still haven't told me why me," she finally broke the silence, the question slipping out before she could stop herself.

He didn’t look at her but answered without hesitation. "You’re reliable. And you need the money."

Her heart skipped a beat. Was that it? He was using her, just like that?

“I could’ve just hired someone else for this,” he continued, his voice cool, disinterested. "But you're the only one who seems capable of keeping up with me. You’re resourceful, and I like that."

Valeria couldn’t decide whether to feel flattered or insulted. "Resourceful, huh?" She folded her arms across her chest, trying to keep her voice steady. "So that’s what you think of me? Just a tool to help you impress an investor?"

Alejandro’s lips twisted into a slight smirk, though his eyes remained indifferent. "If that’s how you want to see it."

She wasn’t ready for the quiet, unsettling truth behind his words. He didn’t need her to be a partner in any real sense—he needed her to play a role. And once the investor was satisfied, he would forget she even existed. That’s how men like him worked. Everything was transactional. But something about the way he said those words—it made her stomach churn in a way she wasn’t sure she was prepared for.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, and Valeria was jolted back to reality. She stepped out first, walking briskly toward the meeting room with her head held high, despite the nerves swirling in her chest.

Alejandro followed silently, his stride long and confident, making her feel smaller with every step. He was a force of nature, effortlessly imposing, while she was... well, a temporary solution to a problem he couldn't bother solving himself.

As they reached the conference room, he placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"Remember," he said in that low voice, barely a whisper. "You’re not just pretending to be my fiancée. You’re convincing them. This is serious, and it needs to look flawless." His gaze softened for a moment—just enough for her to feel like there was something real beneath the cold exterior. "No mistakes."

She nodded stiffly, unsure of what to say. What was she supposed to do in this situation? She had no experience in pretending to be someone’s fiancée. And no idea how to make it convincing for someone as intense as Alejandro.

“Do you understand?” he repeated.

Valeria turned to look at him, feeling the weight of his stare press into her chest. She had no choice but to agree. "Yes."

With one final glance, Alejandro opened the door to the conference room, revealing the investor waiting inside. The man was older, with graying hair and a stern expression that seemed to scrutinize everything, from the walls to the furniture. Valeria could already sense the tension in the air.

She followed Alejandro into the room, trying to keep her face neutral, her heart pounding in her chest. There would be no turning back now.

Alejandro introduced her to the investor with a cool professionalism, and Valeria played her part, smiling and nodding politely, her fingers twitching with nerves as she forced herself to sit beside him. Every glance she stole at him revealed nothing but implacable control, and it made her want to squirm in her seat.

"Mr. Herrera, this is a very impressive project," the investor said, his voice low and thoughtful. "I trust the personal side of things is in order as well?"

Valeria could feel Alejandro’s eyes on her, his gaze sharp.

“Absolutely,” Alejandro said smoothly, his hand resting on the back of her chair. "My fiancée and I have been planning the future for quite some time now." He gave her a glance that was brief but unmistakable—something cold, something commanding. "We’re both committed to ensuring this project reaches its full potential."

Valeria bit her lip, suppressing the desire to roll her eyes. He was so damn smooth, like he’d been doing this forever. But what about her? Did he expect her to just play along without question?

She was supposed to be convincing, after all.

As they sat through the meeting, Alejandro barely glanced at her, his focus entirely on the investor. It wasn’t until the conversation turned to family values and marriage that Valeria realized how much she was really out of her depth.

"Tell me, Señorita Mendoza," the investor said, turning to her. "How do you feel about the future your fiancé has envisioned? A strong family is key in such projects."

Valeria blinked, caught off guard by the question. She wasn’t prepared for this. She wasn’t prepared to play the role of the adoring fiancée who dreamed of a life of stability and commitment.

She could feel Alejandro’s gaze on her—expectant, waiting for her to say something that would cement the façade they were creating.

"Yes," she said, the word coming out more easily than she expected. "We’re planning a future together. I’ve always believed in stability and in building a life that we can both be proud of."

The words came out so effortlessly, so naturally, that even she surprised herself. Maybe it was the weight of Alejandro’s eyes on her, or maybe it was just the ridiculousness of the situation that made it easier to play the part.

The investor smiled, seemingly satisfied with her answer, and Valeria exhaled in relief.

“Perfect,” the man said. “A strong foundation is key. This project will be a success, then, I have no doubt.”

And just like that, the charade was over. The meeting ended, and Alejandro shook hands with the investor, exchanging pleasantries, while Valeria sat there, trying to process what had just happened.

She had played her part, but at what cost?

As the investor left, Valeria turned to Alejandro, her voice laced with uncertainty. "What now?"

He met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Now we take this one step at a time.”

Valeria wasn’t sure what was scarier: the thought of continuing this farce with him—or the idea that somewhere deep down, she might have started to believe it wasn’t entirely a lie.