CHAPTER FOUR – THE FIRST WEEK
The first few days after signing the contract felt strange. Everything happened too fast, and my life no longer felt like mine.
At the office, people started looking at me differently. Some smiled politely, others whispered when they thought I couldn't hear. I tried to ignore them, but it was impossible. Everyone knew I was now engaged to Anderson Grey. They didn't know it was a contract, of course, but I could feel their eyes on me everywhere I went.
Anderson didn't treat me any differently in public. He was still the same serious man, calm and distant, giving short answers, always focused on work. But behind the cameras, there was something quieter about him. Not softer, just quieter — like he was always thinking about something he would never say.
Moving into his penthouse was harder than I expected. The place was beautiful, but it didn't feel like home. The floors were polished like mirrors, the air smelled of expensive perfume, and everything had its place. There were no personal touches, no warmth, just space. A lot of it.
Claire, his assistant, showed me my room. It was across from his, not beside it. She told me politely, "Mr. Grey likes privacy."
The bed was so soft I didn't want to touch it, the wardrobe full of new clothes that fit me perfectly. Everything had already been planned — my size, my schedule, even my meals. It was as if he had thought of everything before I even said yes.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about my mother, about how she smiled when she said she felt better. I reminded myself that this was for her. Everything was for her.
The next morning, I went down to the dining area. Anderson was already there, reading something on his tablet. He didn't look up when I entered.
"Good morning," I said softly.
He nodded once. "Sit."
I did, and we ate mostly in silence. Halfway through breakfast, he spoke.
"You'll be accompanying me to three events this week — a board dinner, a charity fundraiser, and a press conference."
"Alright," I replied quietly.
"You'll need to be presentable at all times. Claire will handle your wardrobe and schedule. I'll expect you to understand your role before each event."
"My role?" I asked.
He finally looked at me. "You're my fiancée in public. People will ask questions. You'll need to answer them like you mean it."
I nodded, unsure if my voice would even work. "Yes, sir."
He glanced at me again, this time longer. "You don't have to call me sir."
I swallowed. "Alright, Mr. Grey."
His lips twitched slightly, like he wanted to say something but changed his mind. "That will do."
After breakfast, Claire handed me a folder with photos and notes. "These are the people you'll meet this week," she explained. "Investors, partners, family friends. Mr. Grey likes things to run smoothly."
I smiled weakly. "I'll do my best."
The first event was two nights later. It was a charity dinner at a hotel downtown. The gown chosen for me was gold, simple but elegant. I could barely recognize myself in the mirror.
When Anderson came to pick me up, he stared for a moment, then nodded slightly. "You'll do."
It wasn't a compliment, but coming from him, it almost felt like one.
The dinner went smoothly. Cameras flashed as soon as we walked in. Anderson held my hand firmly, not tenderly, just firm enough to show that we belonged together. He introduced me as his fiancée, and I smiled when needed.
Throughout the evening, he stayed close. Every time someone approached, he guided me with a glance or a light touch on my arm. It was strange, but comforting in a way I didn't expect.
After the dinner, when we got back to the penthouse, I went straight to my room. My heart was still racing from all the attention.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door.
"Come in," I said.
Anderson stepped inside, his tie slightly loosened. "You handled yourself well tonight."
"Thank you," I said, surprised.
He nodded once. "You'll do fine. Keep it up."
I smiled faintly. "I'll try."
He turned to leave, then paused. "And Elizabeth?"
"Yes?"
"Don't overthink everything. Just follow the plan. It's easier that way."
When he left, I sat there for a long time, trying to understand him. Every time I thought I had him figured out, he did something that confused me again.
By the weekend, I had started getting used to the new routine. I woke up early, ate breakfast alone, went to work, came back to the penthouse, and prepared for whatever event was planned. It felt like living someone else's life.
One afternoon, I was in the sitting area reading a file when I overheard Anderson on the phone in his study. His voice was calm but sharp.
"I said no more delays. If they can't deliver, we find someone else."
Then a pause.
"Yes, I know what I'm risking. Just get it done."
His tone made me uneasy. He wasn't talking like a businessman; it sounded more personal.
When he came out and saw me, he stopped. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Just now," I lied quickly.
He studied my face for a moment, then said, "Be careful what you listen to, Miss Brown. Curiosity is not always safe."
The warning in his voice made my skin prickle.
That night, as I lay in bed, my phone buzzed again. It was the same unknown number.
"Elizabeth Brown?"
"Yes. Who is this?" I whispered.
"You need to be careful," the voice said urgently. "Anderson Grey isn't what you think. He has secrets. Don't trust him too much."
"Who are you?"
But the line went dead.
I sat frozen, my heart racing. I stared at the phone until the screen went black.
For a long time, I just sat there, thinking about everything , the deal, my mother, the warnings, and the way Anderson looked at me sometimes as if he wanted to tell me something but wouldn't.
Was I really helping my mother, or had I just walked into something I didn't understand?
I got up and went to the window. The city lights stretched out below, silent and cold. Somewhere behind one of those lights was the hospital where my mother lay sleeping. I pressed my hand against the glass and whispered, "Hang in there, Mom. I'll make this work. Somehow."
But deep down, I wasn't sure I believed myself anymore.