The Contract Girlfriend

TER

I was expecting,

ld cufflinks. Regal. Untouchable. And there I was, standing barefoot in a borrowed robe

mile, tightening his watch strap. "Ge

ing about the way he moved, like a man with a

ss he'd packed for me-tailored, simple, expensive-I

pletely terrified. When we landed, a sleek, dark car was already waiting for us. The driver

t-the buildings became grander, more secure. Armed guards patro

e it

, endless glass, manicured gardens that looked like they'd

claw its way out of my chest. The gates behind us had closed

e with that unrea

ready?"

h, managing a grin. "Bo

it as

ression did

niforms approached the car. The doors opened, and a grou

My Lady. We

o

lowly, my heels clicking against the polished stone li

en I s

washed walls with golden accents. High columns. Wide, arched windows

les, my voice

... ar

t get t

ed, "The Duke and Duch

mess in my brain, I was walking through polished marble halls wit

ght-vaulted ceilings, chandeliers,

n... I

pare

e and D

he Duchess had soft features and sharp eyes. T

and and took a resp

er. M

both

the Duchess said, lo

raceful curtsy I could muster without fa

udgmental, just... observant.

," she said. "Miles

y the same,

other, my voice even. "But not nearly as

uckled. Not cold. Not fake. Bu

harming,"

s and snapped, "Take them upstair

hand in hand once again. I waited until we were

really looked. "

asn't sure if it was the compliment, or

re was a knoc

was soft

the other side of the door. "The Duke an

. Another day of pretending. Another day wrapped in

beat a little faster with every step. Not quite nerves. Just... awareness. Awareness that

en. Miles stood beside his chair, back straight, ha

at me. Her eyes swept over me once, cold and calculated, lik

mured under his breath a

ile. "Maybe I like t

back. "Don't for

pered, "when you

against marble as we sat

porcelain and po

"So... how did you two meet? Yo

at me but s

t her gaze. "We met abroad. It was

s brows with mild

assed some years ago. After that, I stayed with clo

a pause. A

I'm sorry to hear that. He mu

man who never broke a promise. Who taught me that class had more

et for a be

down-precisely, delibera

hen I was v

o nod. No

taste in her expression, like I'

ce se

reply. No sympathy. Just the sligh

at was

let the chair screech too lou

ise, but I was alr

r before she heard st

you get uncomfortable," he said

muttered. "I left before I

uldn't be easy,"

t," Evie whispered. "Like I didn't b

simply. "But that doe

m. "You could've

ense, Evie. We agreed on

t s

isn't about your feelings, Evie. It's

ched. "Right

unexpectedly, he ad

ng up at him. "Is t

. Don't get

to the dinning when th

nd familiar, spille

l," Miles muttered

sly confident. Arabella followed, wrapped in c

traight to me, a grin s

. "We thought Miles invented you. But look at t

"Thank you.

way," he said with a wink. "Yo

ly, I turned sligh

," I said, smiling so

, then gave a faint, di

t not su

take it personally. Bella's allergic to lady'

ern look at Kaiden

t. "Kaiden flirts with

playful glance

, she's got fire.

ned into the side of

didn't

ow many porcelain d

e without silk, serva

arden party at noon meant more pre