CHAPTER 4:THE JEALOUSY

Two days after the gala.

I was avoiding him.

He was avoiding me.

Perfect.

I spent the day at the hospital with my brother, Leo. He’s 9. Bald from chemo. But he smiled when he saw me.

"Sissy! You’re wearing a ring!"

"It’s... nothing, baby." I squeezed his hand. "You’re gonna be okay. The surgery is tomorrow."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Security waited outside. Damian’s orders.

---

7PM. Cole Tower.

I came home exhausted and found Damian in the living room.

But he wasn’t alone.

Sophia was on his couch. In MY house. In yoga pants and his hoodie.

Like she lived here.

"Oh," she said when she saw me. Fake surprise. "Hi Ali. Damian was just helping me with some documents."

"At 7PM?" I dropped my bag.

"He’s such a gentleman." She smiled at him. He didn’t smile back.

Damian finally looked at me. "This is business."

"Right." My chest hurt. "I’ll be in my room."

"Wait." He stood. "We have dinner with clients tomorrow. 8PM. Don’t be late."

"Noted." I walked away before my voice cracked.

Rule #1: Don’t fall for him.

Too late. My heart didn’t get the memo.

---

The next night.

I wore the black dress his assistant picked. Low back. Too fancy.

Damian wore his usual $5000 suit.

We didn’t speak in the car.

The restaurant was full of Cole Enterprises people.

And Sophia was there too. Of course.

Dinner started. Damian talked business. Numbers. Deals.

His hand "accidentally" brushed Sophia’s under the table when reaching for bread.

I saw it.

Something hot and ugly rose in my throat.

Jealousy.

Stupid. This was fake.

Then one of the clients, Mr. Hayes, turned to me. "Mrs. Cole, how did you and Damian meet?"

I froze. We didn’t have a story.

Damian answered for me. "Work. She was efficient."

"Efficient." I laughed, but it sounded bitter. "That’s one word for it."

Sophia giggled. "Ali, you’re so funny. Damian told me you two barely talk at home."

The table went quiet.

Damian’s jaw ticked. "That’s enough."

"Sorry," Sophia said, not sorry at all. "Just making conversation."

I stood up. "Excuse me."

And I walked straight to the bathroom.

---

I stared at myself in the mirror. Mascara wasn’t running. Good.

I was the fake wife. I had no right to feel anything.

The door opened. Damian.

"You can’t just leave the table."

"Why? It’s not like anyone cares."

"I care."

I turned. "Do you? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you care more about her."

His eyes darkened. "Don’t."

"Don’t what? Tell the truth? She was in your hoodie, Damian."

He stepped closer. "Sophia and I are over. This is business with her too."

"Then why does it feel like I’m the business and she’s the... everything else?"

Silence.

Damian reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered.

"You’re my wife. On paper and in public. That has to mean something."

"Does it?" My voice was barely a whisper.

For a second I thought he might kiss me. For real this time.

Rule #3: No kissing unless for show.

He dropped his hand. "We should go back."

---

The car ride home was different.

He didn’t sit as far away.

At the penthouse, he stopped me at my door.

"Leo’s surgery is tomorrow. 9AM. My driver will take you."

"Thank you."

"And Ali." He looked at me. Really looked. "Don’t let her get to you."

He walked away before I could answer.

I closed my door and leaned against it.

My heart was racing.

This was dangerous.

This was not in the contract.

But for the first time, Damian Cole looked at me like I was real.

And I was terrified of what that meant.

END OF CHAPTER 4