Fake Fiancée for the Billionaire

ist's battleground. Mountains of designer clothes, each one more ostentatious than the last, spilled from overflowing racks. Scarl

arming pink dress that seemed designed to blind onlookers.Liam,

verything in this game. You need to loo

shoving the dress back onto the rack. "I don't n

ave to consider the stakes here. The Sunstone is invaluable, and Alexand

hours of debate and a near meltdown over a particularly unforgiving pair of stiletto heels, a suitable outfit was chosen. A sleek black dress that acc

felt a thousand eyes scrutinize her every move. Cameras flashed relentlessly,capturing her every twitch and nervous glance. Alexander, however, remained a

elt. A viper dressed in designer diamonds, she surveyed Sc

politeness. "This must be the... fiancée you mentioned.Lovely

. "A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Thorne," she countered,

to art history gleaned from late-night internet searches. The socialites, initially dismissive, were slowly disarmed by her genuine enthusiasm and sharp wit. Even Alexander see

ashed on a nearby television screen,detailing a scandal involving one of his compani

orry tightening in her stomach. He led her to a deserted balcony overlooking th

u?" he said, his voice l

seemed to wear burdens as heavily as his expensive s

distant. "This kind of thing

placed a tentative hand on his arm. The touch surprised her a

tly, "having someone b

l the carefully constructed facade they'd built, seemed to melt away. He saw the genuine

voice. "There you are, darling! Didn't expect

s hand moved away as if stung, and Scarlett pulled her hand back, the warmth of the touch lingering l

nce. "This is Scarlett, my fiancée. And this is..." he paused

darling, how silly of me. Lovely to see you again, dear." She turned to Scarlett, her gaze sharp as a

nly different," she countered, meeting Veronica's gaze he

cialites, but it seemed Veronica saw through the charade. Perhaps she sensed the unspoken connection building

rhaps you won't mind helping me put together some interview outfits for Alexan

g him, keeping him tethered to the image she'd cultivated. "Actually," she coun

sparking between the two women. Before the tension

voice a low growl. "L

ards Veronica, but also a flicker of sympathy for Alexander, trapped in a web of his mother's making

lanners and stylists,evenings consumed by galas and charity dinners. Scarlett found herself nav

lance across a crowded room, a shared laugh over a particularly outlandish piece of avant-garde sculpture. His aloofness s

ge. A painting, depicting a scene from an Aztec temple, hung on a distant wall. A strange sense of déjà vu washed over her

emple of the Sun, Teotihuacan." A chill ran down her spine. Was this a coin

esting, isn't it?" Alexander stood bes

"Yes, it is," she stammered. "It reminds me of..." She

sed an eyebro

about the Sunstone," s

ious glint in his eyes.

he Sun. As she spoke, a sense of excitement crackled between them. Perhaps there was more to this charade than simply maintaining appearances. Perhaps,