Siena woke up before the alarm went off.
It was quiet in the suite, the soft hum of the city down below barely making its way through the tall glass windows. She turned slightly, careful not to wake Alexander, but the moment she moved, his arm tightened around her waist.
"You're awake," he mumbled into the pillow.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I was. But you shifted."
"I was trying to be quiet."
"You weren't."
She chuckled under her breath and settled back. "I'll work on my ninja skills."
"No need," he murmured. "I like knowing when you move."
She didn't respond to that.
Not because she didn't have anything to say—but because she didn't know how to say what she was feeling.
They stayed in bed longer than usual. The breakfast meeting they were supposed to attend had been postponed, giving them a rare moment to just… exist.
Alexander didn't rush to grab his phone. Siena didn't check her emails. They just lay there, side by side, saying very little, letting the silence stretch in a way that didn't feel empty.
---
Eventually, she got up to shower. When she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Alexander was already dressed—dark slacks, pale blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hair slightly damp.
"You have that look again," he said, leaning against the window.
"What look?"
"The one where you're thinking too much."
"I'm not," she said too quickly.
He raised an eyebrow. "Liar."
Siena sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Okay, maybe I am."
He walked over and handed her a small towel for her hair. "Talk to me."
She looked up at him, surprised. "Talk to you?"
"I know we don't do feelings. But you can if you want."
"I'm just wondering what happens after all this."
He knelt in front of her. "Define 'all this.'"
"The fake marriage. The business deal. The pretending. What happens when it ends?"
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he reached for her hand. "I don't want it to end."
She blinked. "What?"
"I'm not pretending anymore, Siena."
Her chest tightened. "You mean that?"
He nodded.
And for once, she didn't need to say anything. She just believed it.
---
Later that day, they had lunch with one of Knight Enterprises' key partners—a high-level investor named Clara Wen.
Clara was sharp, observant, and didn't waste time with small talk.
"So," she said, looking between the two of them as they sat across from her in a quiet courtyard café. "You're the wife."
Siena nodded politely. "That's right."
"And how's married life treating you?"
Siena smiled. "Fast-paced. But interesting."
Clara tilted her head. "Most people who marry billionaires either become background ornaments or fierce gatekeepers. Which one are you?"
"I don't think I'm either," Siena said. "I'm just me."
Clara smiled, clearly pleased with the answer. "Good. Knight needs someone real. Not another suit in disguise."
Alexander didn't flinch, didn't even blink. He just sipped his coffee like it was a casual afternoon.
"You approve of her?" Clara asked him directly.
"I more than approve," he said.
That shut Clara up.
She nodded once, then turned her attention to the salad in front of her. "Well then. Let's discuss the expansion."
---
On the way back to the hotel, Alexander was quiet.
Siena watched him, curious. "What are you thinking about?"
"Clara."
"She liked me."
"She did."
"But?"
He paused. "She's the kind of person who always sees behind the curtain. If she believed us, it means… we're either very convincing or…"
"Or we're not pretending anymore," Siena finished.
He glanced at her. "Exactly."
---
Back at the hotel, a package was waiting for Siena.
Inside, she found a handwritten note.
"Wear this tonight. Dinner is going to be different." – A.
The dress was simple but elegant—a deep burgundy color with a sleek neckline and a low back. Not flashy, not too formal. Just… perfect.
She stared at it for a while, wondering what kind of dinner he had in mind.
---
They drove to a quiet location outside the city, away from the bright lights and towering buildings.
It was a small, hidden restaurant tucked into a hillside, with an open-air terrace that overlooked a peaceful lake. Candlelit tables, soft music, and very few guests.
"What is this place?" she asked as he helped her out of the car.
"A friend of mine owns it," Alexander said. "No cameras. No interruptions."
She looked at him. "Why tonight?"
"Because I wanted one night that wasn't about work. Or pretending."
They were seated at a table on the far end of the terrace, away from everyone else. The lake shimmered under the moonlight, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine.
Siena tried to relax. But her heart was beating too fast.
"Tell me something real," she said as the waiter poured their drinks.
Alexander looked at her. "You first."
"I'm scared," she admitted. "Scared of feeling something I can't undo."
He nodded. "I'm scared too."
"That's your real answer?"
He nodded again. "Yes. I've never let anyone this close."
She swallowed. "And now?"
"And now I don't want to let you go."
---
They talked for hours.
About childhood memories. About random places, they wanted to visit. About favorite foods and music they hated.
No business.
No marriage contract.
Just… them.
---
When they returned to the hotel, Siena stood in the living room, her shoes dangling from her fingers.
"That was the best night I've had in a long time," she said softly.
"I'm glad."
She looked at him. "So what are we now, Alexander?"
He walked over slowly and cupped her face in his hands.
"We're whatever we want to be."
Then he kissed her.
Not urgently.
Not possessively.
Just real.
And she kissed him back.
---
They didn't speak much as they moved through the suite, shedding layers of uncertainty along with their clothes.
Every touch, every glance, every sigh—it all said the things they hadn't yet found the courage to speak.
And when morning came, neither of them pretended to regret anything.