Contract Hearts

IA'

aid without looking u

stepping out of my heels and letti

ol. "Punctuality says

," I muttered, brushing pa

three-course meal waiting like we were the poster couple for perfect domesticity.

licing into the salmon. "

worth saying." He cut into hi

. He didn't blink. I held his stare for a second long

he gala," he began, still n

ed with controlling everything I we

t would suit you. And it

I asked

of his wine, watching me

in, and I never asked why he had been tracking me before our arrangement. Instead, we

imagined, both in temperature and atmosphere. The walls were adorn

gth mirror. I stared at the woman I was pretending to be. Elegant, Compo

rembled. The act was starting to eat into me. Pretending to be the perfect wife in public, smi

pered to the woman in the

e, and sometimes. When he didn't know I was looking, there was something in his eyes that looked almost like loneliness. And

rned away. I couldn't afford d

oyce, and Josh sat beside me, unreadable behind his sunglasses. I crossed my legs and angl

n?" he asked as we pu

ed without looking at him, watching the val

de." He said calmly leavin

to get lost.

ated, then took it. Flashes exploded around us

they belonged in some 1920s fantasy. Everyone looked expensive, including me. Josh's fing

," a woman said, approaching us. "Y

t me. "She's..

compliment

years I watched from the outside my father trying to earn the approval of men like Josh R

ust watching. I turned away before I could ask myself

senator about clean energy or tax loophole

e from Victor, the only one who knew my tru

t I also couldn't deny the tightening in my chest. The one that came from the w

ack inside, only to find J

ght?" he asked,

replied smoothly. "Pe

face down to the red dress and back agai

." The truth slipped ou

moving closer. "Y

ause. Too lon

marry me?" I asked befo

red. "We both n

answer." I sa

r, until he was

ng a dangerou

e difference is, I invented the game." He walke

city lights blink in the distance. M

asn't fr

wn nu

the only one

someone else following

eryone seemed absorbed in their conversations, their drinks, their