Chapter 3

The soft click of Sienna's heels echoed through the marble lobby of Cole Enterprises as she stepped out of Damien's sleek black car.

The reporters positioned outside fell silent.

Cameras flashed instantly, their flashes capturing every moment of this budding fake romance that was already causing quite a stir.

Sienna had dressed the part perfectly.

A scarlet dress clung to her curves, endorsed  by her smokey eye makeup and rich crimson lips.

She exuded the aura of a woman in control- as if she hadn't just weathered a heartbreak a month ago.

As if she hadn't just signed a contract to publicly date someone for the sake of revenge.

Damien emerged alongside her, decked out in a midnight-blue suit that matched the storm brewing in his eyes.

Without a glance in her direction, his hand instinctively reached for hers, and their fingers intertwined.

The crowd erupted into a buzz of excitement.

"Mr. Cole! Is this your new girlfriend?"

"Miss Vale, any comment on the engagement rumor?"

Stopping briefly, Damien adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and responded smoothly,

"Sienna and I are enjoying our time together. That's all you need to know."

He guided her inside, and with a merciful ding, the elevator doors closed, sealing them into a pocket of welcomed silence.

Sienna exhaled heavily.

"I think I just lost half my soul out there," she admitted.

Damien shot a sideways glance.

"You did well. You didn't stammer."

"Only because I practiced in front of the mirror for two hours," she confessed.

"Dedication suits you," Damien replied dryly.

The elevator doors opened to reveal a private lounge on the executive floor, where a small press event was being held for Damien's latest tech acquisition.

Suits mingled with glasses of champagne, and the crowd was composed of elite, unforgiving eyes.

Upon entering, he placed a subtle yet possessive hand on her back,

making her acutely aware of all the eyes watching them.

Damien leaned in and murmured. "Smile."

She obliged.

The press greeted them immediately, bombarding them with questions.

Damien navigated through the queries with practiced ease, while Sienna clung to her charm and rehearsed poise.

Her gaze wandered around the room until she froze.

Aidan.

He was there, and his arm was draped around Isabelle Vale-her half-sister

the very woman who had stolen him from her.

They were now openly flaunting their engagement

Her breath caught in her throat.

Aidan's eyes met hers.

Disbelief crossed his features, quickly replaced by confusion and something more: guilt.

He made his way across the room.

"Sienna? What's going on here?" he demanded.

Damien stepped protectively beside her, his expression inscrutable.

Aidan ignored him entirely.

"You're with Damien Cole? Seriously? This is a joke right?  Is this some sort of game?" he questioned incredulously. Sienna straightened her back resolutely.

"No, it's not a game. It's real," she asserted with confidence.

Isabelle approached them with a sugary smile of feigned innocence.

The diamond on her ring finger caught the light dazzling.

"Damien Cole? I didn't see that coming, sis.

Though I suppose you always wanted what was mine," she taunted.

Her insinuation stung, but Damien stepped in.

"She's doing just fine," Damien interjected.

The tension in the room grew thick.

Then, with deliberate accuracy, Damien wrapped his arm around Sienna's waist and leaned in slightly.

"You don't owe anyone an explanation," he whispered gently in her ear.

The photographers swarmed around them.

Damien dipped his head and pressed a kiss to her cheek- just enough for the camera flashes to capture the moment perfectly.

It was a practiced move, flawlessly executed, yet somehow electric.

Sienna remained still.

Because for an instant, it truly felt like he wasn't just pretending.

Back in the car, Sienna stared out the window, her heart still racing.

"That was unexpected," she muttered, more to herself than to him.

"You handled it," he replied simply.

She turned to face him.

"You didn't have to kiss me," she said, her voice tinged with surprise.

"I did," he replied calmly.

"It sold the illusion."

Silence filled the space between them.

Then, quietly, she added, "You kissed me like you meant it."

Damien didn't answer.

His eyes remained fixed on the road, hands gripping the wheel tightly.

When they pulled up to her apartment, he finally spoke.

"Rest." he told her.

"We have a fundraiser tomorrow. Wear navy-it brings out your eyes."

Surprised, she blinked.

"You noticed that?"

His voice softened.

"I notice more than you think," he admitted.

He didn't wait for a reply.

The car drove off, leaving her standing there, stunned.

That night, Sienna poured herself a glass of wine and collapsed onto her couch.

Her phone buzzed.

An unknown number appeared on the screen: "Stay away from Damien. You're in over your head."

Her breath caught in her throat.

She stared at the message.

Who would send this?

She quickly typed back: "Who is this?"

No response came.

Her heartbeat quickened.

She read the message again.

And again.

Then looked up at the window-drawn shut.

Her apartment felt colder.

This wasn't just pretending anymore.

She might be stepping into something darker than she ever imagined.

Sienna checked her front door.

A single red envelope lay on the welcome mat-unmarked.

Inside was a solitary photo: of her and Damien from tonight, taken from across the street.

Sienna stared down at the red envelope that lay on her welcome mat

When she had left the house this morning, it hadn't been there

There was no name, no return address-just red paper and the stifling silence of the hallway.

She glanced over her shoulder.

Nothing.

With trembling fingers, she picked it up and quietly slipped it open.

Inside, she found a photo-glossy, fresh, unsettling.

Her.

Captured outside Cole Enterprises earlier tonight.

In her scarlet dress, mid-laugh, and completely alone.

Not with Damien.

Not in a crowd.

Just her, from a distance, as if someone had been watching... waiting.

Her stomach twisted in knots.

This wasn't from the press-no watermark, no context. Just an image. A warning.

She hurried inside, bolting the door behind her as her heart pounded against her ribs.

She yanked the curtains closed and switched off the living room light.

The wine from earlier now tasted sour in her throat

She perched on the edge of her sofa, the photo still resting against her lap.

Why would someone send this?

How did they know where she lived?

And more importantly

Why now?

As she reached for the envelope again, something small slipped from inside and landed softly on the floor.

A second item.

Not paper, not a card.

A necklace.

Her breath caught.

It was an old chain, cheap and faded gold, with a charm dangling at the center.

A small heart, cracked down the middle.

She hadn't seen it in over a decade.

Because it had been hers.

From when she was eleven, before her father left.

Before her world changed.

She dropped it as if it had burned her.

No one should have that.

No one should remember.

She backed away slowly, her pulse roaring in her ears.

Her body felt cold, hollow.

A message had been delivered.

Not just from someone watching now but from someone who had watched her back then.

Sienna grabbed the photo and the necklace, shoved them both back into the envelope.

She opened a drawer, stuffed it in, and slammed it shut

Then she froze.

On the drawer was a single fingerprint.

Smudged, but fresh.

And it wasn't hers.