The day of the gala arrived with a swift, undeniable force. Emma woke up early, though sleep had been elusive. She found herself restless, turning over in bed at odd hours, her mind preoccupied by the looming evening event. She could feel the pressure building, like a weight pressing down on her chest. Every small detail had already been arranged—her dress, her jewelry, the car that would take her to the event. There was nothing left to do but show up and play the part.
The faint sound of a knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. She sighed deeply, dragging herself out of bed. When she opened it, Lila stood on the other side, clipboard in hand and a professional smile on her face.
"Good morning, Miss Thompson," Lila greeted, her tone as polished as her appearance. "We're ready to get you ready for the gala. Mr. Blackwood is expecting you to look your best tonight."
Emma nodded, stepping aside to let Lila in. She had been briefed about the event and what was expected of her, but hearing the words aloud still made her stomach tighten. She was about to step into the lion's den, to face an entire room full of people who had no idea who she really was.
As Lila began her preparations—styling Emma's hair, adjusting the dress—it was hard to ignore how out of place she felt. The glamour surrounding her was suffocating. The dress clung to her body in all the right places, the green fabric complementing her features in a way that made her feel almost unrecognizable. It wasn't Emma Thompson anymore; it was the woman Adrian had created, the one he needed for the public eye. But it wasn't a role she had asked for.
By the time the car arrived, Emma felt like she was walking in someone else's shoes. The long ride to the venue gave her a moment of reflection, her fingers nervously twisting the delicate bracelet Adrian had gifted her earlier. She barely recognized the city as they passed—everything felt foreign, out of reach, like she was being transported to another world.
When they arrived, the sight that greeted her made her breath catch in her throat. The gala was being held at one of the most extravagant venues in the city, a towering structure adorned with crystal chandeliers and intricate gold detailing. Inside, the grand ballroom gleamed with a dazzling array of guests dressed in the finest designer attire, each one more beautiful than the last.
The air was thick with conversation, laughter, and the clinking of champagne glasses. Emma stood frozen for a moment, taking it all in. The people here were untouchable—wealthy, powerful, and effortlessly charming. She was the outsider, a mere prop in Adrian's elaborate game.
Her eyes quickly sought him out.
Adrian stood near the center of the room, as if he had been placed there by design. His presence dominated the space without effort, and the moment he spotted Emma, his gaze locked onto hers with a startling intensity. She could feel it—like the room had stilled just for a beat. His eyes slowly raked over her, from her carefully styled hair, down the curve of her neck, the glimmer of her bracelet catching the light, and finally to the dress that hugged her body in all the right places. His breath hitched ever so slightly, his gaze lingering on her like a caress.
For a moment, it was as if the world had faded out, leaving just the two of them suspended in the electric charge between them.
Adrian's expression softened, but only slightly. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before it was masked by that familiar, confident smirk. He didn't bother to move closer right away. Instead, he stood there, drinking in the sight of her, his gaze unmistakably possessive, as if he was taking mental notes on how perfectly she fit the role he'd imagined for her.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low, with an edge of something unspoken.
"Emma." His eyes seemed to burn into hers. "You… look stunning."
The words hung between them, charged with something neither of them had expected. Emma felt the weight of his gaze, the heat of it, and suddenly, the grand ballroom seemed smaller, the air thick with tension. This isn't just an act, she realized. There's something else in the way he's looking at me.
Her lips parted involuntarily, but before she could reply, Adrian was already moving toward her, his steps confident, purposeful, never breaking eye contact.
"Come with me," he murmured, his hand already reaching for hers. She had no choice but to take it, her heart pounding in her chest. The moment their fingers brushed, an electric jolt shot through her, and she was almost certain he felt it too.
As they moved through the crowd, heads turned in unison, and murmurs filled the air. People couldn't help but stare, their gazes following Adrian as he led Emma by the hand. She felt the weight of the eyes on them, but it wasn't the guests that held her attention. It was Adrian. Every time she caught a glimpse of his profile, she saw the way his jaw tightened, the faint shadow of a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He was determined, calm—too calm—but there was an undercurrent of something deeper, something more magnetic. She had never seen him like this.
Emma kept her gaze straight ahead, but her pulse quickened as the heat from his hand burned through hers. Was it just her, or was the tension between them palpable? More than that, it felt like they were… playing with fire.
His voice, smooth and deceptively casual, cut through the buzz of the ballroom. "Relax. Just breathe. We're going to have to put on a show tonight, and I need you to be flawless."
Her nerves tightened at the word "flawless." What did he expect from her? To perform for an audience? To be the perfect fiancée, always poised, always graceful?
But there was something else in his tone, something softer that made her feel like this wasn't just about appearances. He was watching her too closely, as if every move she made mattered, and it unsettled her. She could feel the friction building between them—a battle neither of them had expected, but one that neither could back away from.
As the night unfolded, the tension between them only grew. Emma was introduced to a string of high-profile guests, each one extending a hand to her with practiced politeness, but she barely registered their names. Her focus was consumed by Adrian, whose eyes never strayed far from her.
He was always near, always watching. Every interaction, every word spoken, every laugh shared with the other guests felt like part of a delicate dance he was conducting, and she was the lead. But the deeper she got into this game, the more she realized she wasn't the only one playing. Adrian was caught up in it too, his presence both commanding and… restless.
She caught him looking at her again, his gaze so intense it was almost a physical touch. She felt it like a weight on her skin, a pull she couldn't ignore. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though they were standing in the middle of a conversation. Adrian didn't answer right away. Instead, he stepped closer, his body brushing against hers in a way that sent a shiver down her spine.
"Nothing," he said, his voice low, almost too soft to hear over the music. "Just…" His hand rested at the small of her back, possessive, and Emma's breath hitched at the feel of it. "Just keeping you in check."
She couldn't tell if he was teasing, or if there was something more serious behind his words. But whatever it was, she couldn't shake the feeling that tonight—this night—was going to change everything.
Later, on the balcony, when they were finally alone, Emma let the cool breeze soothe her overheating skin. The weight of the night, the pressure of everyone's eyes, was beginning to lift. But the tension between her and Adrian remained, thick and suffocating.
Adrian leaned against the railing next to her, his profile a study in contradiction—calm, yet visibly wound tight. His gaze was fixed on the city below, but Emma could feel the pull of his attention like a physical force.
"I didn't expect you to look like that," he said suddenly, breaking the silence, his voice a strange mix of admiration and disbelief. "You're… not what I imagined."
Emma blinked, her heart racing. "What did you imagine?"
He turned his head toward her, locking eyes. "Not this. Not… you." His gaze lingered on her, and she could see the way his pupils dilated just slightly, the heat in his expression unmistakable.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to stop. Time hung suspended, and for the first time, Emma saw the truth in Adrian's eyes: He was just as caught up in this as she was.
Neither of them knew where this would go, but in that moment, they both knew they couldn't escape it.