Chapter 4: The Ninety-Day Deal

Leo's POV

My penthouse was deathly silent. The chill of the air conditioning seeped through my suit, perfectly matching the "Ice King" persona I maintained.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Manila’s skyline was a blur of neon lights, but my entire attention was on the woman sitting at the edge of the leather sofa. Chloe looked so out of place in her plain white shirt and sneakers. A simple kindergarten teacher. That was exactly why I needed her. In a world of scripted lies, she was the only thing that felt real- even if our relationship was the biggest lie of all.

I walked toward the coffee table where the folder lay. Every move was calculated. After the scene Sophia made at the gala, I knew I couldn't just let Chloe walk away. I needed a shield, and she needed a miracle.

“Wait lang ah,” she said, her voice trembling as she looked at the document. “Bakit may contract? Akala ko ba... isang gabi lang 'yon?”

I didn't answer immediately. I let the silence stretch so she could feel the weight of the situation. I turned my head just enough to meet her eyes.

“The gala changed things, Chloe. You’re not just a girl I met anymore. The press won't let that go, and neither will my board of directors.”

I pushed the folder toward her. “Just for three months,” I said, my voice steady and commanding.

“WHAT?!” Her eyes widened.

“Read it. Everything in there must be understood and accepted.”

As she flipped through the pages—Three months of fake engagement... mandatory attendance... reputation management—I watched the honesty in her eyes battle with her desperation.

“Mandatory appearances?! Sir naman, teacher ako! Hindi ako sanay sa pakitang-tao!”

“Technically, you’ll be an actress for ninety days,” I replied. I was exhausted from the games and the traitors in my life. I needed this to be a business arrangement, nothing more.

But then, her eyes stopped on a specific clause: “No unnecessary physical affection unless required for public image.”

The air in the room suddenly felt heavy. A spark of electricity flickered between us, reminding me of how she felt in my arms back at the ballroom. I saw her gaze drop to my lips for a split second, and I felt a strange jolt in my chest—a feeling I had buried long ago.

“For show lang ‘yan,” I added, my voice dropping an octave. I slowly ran my tongue over my lower lip, noting how her pupils dilated.

“Madali lang ‘yan. ‘No emotional attachment allowed.’ Expert ako diyan,” she said, trying to act cool, though I could hear her heart hammering from across the table.

I felt a hint of a smirk tug at my lips. I leaned down, bringing my face close to hers. “...Good,” I whispered. I wanted her to stay, but I also knew that playing this game with me was the most dangerous thing she could ever do.

When she reached the final part—the full funding for her school projects and her mother’s medical bills—she stopped breathing for a second.

“Lahat ba ‘to... ibibigay mo talaga?”

“Yes,” I said, stepping even closer. The scent of her—vanilla and rain—began to cut through my expensive sandalwood cologne.

“Bakit ako?” she whispered. “Why a simple teacher?”

I looked at her, and for a moment, the ghost of Sophia’s betrayal vanished. “Because when we first met, you didn't look at me like I was a paycheck. You looked at me like I was a person.”

I reached out, my fingers grazing the soft line of her jaw. I could feel her pulse drumming wildly against my fingertips.

“I will save your mother, Chloe. I will build your schools. Just stay by my side. Play the part. And remember the rules.”

She looked hesitant, then suddenly, her eyes turned determined. “Deal. I’ll sign it,” she said, her voice firm. “But I want to make it clear that this is strictly business. No feelings involved.”

The ninety days hadn't even started yet, but I already knew—this was the most dangerous gamble I had ever made. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure if I actually wanted to win.