Lina's POV
Isabella walks into my office with a tablet and coffee. "Miss Salvacion, your 2 PM meeting with the German pharmaceutical board is confirmed," she says. "Marcus has arranged for security at the downtown location, and David will have your presentation papers ready in the car."
I nod, fixing my Valentino blazer collar while looking at the quarterly reports on my desk. After three weeks running Salvacion Medical Marketing, I still can't believe this is my life. The company is doing even better than Rio expected, with new international partners joining fast.
"Also," Isabella continues, consulting her schedule, "Diego Herrera has requested a follow-up meeting about the Barcelona expansion. Should I schedule it for this afternoon after the pharmaceutical meeting?"
"Yes, that works. What about the evening?"
"You have the medical innovation gala at the St. Francis Hotel. Mr. Kalinawan's assistant confirmed he'll meet you there at seven PM."
Right. Another public appearance with Rio, another evening of playing the devoted fiancée while he transforms into the charming, attentive man who bears no resemblance to the cold stranger I live with.
"Miss Salvacion?" Elena Rodriguez appears in the doorway. "The Tokyo office is on line two. They're ready to finalize the Asian market contracts."
The next four hours blur together in a whirlwind of international calls, contract negotiations, and strategic planning sessions. By the time Diego arrives for our meeting, I'm energized by the day's successes but exhausted by the constant demands of running a global operation.
"You look like you could use some air," Diego observes with that warm smile that's become such a comfort over the past few weeks. "Perhaps we could discuss the Barcelona proposal over dinner instead of in another conference room?"
I look at Isabella, who's already checking my evening plans on her tablet. She says, "You have thirty minutes before leaving for the gala."
"A quick dinner sounds perfect," I say, happy to be with Diego. Unlike the tense mood at Rio's place, time with Diego feels easy and natural.
As Marcus and David escort us to the restaurant, I find myself looking forward to an hour of genuine conversation with someone who sees me as more than a business transaction or contract obligation.
Rio's POV
I arrive at the St. Francis Hotel precisely at seven PM, having spent the entire day trying to focus on the cardiac AI system's latest testing phase instead of wondering what Lina is doing. The medical innovation gala is exactly the kind of event where we need to present a united front—investors, journalists, and potential partners will all be watching.
But when seven-thirty comes and goes without any sign of Lina, something cold settles in my chest.
"Mr. Kalinawan?" Patricia appears at my elbow with her phone in hand. "I've been trying to reach Miss Salvacion. Her assistant says she's running late from a business dinner and will be here within the hour."
A business dinner. With Diego Herrera, no doubt, the man who seems to occupy more and more of her time lately. I force my expression to remain neutral, even as irritation flares beneath the surface.
"Fine. I'll handle the networking until she arrives."
But as I work the room, shaking hands and discussing market projections with pharmaceutical executives, part of my attention remains fixed on the entrance. When Lina finally arrives at eight-fifteen, my breath catches despite my annoyance.
She's wearing a stunning emerald gown that brings out her eyes, her hair swept up in an elegant chignon. Marcus and David escort her through the crowd while Isabella follows at a professional distance, and I'm struck again by how commanding her presence has become. She moves through the room like she owns it, because in many ways, she does—half the medical technology companies here are now her clients.
But what makes my jaw clench is the way she's laughing at something on her phone, probably a message from Diego, completely oblivious to the fact that she's kept me waiting for over an hour.
"Darling," I say when she finally reaches me, leaning down to kiss her cheek in a gesture that looks affectionate but feels forced. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you," she replies with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Sorry I'm late. he Barcelona expansion meeting lasted longer than planned
The Barcelona expansion. Diego's project. Of course.
"I'm sure it did," I reply coolly, then catch myself. We're in public, surrounded by people who need to believe we're madly in love. I force warmth into my voice and possessively slide my arm around her waist. "Come, there are some people I'd like you to meet."
Lina's POV
Rio spends the next two hours showing his perfect public side. He's charming, caring, and acts like the perfect fiancé. He keeps his hand on my back, laughs at what I say, and tells everyone I'm "the brilliant woman changing medical marketing."
To the outside world, we're the perfect power couple. I can feel the tension in Rio's touch—underneath his calm face, he's actually annoyed. When a pharma executive praises my company, his smile looks forced. When a journalist asks about our wedding plans, his answer is vague and deflective.
"So when can we expect to hear wedding bells?" asks Margaret Chen, a society reporter known for her persistent questions.
"Soon," Rio says smoothly, his arm tightening around my waist. We're both busy with our own companies now, but we plan to do something small and special together.
It's a perfect answer that sounds loving but doesn't really say anything. But I notice he doesn't look at me when he says it, doesn't include me in the fabrication the way he used to during our earlier public appearances.
"And how are you balancing your new role as CEO with planning a wedding?" Margaret presses, turning her attention to me.
"It's all about what matters most," I say kindly. "Right now, growing Salvacion Medical Marketing and helping our clients is my main focus." Rio understands that.
"Of course," Rio agrees, but there's something sharp in his tone that makes me glance at him. "Lina's work is incredibly important. Sometimes I barely see her between her meetings and international calls."
The comment sounds supportive on the surface, but I catch the underlying reproach. He's annoyed because my success is getting in the way of our plan. He's upset that I'm not as free for him like I used to be.
As the evening progresses, his performance becomes more strained. When I excuse myself to take an urgent call from the Tokyo office, I return to find him deep in conversation with Dr. Sarah Kim, a beautiful cardiac surgeon who's clearly hanging on his every word.
"Lina," he says when I rejoin them, but there's no warmth in his greeting. "Dr. Kim was just telling me about her research into artificial heart valves. Fascinating work."
I say politely, "It sounds amazing," but I see Dr. Kim moves closer to Rio and hardly pays attention to me.
"Perhaps we could discuss it further over coffee sometime," Dr. Kim suggests, her hand briefly touching Rio's arm. "I'd love to hear more about your AI innovations."
"I'd enjoy that," Rio replies, and something cold slides down my spine at the genuine interest in his voice—an interest he hasn't shown in me in weeks.
Rio's POV
By the time we're in the car heading home, the tension between us is thick enough to cut. Lina stares out the window at the city lights, her phone buzzing constantly with what I assume are messages from Diego or her staff about tomorrow's meetings.
"Busy night?" I ask, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
"Always," she replies without looking up from her phone. "The German pharmaceutical deal finished well, and Diego thinks we can open the Barcelona office in six weeks.
Diego again. Always Diego with his warm smiles and supportive presence and ability to make Lina laugh the way she used to laugh with me.
"How convenient that he's becoming such an integral part of your operation."
Now she does look at me, something sharp flashing in her dark eyes. "He's a valuable business partner, Rio. His connections in Europe could triple our international revenue within a year."
"I'm sure they could."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I want to tell her that I see the way she lights up when she talks about him, the way she stays out until midnight discussing "business" while treating me like a stranger in our own home. I want to demand that she remember she's supposed to be my fiancée, that her first loyalty should be to our arrangement.
Instead, I retreat behind the cold professionalism that's become my default with her. "Nothing. Just an observation about your expanding business interests."
She stares at me for a long moment, and I see hurt flicker across her features before she masks it with the same professional courtesy she shows her clients.
"Right. Business interests." She looks at her phone and stops talking right away.
The rest of the trip was quiet, and when we get to the penthouse, Lina goes straight to her room without saying anything. I pour myself a scotch and stand at the windows, watching the city below and trying to understand when everything became so complicated.
I gave her everything she wanted—success, independence, respect, financial security. I should feel proud of what she achieved with what I gave her. But instead, I start to feel angry about every success that pulls her away from me and every moment she spends building something without me.
The worst part is knowing I have no right to feel this way. Our arrangement was always short-term and just professional. I was the one who set limits, kept feelings out, and treated her like business.
But watching her with Diego tonight, seeing the easy companionship they share, I realize I want something I've never allowed myself to want. I want her to look at me the way she looks at him—with real love, trust, and a close partnership that's more than just business and public shows.
The problem is, I'm not sure I remember how to be the kind of man who deserves that look.
Lina's POV
I lie in bed, looking at the ceiling and thinking about the evening. I'm trying to understand Rio's confusing behavior. He acted perfect in public, but tonight there was a different kind of tension, not like his usual calm and control.
The way he responded to Dr. Kim's obvious flirtation bothered me more than it should have. We're not really engaged, not really in love, so I shouldn't care if attractive women throw themselves at him. But seeing the genuine interest in his eyes when he looked at her, the warmth that's been completely absent from his interactions with me, stirred something uncomfortable in my chest.
My phone buzzes with a text from Diego: "Great meeting today. The Barcelona team is excited about the partnership. Looking forward on working more closely together."
Diego's messages feel professional but friendly. He treats me kindly, listens to what I say, and never makes me feel like I'm annoying him.
The difference between Rio and him is very strong. During public events, he's the perfect romantic partner. But at home, I feel like a guest who's overstayed her welcome, an inconvenience he tolerates because breaking our contract would be more trouble than maintaining it.
I set my phone aside and close my eyes, trying not to think about the way Dr. Kim touched Rio's arm, or the way he didn't pull away, or the way he's never shown that kind of genuine warmth toward me when we're alone.
Our arrangement was always supposed to be temporary, I remind myself. In a few more weeks, we'll fulfill our contract terms and go our separate ways. I'll have my company, he'll have his investment, and we'll both move on with our lives.
So why does the thought of that separation make my chest ache with something that feels dangerously close to loss?