Lahat ng Kabanata ng LOVE WAS NOT IN THE CONTRACT: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Victor’s message arrives at seven AM.“Body language assessment. My office. 9 AM sharp. Both of you.”Adrian’s text follows: “Don’t be late. Victor is not above starting without you.”I arrive at 8:59 with coffee. If I’m walking into whatever this is, I’m at least caffeinated.Victor stands in the middle of his office with a tablet, a tripod, and the expression of someone about to give a failing grade.Adrian is already there, jacket off, sleeves rolled, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.I sit beside him on the small couch.Victor points his tablet at us. “Look at each other naturally.”We look at each other.Victor winces. Visibly.“That is the least natural thing I’ve ever seen. You look like two strangers told to make eye contact by a therapist.”“We are two strangers,” I point out.“Not anymore. You’ve attended a gala, met his grandmother, gone to Target.” He pulls up photos on his tablet. “Look.”Paparazzi shots from yesterday. Me and Adrian in Target, bodies angled away

The morning after the museum opening, I wake up to a text from Mia.Mia: “Okay so I may have done something and I need you to not be mad before I explain.”Me: “What did you do.”Mia: “So you know how my blog has been doing really well since the gala photos?”Mia: “And you know how I have a responsibility to my readers?”Me: “MIA.”Mia: “I posted about you. Just a small thing. Tiny. A little piece about Adrian Knight’s mysterious girlfriend being a Brooklyn based interior designer with incredible taste. That’s it.”She sends the link.The post is not small.“EXCLUSIVE: Adrian Knight’s mystery woman identified. Sources confirm Zara Bennett, 24, Brooklyn based interior designer, is the woman who captured the billionaire’s attention. Bennett is reportedly warm, creative, and refreshingly unimpressed by wealth. Our sources describe her as ‘the real thing.’”Sources. She used the word sources.I am her only source. She’s been mining our friendship for content and calling it journalism.I c

I’m still standing in my doorway, fingers touching my forehead, when someone clears their throat behind me.I spin around.Leo is sitting on my couch.My younger brother. Twenty-two. Wearing his usual uniform of band t-shirt and ripped jeans, combat boots propped on my coffee table like he owns the place.“Jesus Christ!” My hand flies to my chest. “How did you get in here?”“Spare key.” He holds it up. “The one you gave me for emergencies.”“This isn’t an emergency.”“Debatable.” He looks me up and down, takes in the formal dress, the heels I’m still holding. “Nice dress. Let me guess. Another event with the billionaire?”My stomach sinks. “Leo.”“Don’t ‘Leo’ me.” He stands, and I’m reminded that my little brother is now six foot two and can pull off intimidating when he wants to. “We need to talk.”“It’s midnight.”“Then we’ll make it quick.” He crosses his arms. “What the hell is going on with you and Adrian Knight?”I close the door behind me, buying time. “I’m dating him. You know

I wake up to my phone exploding. Not buzzing. Not ringing. Exploding. Seventeen missed calls. Forty-three texts. And counting. It's 6:47 AM. I grab my phone with shaking hands and see the first text is from Mia, sent at 6:15. Mia: "Z. Call me. NOW. Don't look at anything online until you call me." I open my browser. The top result is a headline from Elite Society Watch, posted two hours ago. "EXCLUSIVE: Adrian Knight's New Girlfriend's Ex-Boyfriend Speaks Out - 'I'm Worried About Her'" Below it, a photo of Ryan looking concerned and thoughtful, like he's a caring ex instead of the man who called me ordinary and trashed my reputation. I click the article. "Ryan Carter, 29, dated interior designer Zara Bennett for eighteen months before their recent split. Now, watching his ex-girlfriend's whirlwind romance with billionaire Adrian Knight, Carter says he feels compelled to speak out. 'I care about Zara. That's why I'm breaking my silence. She's kind and genuine. But Adrian Kn

Adrian drops me off at my apartment at 10:47 AM.“You okay?” he asks for the third time since we left Victor’s office.“Fine,” I lie for the third time.We just kissed. Really kissed. And now we’re pretending it was just another item on Victor’s to-do list.“Zara—”“I have work to do. Morrison follow-up.” I grab my bag. “I’ll see you Friday.”“Friday. I’ll have Victor send over—”“The wardrobe guidelines. I know.” I open the door. “Bye, Adrian.”I’m halfway up the steps when he calls out.“That kiss wasn’t just for Victor.”I freeze. Turn around.But he’s already pulling away.I stand on the sidewalk, heart pounding, wondering if I imagined it.My phone buzzes.Adrian: “I meant what I said. It wasn’t just for Victor.”Me: “Then what was it for?”Three dots appear. Disappear.No response.Mia is sitting on my couch.Again.“Normal people knock.”“Normal people don’t have earth-shattering news.” She holds up her laptop. “Sit. You’ll want to sit.”I don’t move. “Mia—”“Adrian has never p