The next morning arrived faster than he expected.
A sharp knock echoed through the massive bedroom.
"Sir, Miss Rachel is waiting."
He slowly opened his eyes. Sleep had barely visited him.
The events of yesterday replayed in his mind.
The contract.
The six years.
Rachel.
Everything felt unreal.
After getting dressed, he followed the staff downstairs.
Rachel stood in the center of the living room.
Elegant.
Confident.
Dangerous.
Like someone who was always three steps ahead.
"You look terrible," she said.
"I slept perfectly, thanks."
"You should learn how to lie better."
He rolled his eyes.
For a second, a small smile appeared on her face before disappearing.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"The press conference."
His heart dropped.
"The what?"
Rachel adjusted her sunglasses.
"The entire city will know about us in two hours."
"Are you insane?"
"No."
She walked past him.
"I'm rich."
The company headquarters looked more like a palace than an office.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Security guards stood everywhere.
And reporters...
Hundreds of them.
Camera flashes exploded the moment Rachel's car appeared.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Rachel glanced at him.
"Nervous?"
"No."
"You're sweating."
"It's hot."
"The air conditioner is on."
He sighed.
"I hate you."
"Good."
For some reason, that made her smile again.
The car door opened.
Instant chaos.
"MISS RACHEL!"
"WHO IS HE?"
"IS THE ENGAGEMENT REAL?"
"ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?"
Flashes blinded him.
Questions came from every direction.
Rachel suddenly reached for his hand.
His body froze.
Their eyes met briefly.
"Act natural," she whispered.
Natural?
Nothing about this was natural.
Still, he squeezed her hand back.
The reporters noticed immediately.
The shouting doubled.
Rachel smiled perfectly for the cameras.
Meanwhile, his heart threatened to explode.
They stepped onto the stage.
The room fell silent.
Rachel approached the microphone.
Her voice was calm.
Professional.
Controlled.
"I would like to officially introduce my fiancé."
The giant screen behind them displayed his photo.
Gasps spread through the audience.
Nobody knew who he was.
Which made the next question inevitable.
"Why him?"
For the first time, Rachel hesitated.
Only for a second.
But he noticed.
Then she looked at him.
Not at the reporters.
Not at the cameras.
At him.
And she answered:
"Because he's the only person I trust."
The room erupted.
But he couldn't hear any of it.
Because for the first time...
Rachel's answer sounded real.
And that scared him more than the contract ever had.