Breakfast was silent.
Ethan ignored her.
Ray read emails.
Lila checked her phone under the table.
UNKNOWN CONTACT: Phase two approved.
Her fingers moved quickly.
Proceed. Use the private channel.
Deleted the chat.
Locked the phone.
Looked up.
Ray was watching her.
"You work a lot."
"So do you."
"What exactly do you do again?"
She smiled faintly "Consulting."
"Mm."
He didn't believe that.
Good.
Let him wonder.
Breakfast felt like a business meeting nobody wanted to attend.
Ethan pushed cereal around his bowl without eating. Ray typed on his tablet. Lila sipped
coffee like she wasn't sitting inside a stranger's life.
Clink. Spoon against glass.
Too loud in the silence.
"You'll attend an event with me tomorrow," Ray said without looking up.
She didn't miss a beat. "Business wife duties?"
"Yes."
"What do I wear?"
"Something that says elegant but not attention-seeking."
Her lips curved slightly. "You rehearsed that."
"I don't like surprises."
That almost made her laugh.
"Mm." She sipped her coffee and crossed her legs beside the table.
If only he knew the biggest surprise in his life was sitting three feet away from him.
Ethan suddenly stood up. His chair scraped loudly.
"I'm done."
"You barely ate," Ray said.
"I'm not hungry."
His eyes flicked toward Lila before he walked off.
Message received.
She finished her coffee and stood. "I'll need a car today."
"For shopping?"
"For work."
Ray studied her for a moment. "You don't look like someone who works small contracts."
"Maybe you don't know what that looks like."
A pause.
Ray stares at her for a moment, then looks back down on his tab.
"Driver will take you," he said.
Control. Even in small things.
She didn't argue.
Not yet.
The car ride was quiet.
But the second the gates of the mansion disappeared behind her, Lila's expression changed.
Calm turned sharp.
She took out a second phone from her bag.
Different number. Different world.
She dialed.
The call connected instantly.
"Ma'am."
"Update."
"The acquisition is moving. Eliot's company submitted a bid."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Good," she said. "Let them think they're leading."
"Should we slow down?"
"No. Push phase three. Quietly."
"Yes, ma'am."
She ended the call.
Looked out the window.
Married to Ray Eliot.
Sleeping in his house.
Smiling at his son.
While quietly building moves that could cost his company millions.
Not personal.
Just business.
That's what she told herself.
When she returned that evening, she heard voices in Ray's office.
His tone was sharper than usual.
"I don't care how they did it," he said. "I want answers. They're predicting our moves."
Lila slowed her steps.
"They're always one step ahead," someone on the call said.
Ray's jaw tightened. "Find out who runs that company."
Her pulse stayed steady.
You won't.
He stepped out of the office and almost ran into her.
They both stopped.
For a second, just stared.
"You heard?" he asked.
"Only your frustration."
He exhaled. "Business."
"Competitors?"
"Yes."
His eyes held hers a moment longer than necessary.
"You sound confident."
"I don't like losing either."
Something unreadable flickered in his expression.
Respect?
Maybe.
Then Ethan's voice shouted from upstairs, "Dad!"
Ray moved instantly.
Lila watched him go.
Cold CEO.
But soft where his son was concerned.
That wasn't weakness.
That was a crack in the armor.
And cracks?
Were how empires fell.
She didn't know why that thought didn't feel as satisfying as it should.
That night, as she lay in the unfamiliar bedroom, her phone lit up again.
UNKNOWN CONTACT: We've identified resistance from Eliot's internal system.
Her fingers paused.
Then typed back:
Proceed carefully. No direct hits.
Because this marriage?
Was supposed to be strategy.
Not war.
But somewhere between contracts and quiet dinners…
The lines were already starting to blur.
The next evening, Lila stood in front of the full-length mirror in the guest suite.
Ray had been clear: elegant, not attention-seeking.
She chose a deep emerald dress that hugged her curves just enough to hint at shape, without
screaming for attention. Her hair was pulled back in a loose bun. Simple earrings. No
necklace.
Perfectly ordinary… or at least ordinary enough to fool Ray.
The driver arrived and she stepped into the sleek black car. The mansion's gates closed
behind her like a trap snapping shut.
When she arrived at the venue, it was a glittering palace of white lights and glass walls.
CEOs, investors, socialites—all polished, all calculating.
Ray stepped out of his car. Black tuxedo. Perfect posture. Perfect control.
Lila's lips curved. He really did look untouchable. And yet… she couldn't wait to see how
much she could push him tonight.
The moment they entered, all eyes turned. Murmurs. Snapshots. She stayed close, poised,
silent.
"Relax," Ray murmured, his hand brushing hers as they walked. "You're not here to impress
anyone. Just… exist."
She smirked faintly. "Thanks for the confidence boost."
Ray didn't respond, only nodded. Calm, collected. Dangerous.
They reached the table. Ray's hand lingered on the back of her chair. She didn't flinch.
The first course came. Conversation started.
Lila caught a man staring at her a little too long. Gray hair, sharp eyes.
"Mrs. Eliot," he said, approaching. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
She smiled faintly. "I don't think so."
Ray's brow arched. "Lila, this is an old friend of the family."
The man tilted his head, unconvinced. "Are you sure? You look… familiar."
She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "I've been traveling. Maybe that's why."
Ray's gaze flicked toward her. He looked amused, suspicious, but didn't say anything.
Good. Let him wonder.
Halfway through dinner, Ray's assistant whispered something in his ear. He excused himself.
Alone for a moment, Lila sipped her wine and scanned the room.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed the same gray-suited man she'd seen before,
watching her closely.
She smirked lightly. Curious.
Her phone buzzed in her clutch. Quick glance.
UNKNOWN CONTACT: Phase three is in motion. Keep your cover. Do not engage yet.
She tucked the phone away as Ray returned.
"You okay?" he asked. His tone softened, but his gaze remained sharp.
"I'm fine," she replied evenly.
"Good. Because remember. Tonight, appearances matter. We're a family in public. You
smile, you nod, you exist."
"Got it," she said, allowing a tiny smirk at the word exist.
Ray's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He caught it. His hand brushed hers across the
table for a second.
She didn't react.
As dessert was served, a toast was announced
Ray stood, glass in hand. He scanned the room, exuding command. Then, without warning,
he included her.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, voice strong, low, smooth, "this year has been about vision,
strategy, and execution. And… partnerships."
Eyes turned to Lila.
"Partnerships like these," he continued, glancing briefly at her, "require trust. Respect. And
sometimes… sacrifice."
A hush fell over the table.
She held his gaze. Calm, unreadable.
"Cheers," he said, raising the glass.
She clinked hers against his. Just a toast, she reminded herself. Nothing else.
After the toast, Ray's attention wandered. He leaned close to her, voice low.
You're… not what I expected," he said.
"And you're not what I expected either," she replied.
He didn't smile. Didn't laugh. Only studied her. Intense. Focused.
Something flickered between them. Dangerous. Electric.
Lila reminded herself: This is business. He's my just tool. Nothing else.
But as the evening ended and the driver returned, she felt it—an unusual weight in the air.
Ray's hand brushed hers as he led her to the car. A simple touch, professional. Or… not.
She ignored the shiver that ran through her.
Because in this game, feeling anything was a weakness.
The drive back to the mansion was quiet. The rain had stopped, leaving the streets glistening.
Lila kept her gaze out the window, focusing on the reflections of streetlights. She didn't
notice Ray's occasional glances at her.
When the car pulled up, the gates opened silently, revealing the dark silhouette of the
mansion. Ethan's light could be seen flickering upstairs.
Ray stepped out first. "After you."
She gave him a small nod and exited. The cool night air brushed against her face, reminding
her how much of herself she had left hidden in this marriage of convenience.
"Dinner went well," Ray said casually, his hands in his pockets. "You handled yourself."
Lila stiffened. Handled myself? She had smiled, nodded, and followed instructions. That was
all. Not exactly "handled."
"I did what I was told to do," she replied, keeping her tone neutral.
Ray's lips twitched—almost a smile. Almost. That tiny almost made her chest tighten
slightly. Focus. She told herself. You're here for a reason.
Inside, they found Ethan pacing the hallway.
"Dad! I… I don't want her!" he shouted.
Ray knelt to meet him at eye level. Calm, collected. Protective. "Ethan, you need to calm
down. She's not going anywhere tonight."
Ethan crossed his arms. "I don't care! I want Mom!"
Lila stayed back, watching him. She didn't step forward yet. Let him vent. Let him show his
feelings. But she felt something unexpected, a small pang of sympathy.
She remembered herself at that age. Guarded. Suspicious. Afraid of strangers.
Not my problem, she reminded herself.
Ray stood and turned toward her. "Go help him settle down. I'll be upstairs with files."
She hesitated. Why does he care so much? Then, stepping toward Ethan, she said softly,
"Hey… want to read a story while it's still light outside?"
Ethan glanced at her, suspicious. "I don't like stories."
She crouched slightly. "I know. But it might make the thunder feel a little smaller."
He stared. Then, slowly, he sat on the couch.
For the first time that evening, Lila felt… something she hadn't expected. A small warmth,
watching the boy relax next to her. It's nothing, she told herself. Just a child.
But when Ray glanced at her from the doorway, observing quietly, she noticed something in
his expression: approval. Respect. Maybe even trust.
Her stomach tightened. Focus. You're not here for feelings.
Later, when the mansion was quiet, Lila retreated to the guest suite. Her phone buzzed, and
she glanced at it.
UNKNOWN CONTACT: Phase three is on track. Keep your cover. Do not slip.
She locked the phone, lying back on the bed. The evening replayed in her mind: the man at
dinner, Ray's fleeting expressions, Ethan slowly warming up to her presence.
A strange thought crept in. Why did I care about that smile he gave?
She shook her head. Don't think like that. He's a tool. You're a strategist. Nothing else.
But as she closed her eyes, she felt it—the first, small pull of something more.
The next morning, breakfast was just as tense.
Ethan ignored her. Ray read his tablet, occasionally flicking glances her way.
"You'll be attending another event tonight," Ray said.
"Business wife duties again?" she asked lightly.
"Yes. Keep appearances. Smile, nod, look normal."
She smirked faintly. "I can manage that."
Ray's lips twitched—almost a smile again. That almost smile, she thought. Why does that
make my chest tighten?
She quickly shoved the thought away. Focus.
Later, as they prepared to leave, Ethan muttered, almost under his breath, "Don't go too far
tonight."
She paused. Did he mean the dinner? Or me?
Ray didn't comment, only held the car door.
Inside the sleek black vehicle, the quiet hum of the engine made the tension stretch. Lila
glanced at Ray, the faint light catching the angles of his face. He looked… human, for just a
second. Not the untouchable billionaire CEO.
Keep your distance, she reminded herself.
But as the city lights streaked past, she felt the pull again—a warmth she hadn't expected. A
thought she would never admit aloud: Maybe this marriage won't be as simple as I thought