Morning came slower than expected.
For Elena, it arrived with a dull ache behind her eyes and a heaviness she hadn't quite shaken off from the night before. The unfamiliar ceiling above her took a second to register… and when it did, so did everything else.
The trip to Miami…
With Alaric…
A knock on the door pulled her out of it.
"Elena."
Speak of the devil. His voice came calling for her… Steady, fully awake and annoyingly composed.
She groaned softly, pushing herself up, one hand pressing against her temple before she stumbled out of bed. Without thinking much, she walked to the door and pulled it open… Alaric started speaking before fully looking at her.
"We need to go over today's…" He stopped. Just for a second. His gaze dropped.
Not intentionally.
Instinctively.
And then immediately shifted away.
Elena stood there, half awake, her hair slightly messy, her expression unfocused and completely unaware.
The bath robe from last night was gone.
In its place she slept wearing… one of the pieces her mother had packed.
The revealing ones.
Far more revealing than she would have ever chosen consciously.
Alaric cleared his throat, a little sharper than usual, his eyes now firmly fixed somewhere above her shoulder.
"I'll be downstairs," he said, his tone suddenly more controlled than necessary. "We need to discuss the plan for today."
Elena blinked slowly, still processing his words. "…Okay."
He nodded once.
Too quickly.
Then turned and walked away.
Only when the door closed did Elena stand there for a second longer, frowning slightly as if something felt… off.
Then she looked down.
And froze.
A full second passed.
Then two.
"Oh fuck!"
The realization hit all at once.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the door as she shut it immediately, leaning back against it with a quiet exhale.
"…Great."
Meanwhile… downstairs… Alaric walked into the living area, running a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly as if trying to reset his thoughts.
That image of hers flashed uninvitedly in front of his eyes… lingered longer than it should have.
He clicked his tongue softly, grabbing a glass of water, muttering under his breath… "Unbelievable…"
But even he knew… it wasn't just the state she was in.
It was her.
And that… was going to be a problem.
_______________________
By the time Elena walked into the dining area, Alaric was already there.
Dressed in black crisp suit.
Fully composed.
As if the journey yesterday hadn't affected him at all. She paused for a second at the entrance.
He looked… different like this. As if he was in control among them. Back to the version of him the world probably saw.
"You're late," he said without looking up, cutting into his breakfast with precise movements.
Elena frowned slightly as she walked over, taking a seat across from him. "Good morning to you too."
"Morning," he replied, still not looking at her.
A small silence settled between them as she reached for her plate, the faint clink of cutlery filling the space.
After a moment, Alaric finally spoke.
"I have meetings today," he said, his tone direct. "You won't be able to come with me."
Elena nodded easily. "That's fine."
He glanced up briefly, as if expecting more of a reaction but there wasn't any.
"You can do whatever you want in the morning," he added. "Stay here or you can go out. Doesn't matter."
Elena hummed softly in acknowledgment, more focused on her food than the freedom he had just handed her.
Alaric leaned back slightly, studying her for a second before speaking again.
"While you're at it," he said, "think of something useful."
That made her pause. "What do you mean?"
He set his fork down, his gaze finally settling on her.
"Something that actually helps us look like a couple," he clarified. "Preferably not…" he hesitated for a fraction of a second, "…whatever you were doing yesterday."
Elena frowned immediately. "Why… What's wrong with that?"
Alaric looked at her.
Then again looked away.
For once… he didn't have an immediate response.
"Just…" he exhaled, picking up his glass instead, avoiding her gaze, "think of something else."
That only deepened her frown.
"Patting someone's head shows care," she said, almost defending it. "And pulling cheeks is…"
"Stop." The word came out quicker than he intended. He rubbed his temple briefly, clearly not interested in explaining it. "Think of something more…" he searched for the word, then gave up halfway, "…convincing."
Elena stared at him.
Still confused.
Alaric finally looked back at her, his expression more serious now.
"Physical familiarity matters," he said. "Without that, no one's going to believe this situation we are creating." He sighed. "Unless you don't actually care if this works."
That shifted something within her.
Elena's expression stilled slightly. "I do," she said quietly.
"Then figure it out," he replied, his tone softer, but still firm. "Something that feels natural."
Natural.
The word lingered in her mind longer.
Elena didn't respond.
Because that… was exactly what she didn't understand.
Alaric stood up, adjusting his cufflinks as if the conversation had already ended.
"I'll be back later," he said.
She nodded.
And just like that… he left.
The door closed automatically.
Silence returned in the empty house.
Elena remained seated, her fingers lightly resting against the table, her untouched coffee growing cold in front of her.
"Natural…" she murmured under her breath.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
Because for someone who had spent her entire life acting right… She had no idea… how to act real.
____________________________
The conference room was quiet.
Too quiet for a deal of this scale.
Alaric sat at the head of the table, his posture relaxed but deliberate, one hand resting lightly against the file in front of him. Beside him, his assistant stood ready, already familiar with the flow of the discussion.
Across from him sat Mr. Rafael Cortez… a seasoned businessman, calm, observant and his son, Adrian Cortez, who looked far less restrained.
Younger and sharper… And far more interested in people than numbers.
The discussion had gone on for nearly an hour.
Terms. Figures. Conditions.
Every detail dissected, questioned and reshaped until there was nothing left to argue about.
"Then we're in agreement," Alaric said finally, closing the file with quiet certainty.
Rafael nodded once. "It seems so."
A brief moment of silence followed.
Alaric leaned back slightly. "In that case, we can proceed with the signing now."
It was a simple and direct suggestion… evident with efficiency.
But Adrian smiled. "Now now… Where's the fun in that?"
Alaric's gaze shifted to him, calm but assessing.
Adrian leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table as if this was no longer just business to him.
"Tonight is my birthday," he said. "I'm hosting a private party." A faint smirk played on his lips. "A very select guest list."
Rafael didn't interrupt. Which meant… This wasn't impulsive or a means to delay the deal.
Adrian's eyes held Alaric's now.
"All the people who matter will be there," he continued. "Investors, partners… future opportunities." He smirked. "We seal the deal there."
Alaric didn't respond immediately. He didn't like mixing business with spectators.
He didn't like unnecessary attention… And definitely didn't like being invited into someone else's stage.
But he also understood leverage.
After a brief moment, he nodded once.
"Fine."
Adrian's smile widened, just slightly.
"But," he added, his tone shifting just enough to carry something more personal, "you'll have to bring your date."
That caught Alaric's attention.
"I've been hearing things," Adrian continued, leaning back now, casual but watchful. "That you're getting serious with someone." His gaze sharpened just a fraction. "I'm curious to know who that lucky girl is."
Alaric held his gaze.
Unfazed by his remark.
"Of course," he said smoothly. "She'd be delighted to attend."
A lie.
But a convincing one.
Adrian studied him for a second longer, as if trying to read past the words.
Then he smiled again.
"But I trust," Alaric added, his tone cooling just slightly, "that this remains… private."
The room stilled.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes did.
He grew more interested.
"That won't be a problem," he said. "You have my word."
Rafael finally spoke again, his voice calm, steady. "Then we'll finalize everything tonight."
Alaric gave a small nod.
But as the meeting wrapped up… his mind had already shifted.
From numbers.
To something else.
Because now… he had to take Elena with him. She's the more unpredictable part of the deal.