The first flashbulb nearly blinded her.
Mira flinched, her fingers tightening around Theo’s arm as they stepped out of the sleek black town car. The sidewalk outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art was a sea of photographers, their cameras clicking like a swarm of locusts, their shouts rising into a cacophony that made her head spin.
*“Theo! Over here!”*
*“Mira, look this way!”*
*“How long have you two been together?”*
Theo’s hand settled at the small of her back, his touch firm, grounding. He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Just smile,” he murmured, his voice low, steady. “They’ll eat it up.”
Mira forced her lips into a curve, her cheeks aching with the effort. She had known this was part of the deal—public appearances, the illusion of a whirlwind romance, the carefully curated image of Theo Blackwood’s latest conquest. But knowing and *experiencing* were two very different things.
The cameras kept flashing, the questions kept coming, and Mira did her best to keep up, to play her part. She tilted her head just so, let her fingers linger on Theo’s arm, laughed at something he said—even though she couldn’t hear it over the noise. She was performing, and she was good at it. But beneath the polished exterior, her stomach twisted with nerves.
This was the first time they were stepping out as a *couple*. The first time the world would see them together, would dissect every glance, every touch, every whispered word. And Mira wasn’t sure she was ready.
---
### **The Aftermath**
The next morning, Mira woke to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. She groaned, rolling over and blindly reaching for it, her eyes still half-closed. The screen lit up with notifications—dozens of them, from social media, from news apps, from friends she hadn’t heard from in years.
She sat up, rubbing her temples as she scrolled through the headlines.
*“Billionaire Tech Mogul Theo Blackwood Spotted with Mystery Woman at Met Gala After-Party!”*
*“Who Is Theo Blackwood’s New Girlfriend? Inside the Whirlwind Romance!”*
*“From Boardroom to Bedroom: Theo Blackwood’s Latest Fling!”*
Mira’s stomach dropped. *Fling.* That was the word they were using. Not *girlfriend*. Not *partner*. *Fling.*
She tossed her phone aside, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. She needed coffee. She needed to *think*.
But before she could even stand, her phone buzzed again—this time with a call. Her sister’s name flashed on the screen.
Mira hesitated before answering. “Hey, Jess.”
“Oh my God, Mira!” Jessica’s voice was shrill, excited. “You’re *everywhere*! I just saw you on *Page Six*! You and Theo Blackwood? *What the hell?*”
Mira winced. “It’s… complicated.”
“Complicated? Mira, he’s *hot*. And *rich*. And *famous*. How is this complicated?”
Mira sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair. “Because it’s not real, Jess. None of it is.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “What do you mean?”
Mira hesitated. She hadn’t told her family about the contract. Hadn’t told them that this was all just an arrangement, a business deal dressed up in designer clothes and stolen kisses. “I mean… it’s just for show. Theo needed a girlfriend for some PR stuff, and I agreed to help.”
Jessica was silent for a long moment. Then, quietly: “Mira… are you *sure* that’s all it is?”
Mira’s chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
“I mean… the way he looks at you in those pictures. The way you’re *touching* him. That’s not just for show.”
Mira’s breath hitched. She thought of Theo’s hands on her waist, his lips brushing her ear, the way his voice dropped when he spoke to her in private. The way he had looked at her last night, when the cameras weren’t watching, when it was just the two of them in the back of the town car.
She swallowed hard. “It doesn’t matter. It’s still just a contract.”
Jessica sighed. “Mira… be careful, okay? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Too late, Mira thought. But she didn’t say it out loud.
---
### **The Pressure Builds**
By the time Mira arrived at Theo’s penthouse later that afternoon, she was exhausted. The media frenzy had only intensified—her face was on every gossip site, her name trending on social media. Her friends had texted her, some excited, some jealous, some just plain nosy.
And then there were the messages from her family.
Her mother had called, her voice tight with disapproval. *“Mira, what are you *doing*? You can’t just throw yourself into some rich man’s arms like this. What will people *think*?”*
Her father had been more direct. *“Is this some kind of gold-digging scheme? Because if it is, I raised you better than that.”*
Mira had wanted to scream. She wasn’t a gold-digger. She wasn’t throwing herself at anyone. She was just… playing a part. Following the rules of the contract.
But the more she thought about it, the more she realized how hollow that excuse sounded.
Theo was waiting for her in the living room when she arrived, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked up as she walked in, his expression unreadable. “You’ve seen the news.”
It wasn’t a question.
Mira nodded, dropping her bag onto the couch. “Yeah. I’ve seen it.”
Theo set his glass down, crossing the room to stand in front of her. “How are you holding up?”
Mira let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, you know. Just peachy. My family thinks I’m a gold-digger, my friends are either jealous or suspicious, and the entire internet is dissecting my every move.”
Theo’s jaw tightened. “I’ll handle it.”
“Handle it how?” Mira snapped. “By buying another magazine? By paying someone to spin the story?”
Theo’s eyes flashed. “If that’s what it takes.”
Mira shook her head, turning away from him. “That’s not the point, Theo. The point is that this is *my* life they’re talking about. *My* reputation. And I don’t even get a say in how it’s being portrayed.”
Theo was silent for a long moment. Then, quietly: “What do you want me to do, Mira?”
She turned back to him, her chest aching. “I don’t know. But I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep pretending that this is real when it’s not.”
Theo’s expression darkened. “Who says it’s not real?”
Mira’s breath caught. “What?”
Theo stepped closer, his hands coming up to cup her face. “Who says this is just pretending?”
Mira’s heart pounded in her chest. “Theo…”
“Because I don’t,” he said, his voice rough. “Not anymore.”
And then his lips were on hers, hot and demanding, and Mira melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt. The kiss was desperate, hungry, like they were both trying to prove something—like they were both trying to convince themselves that this was real.
When they finally broke apart, Mira was breathless, her lips swollen, her body aching with need.
Theo rested his forehead against hers, his breath coming fast. “Tell me to stop,” he murmured. “Tell me this is just a contract, and I’ll walk away.”
Mira’s eyes burned. She wanted to say it. Wanted to tell him that this was just business, that she didn’t feel anything, that she could walk away unscathed.
But she couldn’t.
Because it wasn’t true.
---
### **The Performance Continues**
The next few days were a whirlwind of public appearances—charity galas, high-profile dinners, even a surprise appearance on a late-night talk show. Everywhere they went, the cameras followed, the questions kept coming, and Mira did her best to keep up, to play her part.
But beneath the polished exterior, the strain was starting to show.
She was exhausted. Not just physically, but emotionally. The constant scrutiny, the endless performances, the way the world dissected their every move—it was wearing her down.
And then there was Theo.
Because no matter how many times she told herself this was just a contract, no matter how many times she reminded herself that this wasn’t real, she couldn’t ignore the way her heart raced when he touched her. Couldn’t ignore the way her body responded when he kissed her. Couldn’t ignore the way she *felt* when she was with him.
And that terrified her.
Because she knew how this ended. She knew that eventually, the contract would be up, and she would have to walk away. And the thought of that—of losing him, of never feeling his hands on her skin again, of never hearing his voice in her ear—made her chest ache in a way she hadn’t thought possible.
---
### **A Moment of Truth**
It was late when they finally returned to Theo’s penthouse after another exhausting event. Mira kicked off her heels the moment they walked through the door, letting out a sigh of relief as her bare feet sank into the plush carpet.
Theo watched her, his expression unreadable. “You okay?”
Mira nodded, though she wasn’t sure it was true. “Just tired.”
Theo crossed the room to stand in front of her, his hands coming up to cup her face. “You’ve been amazing,” he murmured. “Better than I ever expected.”
Mira’s breath hitched. “Is that all this is to you? A performance?”
Theo’s thumb brushed over her cheekbone, his touch gentle. “No,” he said softly. “It’s not.”
Mira’s heart pounded. “Then what is it?”
Theo didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, deep kiss. Mira melted into him, her hands sliding up his chest, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his shirt. The kiss was different this time—softer, sweeter, like he was trying to tell her something without words.
When they finally broke apart, Mira was breathless, her lips tingling, her body aching with need.
Theo rested his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin. “I don’t know what this is,” he admitted. “But I know I don’t want it to end.”
Mira’s eyes burned. “Theo…”
“I know,” he murmured. “I know this wasn’t supposed to be real. But it *is*, Mira. At least for me.”
Mira’s chest tightened. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to let herself fall, to let herself *feel* everything she had been trying so hard to ignore.
But she was scared.
Because she knew that if she let herself fall, if she let herself believe that this was real, she would never survive the landing.
---
### **The Breaking Point**
That night, they made love slowly, tenderly, like they were both afraid it would be the last time.
Theo’s hands were gentle as they explored her body, his touch reverent, like she was something precious, something fragile. Mira arched into him, her nails digging into his back, her breath coming in soft gasps as he moved inside her.
It was different this time. Not just sex. Not just a physical release.
It was *more*.
And when they finally collapsed into each other’s arms, sweaty and sated, Mira knew she was in trouble.
Because she was falling for him.
And she didn’t know how to stop.
---
### **The Morning After**
Mira woke to the sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand. She groaned, rolling over and reaching for it, her body still deliciously sore from the night before.
The screen lit up with a notification—a news alert.
*“Theo Blackwood’s Mystery Woman Identified as Mira Carter, Former Employee!”*
Mira’s stomach dropped.
She sat up, her heart pounding as she clicked on the link. The article was a deep dive into her past—her family, her education, her brief stint as an intern at Blackwood Industries. But it wasn’t just facts. It was *speculation*. *Judgment*.
*“Is Mira Carter just another gold-digger, or is there more to Theo Blackwood’s latest fling?”*
*“Sources say Mira Carter was fired from Blackwood Industries after a workplace scandal—is she using Theo to get back at the company?”*
Mira’s hands trembled as she scrolled through the comments.
*“She’s just using him for his money.”*
*“Classic case of a woman trying to climb the social ladder.”*
*“Theo can do so much better.”*
Tears burned her eyes. She had known this would happen. Had known that the moment she stepped into the spotlight, her past would be dragged into the light. But knowing and *experiencing* were two very different things.
Theo stirred beside her, his eyes fluttering open. “Mira?” His voice was rough with sleep. “What’s wrong?”
Mira swallowed hard, her throat tight. “They know who I am,” she whispered. “They know *everything*.”
Theo sat up, his expression darkening as he took in her tear-streaked face. “What are you talking about?”
Mira handed him her phone, her hands shaking. Theo’s jaw clenched as he read the article, his eyes flashing with anger. “This is bullshit,” he growled. “I’ll have my PR team shut it down.”
Mira shook her head. “It’s not just this article, Theo. It’s *everything*. The comments, the speculation, the *judgment*. I can’t do this anymore.”
Theo’s expression softened. “Mira…”
“I can’t keep pretending,” she whispered. “I can’t keep performing for the cameras, for the public, for *you*. Not when it feels like my entire life is being picked apart.”
Theo reached for her, his hands cupping her face. “You don’t have to pretend with me,” he murmured. “Not anymore.”
Mira’s breath hitched. “What are you saying?”
Theo’s thumb brushed over her cheekbone, his touch gentle. “I’m saying that I don’t care what the world thinks. I don’t care about the contract, or the PR, or any of it. All I care about is *you*.”
Mira’s heart pounded. “Theo…”
“I’m falling for you, Mira,” he said softly. “And I don’t want this to end when the contract does.”
Mira’s eyes burned. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to let herself fall, to let herself *hope*.
But she was scared.
Because she knew that if she let herself believe him, if she let herself fall, she would never be the same.
And she didn’t know if she was ready for that.
---
### **The Choice**
Theo watched her, his expression vulnerable in a way she had never seen before. “Say something,” he murmured.
Mira swallowed hard. “I don’t know what to say.”
Theo’s hands dropped from her face, his expression shuttering. “You don’t feel the same way.”
Mira’s chest ached. “It’s not that. It’s just… complicated.”
“Complicated,” Theo repeated, his voice flat. “Right.”
Mira reached for him, her hand closing around his wrist. “Theo, wait. That’s not what I meant.”
Theo pulled away, standing up and grabbing his robe from the chair. “Then what *did* you mean, Mira?”
Mira’s heart pounded. She stood up, wrapping the sheet around herself. “I meant that I’m scared,” she admitted. “I meant that I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to *trust* this.”
Theo turned back to her, his expression softening. “You don’t have to trust it all at once,” he murmured. “But you have to trust *me*.”
Mira’s breath hitched. She wanted to. God, she wanted to.
But she didn’t know if she could.
---
### **The Turning Point**
Theo crossed the room to stand in front of her, his hands coming up to cup her face. “I know this wasn’t supposed to be real,” he murmured. “But it *is*, Mira. At least for me.”
Mira’s eyes burned. “And if I can’t do this?” she whispered. “If I can’t give you what you want?”
Theo’s thumb brushed over her cheekbone. “Then I’ll let you go,” he said softly. “But I don’t want to.”
Mira’s heart pounded. She wanted to say yes. Wanted to tell him that she felt the same way, that she was falling for him too.
But the words stuck in her throat.
Because she was scared.
Scared of getting hurt. Scared of losing herself. Scared of *failing*.
Theo leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Think about it,” he murmured. “But don’t take too long.”
And then he walked out of the room, leaving Mira standing there, her heart pounding, her mind racing.
Because she knew that if she didn’t make a choice—if she didn’t decide what she *wanted*—she would lose him forever.
And she didn’t know if she could live with that.