The first public test

Leila Oke had spent her career exposing men like Adrian Kane—powerful, untouchable, and arrogant beyond belief.

She was now sitting next to him in the back of a sleek black limousine and getting ready to smile at the cameras as his wife. She was wearing a diamond ring that was worth more than her apartment. She clenched her fists in her lap, her nails digging into her palm.

This was temporary. Just six months.

She could survive six months.

Adrian sat next to her in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo and maintained his composure effortlessly. The soft glow of the car’s interior lights sharpened the angles of his face, making him look even more infuriatingly handsome.

He turned his gray eyes to her. "You appear nervous." Leila exhaled through her nose. “Gee, I wonder why.”

Adrian smirked. "You need to relax if you want to pull this off." With a serious expression, she turned to him. “You blackmailed me into marriage. Forgive me if I don’t feel relaxed.”

He chuckled, the sound deep and smooth. “Careful, sweetheart. The cameras might pick up on your resentment.”

Leila gritted her teeth. “Don’t call me that.”

He leaned back, stretching out his legs. “Fine. However, you must improve your acting. The press will be watching every move we make.”

She forced herself to focus by taking a sharp breath in. This was a contest. A carefully calculated illusion.

And if Adrian Kane thought he was the only one who knew how to play, he was sorely mistaken.

---

The Grand Entrance

The limousine pulled up to the grand entrance of the St. The charity gala was held at the Regis Hotel. The red carpet was lined outside by a horde of photographers and journalists, their cameras flashing like nighttime lightning. Leila didn't let it show that her stomach was twitching. This was just another kind of battlefield.

Adrian low-spoken turned to face her. “Showtime.”

He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers as if it were the most natural thing in the world before she could react. Leila stiffened.

His grip was firm—possessive.

She wanted to pull away. But she couldn’t.

Instead, she forced a smile and let him lead her out of the car.

The moment they stepped onto the red carpet, the crowd erupted.

“Adrian! Over here!”

“Leila, how does it feel to be Mrs. Kane?”

"Was this a whirlwind love story?" “Tell us about the wedding!”

Leila smiled through it all, her heart hammering in her chest.

Adrian moved with practiced ease, nodding at the reporters, his expression smooth and unreadable. He guided her forward as if he had done it a thousand times before, keeping his hand on the small of her back. And he probably had.

But Leila hadn’t.

She had never been the subject of this kind of media frenzy. Never been the woman whose arm the billionaire was holding. She hated every second of it.

She just did her part, though. She laughed just loud enough for the cameras to pick up when Adrian leaned in and whispered something in her ear. When a reporter asked how they met, she smiled and gave a perfectly rehearsed answer about “an unexpected connection.”

She was nailing this performance.

Then Adrian did something that she had no idea about. He lifted her hand and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to her knuckles.

The entire gathering let out a collective gasp. The cameras went wild.

Leila's breath came together. His lips were warm against her skin.

It lasted only a second. A meaningless gesture.

But her body betrayed her. A shiver ran down her spine, heat curling in her stomach.

She yanked her hand away before she could stop herself.

With amusement in his gray eyes, Adrian's smirk grew larger. He murmured, "Careful, darling." "They will believe you don't like me," She moved closer to him with a sweet smile. “I don’t like you.”

Adrian chuckled. “Then you’re a better actress than I thought.”

---

The Gala Games

Inside, the gala was a masterpiece of wealth and power.

Golden light was cast throughout the room by crystal chandeliers. Waiters weaved through the crowd, carrying trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. In the background, a live orchestra sang soft classical music. Everywhere she looked, politicians, CEOs, and celebrities mingled, their laughter smooth and practiced.

Leila had spent years writing about this world, exposing its corruption.

Now she was pretending to be part of it.

Adrian guided her toward a group of business moguls, greeting them with his signature charm.

Leila smiled and nodded at the right moments, but her mind was elsewhere.

She needed to be careful.

Every move she made tonight would be analyzed.

She had no choice but to keep her guard up. The ruse became simpler over the course of the night. She played her part, laughed at Adrian’s jokes, even let him rest his hand on her waist as they posed for photos.

Everything was running smoothly. Until she arrived.

---

The Unexpected Guest

“Adrian, darling.”

The voice was smooth, laced with amusement.

Leila turned—and immediately felt a jolt of unease.

A tall, striking woman stood before them, dressed in an ice-blue gown that hugged her figure like liquid silk.

Her dark eyes gleamed with something sharp and knowing.

Leila didn’t recognize her.

But she didn’t need to.

The way Adrian’s expression shifted—just slightly, almost imperceptibly—told her everything she needed to know.

This woman was important.

And hazardous. “Victoria,” Adrian said smoothly, though there was an edge to his voice.

Victoria.

Now, Leila knew the name. Victoria Moreau—heiress to a luxury empire, socialite, and, most importantly…

Adrian Kane’s ex.

She felt her stomach turn. Victoria’s gaze flickered to Leila, her lips curving into a slow, knowing smile. “So this is the new Mrs. Kane.”

Leila met her stare without flinching. “That’s right.”

Victoria extended a hand. “Charmed.”

Leila took it, gripping just a little harder than necessary. “Likewise.”

Something flickered in Victoria’s eyes. Approval. Challenge.

Adrian quietly observed the conversation with amusement. Victoria tilted her head, her smile never wavering. “You must tell me, Leila—was Adrian as persuasive with you as he was with me?”

Leila’s jaw tightened.

She had no idea what Victoria was up to. But she wasn’t about to lose.

She smiled sweetly, looping her arm through Adrian’s. "Oh, persuasive barely scratches the surface." Victoria’s smile twitched.

Adrian chuckled under his breath. "Ladies, be polite." He didn't get a look from Leila. She wasn't just pretending that night for the first time. She wanted to win.

And if Victoria Moreau thought she could rattle her, she was in for a rude awakening.