The ceremony was a blur of white lace and lavender silk. Maya stood at the front of the vineyard, her bouquet shaking in her hands. Across the aisle, she could see Liam. He wasn't watching the bride; he was staring at Julian with the narrow-eyed suspicion of a man who knew he'd been outclassed but refused to admit it.Julian, meanwhile, was a statue of perfection. He stood among the guests, his silhouette sharp against the setting sun. Every time Maya glanced his way, he offered a small, reassuring nod—the kind a devoted fiancé would give.Then came the moment every rom-com protagonist dreads."If any person here knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage..." the officiant began.
The garden went silent. It was a formality, a beat of tradition. But Liam didn't just stay silent. He stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the stone patio."I don't object to the wedding," Liam announced, his voice cracking slightly. "But I object to the fraud standing next to my ex-fiancée."A collective gasp rippled through the guests. Maya's mother looked like she was about to faint into a row of hydrangeas.Liam pointed a trembling finger at Julian. "I did some digging this morning. This guy? He's not a CEO. He's a 'Premium Plus-One.' I found the agency's hidden portal. Maya bought him because she couldn't handle being alone!"Maya felt the blood drain from her face. The vineyard seemed to spin. She looked at her sister—the bride—whose eyes were welling with tears of embarrassment. She looked at her mother, who was staring at Julian with dawning horror."Is it true, Maya?" her mother whispered.Maya opened her mouth, but no words came out. The lie was too big, the truth too humiliating.
She felt the urge to hike up her dress and run into the grapevines.Then, the air in the garden changed.Julian stepped out from the row of chairs. He didn't look like a man caught in a lie; he looked like a god who had just been mildly insulted by an ant. He walked toward the altar with a slow, predatory grace that made even Liam take a step back."A hidden portal?" Julian's voice was low, carrying a dangerous edge. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek, black smartphone. "You mean the one I use to vet my security personnel, Liam? Or perhaps you're referring to the charity foundation I chair that helps struggling actors find work?"Julian stood right in front of Liam, towering over him. "I am Julian Thorne. If you'd spent five minutes on Google instead of stalking escort sites, you'd know that I don't take orders from anyone—especially not for a paycheck."He turned to the crowd, his expression softening into a mask of pure, heartbreaking sincerity. "Maya didn't 'buy' me. She tried to hide me. She was afraid that bringing a man like me to a family event would overshadow her sister's big day. She's selfless like that."Julian walked up to the altar, took Maya's trembling hand, and kissed her knuckles.
The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her that nearly knocked her over."I'm sorry, Maya," he murmured, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I can't play the 'quiet boyfriend' anymore. Not when this... child is disrespecting you."He turned back to Liam, his eyes turning to ice. "Sit down. Or I'll have my legal team show you exactly how expensive a defamation suit against Thorne International can be."Liam sat. He didn't just sit; he practically collapsed.The officiant cleared his throat, looking rattled. "Shall we... continue?"For the rest of the ceremony, Maya felt like she was floating. Julian didn't let go of her hand. He held it through the vows, through the kiss, and through the walk back down the aisle.As they reached the end of the path, away from the guests, Maya turned to him, her heart thumping. "Julian... that was incredible. How did you know about the security portal? And the charity? Was that part of your 'character'?"Julian didn't smile. He checked his watch, the "Doting Fiancé" mask sliding away to reveal the cold, efficient professional underneath."The charity is real, Maya. And so is the legal team." He looked at her, his gaze unreadable. "I don't like losing. And I certainly don't like being called an 'escort' by a man who wears clip-on ties.""But... you are an escort," she whispered. "Technically."Julian leaned in close, his scent of sandalwood and power overwhelming her. "Technically, Maya, I'm the man who just saved your life. Try to remember that when the bill arrives."He turned and walked toward the bar, leaving Maya standing there, shivering despite the heat. The "performance" had been perfect. Too perfect. And for a terrifying second, Maya realized she didn't want the weekend to ever end.