Later That Night – Back at the Hotel
The car ride back was quieter than expected, almost pensive. Ashley kept her eyes on the view outside—the soft blur of French city lights slipping past the windows. Kelvin sat beside her, hands resting on his lap, fingers interlocked, as if holding himself back from… something.
Neither of them spoke.
Not about the dinner. Not about Mrs. Vincenzo's loaded comment. Not even about the way Ashley had caught Kelvin watching her more than once during the meal.
They entered the hotel lobby with barely a word. The elevator ride up felt like a slow crawl through heavy silence.
When they reached their floor, Ashley turned to unlock her door, only to pause when Kelvin's voice broke the quiet.
"You handled yourself well tonight."
Ashley stopped mid-turn. "Is that your way of apologizing?"
"I'm not in the habit of apologizing," he said coolly. "But I know how to acknowledge a job done right."
Ashley scoffed softly, opening her door halfway. "I don't need your validation, Kelvin."
"No," he said, his tone sharper. "But I think you want it anyway."
Her eyes snapped to his. "Don't flatter yourself."
A long pause stretched between them—thick with things unsaid.
Then Kelvin took a step forward, closing the space. "If you're going to play the role, Miss Benson, learn this—don't hesitate in public. Not even once. Smile like you mean it. Hold my hand like it's second nature. And next time someone questions our story—"
"I'll lie better," she cut in, voice low but firm.
Kelvin's jaw ticked. "No. Next time, you'll believe it."
She swallowed, unsure if he was talking about the plan—or something else entirely.
The hallway lights buzzed softly above them. Somewhere, far down the corridor, a door clicked shut. But here, in this bubble between their hotel rooms, the air hung thick.
Ashley tightened her grip on the door handle. "Goodnight, Mr. Boston."
Kelvin looked at her one more time—eyes unreadable, guarded… yet strangely unguarded too.
"Goodnight, wife."
Her door clicked shut a second later.
And on the other side, Ashley leaned back against it, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her heart thudded, out of rhythm. Her hands trembled.
She told herself she was just tired. That the day had drained her.
That this wasn't what it felt like.
But in the stillness of that hotel room, with only the muffled hum of city sounds beyond the window, Ashley knew she was lying—to herself, not just to Mr. Vincenzo anymore.
She was beginning to blur the lines.
----
The Next Morning
Ashley woke to soft golden light pouring through the curtains. For a moment, she didn't move—just laid there beneath the crisp sheets, letting herself breathe. It was the first time since arriving that she hadn't woken to a sharp knock, a rude phone call, or the tension of pretending to be someone she wasn't.
But the peace was fleeting.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Kelvin.
"Be downstairs in 30 minutes. We're expected at a follow-up meeting with the Vincenzo team before lunch. And wear something professional. Not whatever you think passes for office casual."
Ashley stared at the message.
"God forbid he ever says good morning," she muttered, rolling out of bed.
Twenty-eight minutes later, she was by the hotel elevator, dressed in a white blouse tucked neatly into a black pencil skirt. Her hair was pulled into a low bun, minimal makeup—intentional armor. A woman ready to do business, not take nonsense.
Kelvin was already downstairs, coffee in hand, scrolling through something on his phone. With a glance
"You're late."
Ashley glanced at her wristwatch. "I'm two minutes early."
"Which makes you two minutes late in my world," he replied, already walking toward the car.
She followed, biting back a thousand retorts. She couldn't afford to lose her temper today—not when things were finally moving.
---
At the Vincenzo Office – The Presentation Room
Ashley sat beside Kelvin at the long polished table, papers spread in front of them. Across the table were Mr. Vincenzo, his legal team, and a few quiet-eyed board members.
But Ashley's real challenge sat to the far right—Mrs. Vincenzo.
Sharp-eyed, poised, and politely unreadable, she studied Ashley with the kind of look women gave when they already knew what you were hiding.
Kelvin did most of the talking, flipping through slides and figures with his usual clipped confidence. Ashley took notes, answered a few technical questions, and felt Mrs. Vincenzo's gaze on her the entire time.
Finally, the meeting wrapped. The men stood, shook hands, made promises to "touch base in a few days."
Just as Ashley began packing her things, Mrs. Vincenzo's voice cut through the soft chatter.
"Mrs. Boston," she said warmly.
Ashley turned, heart doing that thing it did now whenever someone used the fake title.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I'm hosting a small dinner tonight. Just family and close friends. You and your husband must come. We insist."
Ashley opened her mouth to decline, to make some polite excuse—but Kelvin stepped in.
"We'll be there," he said, voice calm and final.
Mrs. Vincenzo smiled at him, then at Ashley, her expression layered. "Wonderful. I'll have someone send you the details."
---
On the Ride Back
"Do you enjoy making decisions for me, or is it just a hobby now?" Ashley asked, arms folded as the car moved through the narrow streets.
Kelvin didn't look away from his phone. "I didn't think you'd want to insult the woman who holds fifty percent of the contract."
Ashley narrowed her eyes. "Next time, ask."
Kelvin finally looked at her. "Next time, don't hesitate when opportunity knocks."
They stared at each other.
The driver took a sharp left turn.
Ashley looked away first.
Back at the Hotel – Late Afternoon
Ashley stood by the full-length mirror, smoothing the fabric of the deep green satin dress she planned to wear for the Vincenzos' dinner. Her earrings glinted softly in the light, and for once, she didn't feel like she was pretending. She looked like a woman with control, with presence.
Until she heard it.
A voice—low, male—drifting through the slightly open suite door.
"…can't keep lying to them. It's a damn contract, not a marriage certificate. The Vincenzos will find out eventually."
Ashley froze, her hand mid-air. She edged closer to the door, heart hammering.
It was Kelvin, outside in the hallway. On the phone. And he sounded furious.
"I know what I said. She's just my assistant, for god's sake. We're not playing house forever. Once this deal is done, I'll fix it."
Silence. Then a sharp breath.
"Of course she doesn't know the full plan. She doesn't need to."
Her stomach dropped. Every word felt like a slap—worse than what he said at the party. Worse than the way he dragged her into this.
She stepped back, quietly shutting the door, hands trembling. Her reflection stared back at her. Dressed like a woman in love. A wife. A pawn.
Then came the knock.
She didn't answer right away.
"Ashley," came Kelvin's voice, quieter now, like he hadn't just shattered her trust seconds ago. "We're leaving in five."
Ashley wiped under her eyes quickly. "Coming," she called, voice steady.
She had no choice but to play the role a little longer.
But she wasn't walking into that dinner as anyone's pawn.
Later That Evening – The Vincenzo Estate
Ashley stepped out of the car with Kelvin beside her, the air between them thick with everything unsaid. She hadn't brought up what she overheard. Not yet. But the words sat in her chest like lead.
They were welcomed at the door by Mrs. Vincenzo herself, ever regal in her navy silk wrap dress and pearl earrings.
"Mrs. Boston," she said with a knowing smile. "You look stunning."
Ashley gave a polite smile. "Thank you. So do you."
Mr. Vincenzo clapped Kelvin on the back. "Glad you made it, son. We were just about to start. Come, come."
The dinner table was long and elegant, with silver place settings and soft Italian music playing in the background. It would have felt romantic if Ashley didn't want to stab someone with a butter knife.
As they ate, the conversation danced between business and family. Mrs. Vincenzo asked Ashley questions—how she met Kelvin, how long they'd been married, what their "wedding" was like. Ashley smiled, nodded, dodged, and lied like a pro.
Kelvin sat there, cool as ever, sipping wine like none of it mattered.
"Ashley," Mrs. Vincenzo said after the main course, leaning in slightly. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you seem… tense."
Ashley blinked. "Oh, just tired. It's been a long few days."
Kelvin didn't say a word. Didn't defend her. Didn't jump in. Ashley felt the silence like a cold hand around her throat.
"You know," Mrs. Vincenzo continued, "when I first met Vincenzo, he was a hard man. Business before everything. But I made it my mission to remind him what truly mattered."
She reached across the table to pat Ashley's hand.
"Don't let this one lose himself in work. You're young. You should be in love, not in strategy meetings."
Ashley smiled tightly. "I'll keep that in mind."
From across the table, Kelvin raised his glass, his face unreadable. "To the people who remind us what matters."
Ashley raised hers too—because what else could she do? But her smile didn't reach her eyes. The taste of wine had never felt so bitter.
---
– The Ride Back
The silence in the car was heavy.
Ashley looked out the window, her voice calm when it finally came. "So, how long do I not need to know the full plan?"
Kelvin stiffened.
"You were eavesdropping."
"I was in my room," she replied, finally turning to face him. "You were in the hallway. I didn't need to try."
He didn't respond right away.
"This was never about you, Ashley," he said quietly.
"Well, congratulations," she replied, her voice cool, "because it sure as hell doesn't feel like it is."
Kelvin's eyes flicked to her for a brief second before he smirked, though there was no humor in it.
"You really think I'd have any interest in someone like you?" His voice was low, but the words were sharp. "You're just... convenient. A way to make my life easier. You were never supposed to be anything more than that."
Ashley felt the air in her lungs freeze. Her heart lurched, but she didn't have the words to respond. She stared at him, unable to process the sting of his words.
It wasn't the first time he'd been blunt, but this was something else. Something deeply cruel, almost intentionally designed to wound.
Kelvin didn't wait for her to say anything. He turned his gaze back to the window, clearly dismissing the conversation.
"Let's just focus on the deal. That's what matters, right?"
Ashley's thoughts were a mess, her mind whirling with disbelief and hurt. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She didn't know how to respond.
The silence in the car grew thicker, suffocating her, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of her own insignificance in his eyes.