THE BILLIONAIRE'S FAKE FIANCÉE...

Amber's POV. Why is this happening to me? What did I ever do wrong? I just couldn't believe I would find myself in this situation. I wiped my tears, turned, and stared blankly at the door to Leon Viremont's study. I took a deep breath and walked towards the door. Going back in was a nightmare. The last 24 hours had taken everything from me-my pride, my dignity, everything washed down the drain. I had no choice. I stood at the door, and I didn't knock. My fists clenched at my sides, and my heart was racing faster than I could imagine. Just before I could summon the courage to go in, the door opened wide. It was Ma'am Alice. She looked at me and gave me a soft smile while stepping aside. "He's expecting you," she said. Of course, he was. He was so confident earlier, like he knew I was going to come back and accept this so-called deal. This is exactly what annoys me about those in power-they believe they can get anything they want. Well, that belief turns out to be true because here I was, about to agree to an insane contract. I walked in, and there he was, now seated behind his desk, holding his tablet in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, again. He lifted his brows slightly, fixing his gaze on me, and said nothing. "I'll do it," I muttered under my breath, avoiding his gaze that pierced deep into my soul. His lips curved slightly, giving a half smile, "Good decision, Miss Rose." "But, if we're going on with this, it has to be on my terms," I added quickly. "Just three months. Strictly business. No strings attached, no assumptions, no physical contact except when necessary." "As you please," he didn't flinch. He dropped his tablet, stood up, and walked towards the drawer right beside his desk, and pulled out a thick brown folder, which I assumed to be the contract. "Here's it, go through and sign at the bottom corner. You'll receive monthly compensation, and when it's over, I'll fulfill my end of the bargain." I collected and scanned through it. "This is insane," I muttered. I can't believe I'm about to agree to be a fake fiancée. Not just to anyone but to a billionaire - one of the richest and most influential men in Ravelle. As I was going through the contract, my eyes stumbled upon a clause. "It states here that anyone who breaches the contract pays a fine of 10 million dollars," I mentioned, giving him a stern look. "Yes, it does." "How do you expect me to get that kind of money?" I asked, already boiling inside of me. "Are you planning to do that?" "Well... no." "Good." I rolled my eyes. His arrogance was out of this world, goshhh. I hesitated before reaching out for the pen. As I signed the document, it felt so surreal- I was doing this. He took the document from me and also signed it. "Welcome to my world... fiancée," he said as he extended his hand for a handshake. I stared at his hand for a moment and took it. The warmth of his palm sent shivers down my spine. It felt like my whole life was about to change- entering a world entirely different from the one I used to live in. I pulled my hands away quickly and folded them. My mind was clouded with confusion. How am I going to explain this to mom? To Zara or Rina? To anyone? Even if I try to hide it and lie to them, sooner, they'll find out. Ravelle wasn't exactly a big city. News traveled faster than wildfire, not to mention one that has to do with the Viremont. I wasn't sure how I was going to handle it. I exhaled slowly and asked, "Would that be all?" "You'll need a ring. And a press statement." "Press statement?" My stomach twisted. Anxiety is setting in. I mean, what was I expecting? We were not playing pretend for fun. "Yes. Our engagement will be public before the end of the week. That's the point of the whole thing." He said. His voice, cold and sharp. It's becoming real. I'm about to become the center of attraction. Any mistake would make me lose more than just my dignity. Anyways, it's just for three months, right? I can do this. After three months, it will be over. We'll walk away and pretend like this never happened. "You are to move in by tomorrow," he added. His voice is final as if it has been sealed with a stamp. I had no objections- not because I was in agreement but because I was totally blank. The decision had already been made the moment I signed the paper. My life wasn't mine anymore. It now belonged to a deal I'm not even sure I understood fully. Leon returned back to his desk. As I was leaving the study, I received a beep message. I took out my phone to check who it was, but the number was hidden. As I read it, my heart skipped a beat. Or maybe two. The content was not only confusing but also chilling. It was a warning. Who could have sent such? And besides, wasn't it too late to receive such a message? I dropped my phone back in my bag and stole a last glance at Leon. He was flipping through the pages of a magazine, calm and collected. While I exited the building, I wondered if I'd signed more than just a contract.