Chapter 3

Sebastian shifted slightly, leaning forward as if to assess her reaction. "We'll say it happened during a weekend trip. Something private-romantic, but understated. I'll handle the details. You just need to follow my lead."

Grace frowned, the weight of his words sinking in. "Let me get this straight. Not only are we telling people we've been secretly seeing each other, but now I have to act like I said yes to a proposal I didn't know about?"

"Exactly," he replied smoothly, unbothered by her incredulity.

She threw her hands up. "This is insane. Who even proposes on a 'weekend trip' anymore? This whole thing sounds like something out of a bad romance novel."

Sebastian smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "Do you have a better idea, Ms. Parker?"

Her mouth opened to retort, but she hesitated. The truth was, she didn't. No matter how contrived this situation felt, Sebastian's confidence in the plan left little room for argument.

"Fine," she said with a heavy sigh. "But don't expect me to pretend I'm some swooning bride-to-be. I'm not good at... pretending."

He tilted his head, studying her with a level of intensity that made her squirm. "You'll do fine. People will believe it because it'll look real."

"Why?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest. "What makes you so sure of that?"

His smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of something unreadable. "Because, Grace, I don't fail. And neither will you."

The car pulled up in front of an imposing high-rise building made almost entirely of glass. The morning sun reflected off its sleek surface, giving it an air of unapproachable perfection-much like the man beside her.

"This is your office?" Grace asked, peering up at the towering structure as they stepped out of the car.

"One of them," Sebastian replied casually, buttoning his jacket.

Grace followed him through the grand entrance, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. Every detail of the lobby screamed wealth, from the minimalist art installations to the subdued murmur of impeccably dressed professionals moving with purpose.

Sebastian led her to a private elevator, swiping a keycard before the doors slid open. The silence between them was suffocating as the elevator ascended, and Grace found herself clutching her bag tightly.

When the doors opened, they stepped into a space that felt more like a luxury penthouse than an office. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Manhattan, and the tasteful decor exuded understated elegance.

"Welcome to my world," Sebastian said, gesturing for her to follow him toward a large conference table.

Seated at the table were two people: a sharply dressed woman with striking features and an older man with salt-and-pepper hair who radiated authority.

"Grace Parker," Sebastian began, his tone suddenly formal. "Meet Evelyn Marks, my head of PR, and Robert Langston, my legal counsel. They'll be helping us finalize the details of our arrangement."

Evelyn stood, extending a manicured hand toward Grace. "Ms. Parker, it's a pleasure. I've heard a lot about you."

Grace shook her hand, feeling the weight of Evelyn's assessing gaze. "Likewise."

Robert offered a polite nod. "Shall we begin?"

Sebastian motioned for everyone to take a seat. As they settled in, Evelyn opened a sleek portfolio, her expression all business.

"First, let's address the engagement narrative," Evelyn said, sliding a document toward Grace. "We'll need to craft a story that resonates with both personal and professional circles. Something that highlights your shared values and chemistry."

Grace skimmed the document, her stomach churning. "You mean a script?"

"Think of it as a guideline," Evelyn replied with a practiced smile. "The more cohesive your story, the fewer questions people will ask."

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Grace. "You'll need to memorize the key points. Our timeline, significant milestones-how we've kept the relationship private but decided it was time to go public."

"This is... a lot," Grace admitted, her voice wavering.

"It's necessary," Evelyn said firmly. "If either of you falters, the media will tear it apart."

Sebastian's jaw tightened. "Which is why we're doing this thoroughly. No half-measures."

Robert cleared his throat. "There's also the matter of the contract." He pulled out a stack of papers and set them in front of Grace.

Her eyes widened as she flipped through the document. "A contract? You're making me sign a contract for this?"

"Standard practice," Robert assured her. "It outlines the terms of your arrangement, including confidentiality clauses, financial considerations, and conditions for termination."

Grace's head spun as she scanned the legal jargon. "Financial considerations?"

Sebastian interjected, his tone measured. "You'll be compensated for your time and effort, of course. This isn't charity, Grace-it's a business deal."

Her cheeks flushed with anger. "This is my life, not a corporate merger."

"And yet, you came to me," Sebastian said coolly, his gaze unwavering.

Grace wanted to argue, but the weight of her circumstances silenced her. She'd come to him because she was desperate, and now she was in too deep to back out.

With a resigned sigh, she picked up the pen. "Where do I sign?"

Sebastian's lips curved into a faint smile-one of victory.

Evelyn exchanged a satisfied glance with Robert as Grace signed her name on the dotted line. When she set the pen down, Sebastian leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers.

"Congratulations, Grace. You're officially engaged."

The words sent a chill down her spine. There was no turning back now.