Chapter 6: A night of pretending

I should have known something was coming when Caspian Grey walked into the penthouse earlier that week, his expression unreadable, his gaze settling on me like he was about to deliver a verdict.

“We’re attending the Astor Foundation Ball on Saturday,” he said, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he moved toward the bar. “It’s important.”

I blinked. “We?”

He poured himself a drink, the ice tinkling against the side of his glass. "That's what couples do, isn't it? Attend functions together?"

Right. Couples.

I crossed my arms. "You could've warned me a bit earlier."

"You have three days," he said silkily. "A perfect amount of time."

"For?"

"For my stylist to find something for you to wear."

I raised an eyebrow. "I can find my own dress, thank you very much."

Caspian flashed a grin, like I had just said the most funny thing. "We'll see."

And then, before I knew it, my destiny was decided.

And yet, there I was three days later, in front of some dressing suite or other private mirror, getting swallowed up by rack after rack of designer dresses- each one probably worth more than the sum of my entire bookstore. Caspian had, of course, been right-it was his people who chose those dresses, and me to wear them.

But it wasn't the price tags that bothered me so much as the reason for all this.

The ball wasn't just any event. It was the event-an annual gala where the most influential people of the city gathered, where deals were made over champagne, and where Caspian Grey would show the world that he was not just a ruthless businessman.

He was to show that he was in love.

With me.

By the time we arrived, the city skyline twinkled through the high glass walls along the sides of the ballroom, reflecting upon the shiny marble below an aura of opulence and strength.

The second we stepped inside, all eyes turned to us.

I felt the weight of their gazes upon me, the heaviness of whispered conversations. Above all, however, I felt Caspian-his hand pressed to the small of my back, anchoring me into place.

"Relax," he murmured, his lips barely moving. "You belong here."

I wasn't quite so convinced this was the truth, but I lifted my chin and played the part regardless.

Caspian strode through the room like he owned the place. Nodding to business partners and exchanging greetings with politicians, Caspian all the while tugged me tightly-too tightly-beside him.

This was all such an act. I knew.

But at moments, I started to suspect if he did.

We were deep into the space before someone veered him from his path to the main hall.

"Caspian," a sultry voice came around us.

Tall, blond, and perilous in ways only old money could be. Blond hair that shone with subtle lights, lips that turned into a thing not quite a smile.

Natalia Sterling.

I remembered her from magazines-heiress, socialite, and, if the gossip mills were correct, one of Caspian's flames from the past.

Her gaze flashed to me for a brief moment before she directed her full attention to Caspian. "I was surprised to hear you've finally settled down."

Caspian's arm around my waist contracted just a fraction. "Lily and I are very happy together."

Natalia arched a perfectly sculpted brow. "Really?"

She said it like she didn't believe it, like she was waiting for one of us to slip up.

I knew this was a test.

So before I could overthink it, I turned to Caspian, laid my hand on his chest, and smiled sweetly.

"Oh, absolutely," I said, dragging my fingers down the lapel of his suit. "He's very good to me."

Caspian's eyes snapped to mine, something flickering in those cold blue depths. Surprise. Amusement. Maybe even respect.

Natalia's face didn't change, but I caught the slight narrowing of her eyes before she turned back to Caspian. "Well," she murmured, "I suppose there's a first time for everything."

Then she walked away, her heels clicking against the floor, leaving silence in her wake.

I looked up at Caspian. "How did I do?"

His lips twitched. "Better than expected.

And for the first time since this arrangement began, I wondered if I was in more trouble than I thought.

The orchestra launched into something slow, something dark and intoxicating.

I barely had time to protest before Caspian turned to me, offering his hand. "Dance with me."

I hesitated. "I don't think—"

"You're my girlfriend, remember?" His voice was smooth, his gaze unwavering. "It would be suspicious if we didn't."

I swallowed hard and placed my hand in his.

He was a natural, escorting me easily onto the dance floor, one hand to my waist, the other clasping mine. Firm grip, confident touch-as if he had done this a hundred times before.

Maybe he had.

The thought made something uneasy coil in my stomach.

I concentrated on the steps, but impossible to block out was the heat emanating from him, the way his fingers flexed lightly against my lower back.

"You're tense," he whispered.

I forced myself to breathe. "Maybe because I don't do this every day."

His lips curved into something almost smug. "Then let me lead."

I didn't have a choice.

Caspian's steps sure and strong, he danced me across the floor. The world around us melted away from focus, the sea of people around us blending to obscurity.

It was just us.

Then, in an instant, everything shifted.

The air thickened between us, weighted with pressure. The touch to my back real and insistent.

His hold on me tightened as his fingers slid over the bare skin of my spine.

I caught my breath.

His gaze dropped to my lips.

The air was alive, electric with something neither of us could quite name.

I should've pulled away.

Instead, I swayed closer.

I didn't know who moved first-maybe it was him, maybe it was me-but for one impossible moment, the space between us disappeared.

His lips parted like he might say something.

And then-

He pulled away.

It was barely noticeable, a fraction of an inch, but it was enough.

The chill was back in his face; the space between us slamming back into place, like the last few seconds hadn't happened at all.

"We should get back," he said smoothly.

I nodded, my legs trembling-a little too freaked out that they wouldn't work, by this point in time.

The rest of the night's a blur, really.

Caspian is sticking by me, attentive to his girl highly well-but not the same again.

But then, something shifted between us without my even realizing it-just in the way he flinched from my eyes, in the lingers of his touches before pulling me away.

Finally, by the time we got to the penthouse, I was ready to drop.

Kicking off the heels, I rubbed my temples. "Well, that was-

"Necessary," Caspian said, working the tie loose with a quick, impatient jerk.

I swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment. "Right. Of course.

He said nothing, just watched me in that quiet, weighing way of his.

And then, before I knew it, I was asking the question I shouldn't have.

"What happened on the dance floor?"

His expression didn't waver. "Nothing."

I breathed a laugh. "That's not what it felt like.

For a split second, something flickered in his gaze.

Something dangerous.

Something real.

But then, just as fast as it came, it was gone.

"Go to bed, Lily," he whispered. "It's late."

I stared at him for what felt like an eternity before nodding.

And as I walked away, I reminded myself that it was all just pretend.

That it had always been all just pretend.

But a part of me knew

I was lying.

And maybe, just maybe.

so was he.