Pretend with me

Jamie's POV

I was about heading inside, then I heard faint echoes of voices from around the corner. Victoria hadn't gone far yet.

"I think we need a distraction," one of her team members whispered.

"Yes you're right. Victoria's voice snapped, sharp and decisive. The silhouette photo is barely twenty four hours and it's already trending. We cannot let this breathe for another twenty-four hours."

"What do you suggest ma'am? What's the plan?"A younger voice asked.

"Typical classic misdirection," she said without hesitation. "We have to introduce a woman. Someone that the public already adores, someone magnetic and believeable. And we'll make sure Aiden gets photographed with her while holding hands, smiling for the cameras. Let's give the public what they want. And in no time, they'll eat this up. They always do."

The words hit me like i've just been splashed with cold face.

Of course.

A girlfriend. A "perfect" distraction to erase my existence from his world.

I leaned against the wall, my heart thudding, but honestly, I wasn't even surprised that they would go down this route. I wasn't shocked Victoria would pull this trigger fast. What pained me was the fact that Aiden didn't say a word about it to me.

He didn't warn me. Nothing.

I swallowed the ache crawling up my chest and gently walked towards a more quieter hall like a man moving through fog. Every step felt heavy, as if the carpet was quicksand.

Then I spotted him across the ballroom, my chest ached. He was laughing at something an older director said, and his hand was resting lightly on a socialite's elbow as he leaned in to listen.

When I got inside the hall, it was was warm, and dimly lit by the city lights which spilled through the curtains. I gently lowered myself into the chair by the window and stared at the skyline, listening to the faint sound of music coming from the ballroom.

A couple of hours later, Aiden stepped inside, loosening his tie, his expression softening the moment his eyes found me in the chair. "Jamie...where have you been?

You disappeared " he said, his voice low as he approached me.

"So you knew." I said calmly, but the words were sharp.

He froze mid-air. "What are you talking about? Knew what"

"Don't lie to me," I said, turning my head finally to look at him. "They're planning to get you a girlfriend to clean up this mess, and you didn't think I deserved to know?"

Aiden flinched like the words burned him. He crossed the room slowly, bent in front of me, and his hand reached for mine. "Jamie... I didn't want to upset you.

That's why I didn't say anything yet. Meanwhile it's just PR stuff. You know I can't fight her on this"

"You didn't even try," I said softly, pulling my hand back before his fingers could close it. "That's what hurts the most."

He exhaled, the guilt flickering across his face. "I'm trapped. You know that. If I say no, it just makes the

rumors worse. But with this alternative, atleast...it buys me some time."

"You think a staged girlfriend buys you time?" I leaned forward, letting my voice drop. "Aiden, it doesn't. It just buys them control, and it robs me of the one thing I still have, and that is, the truth that you're mine."

His eyes flickered, with guilt and something darker.

• "You know I am yours."

"I don't know anymore" I said flatly, rising to my feet."

He stared up at me like l'd just said something that pierced his heart.

"Jamie..." His voice cracked as he called my name.

I didn't move for a while, then finally, I offered him my hand and he took it like a man who was drowning, and I led him out of the hall.

The hallway was dark and empty, except for the echo of the music coming from the event. Aiden's fingers tightened around mine, desperate, as I turned around, pinning him against the wall with one hand braced beside his head.

His breath hitched.

"Jamie..."

"Shhh. don't call my name like that, unless you're ready for me to remind you, who you belonged to." I murmured, my lips brushing the corner of his jaw.

He shivered, his head tipping back slightly, his entire body giving in. "I-God, I can't stand this. You drive me crazy and I hate pretending that you're not -"

"Mine?" | finished for him. My hand slid up his chest.

"Yes," he whispered, his voice ragged. " That sucks.

The frustration, the ache, the desperation of the last twenty-four hours poured into the kiss that followed. It wasn't soft, It wasn't careful, It was rough and urgent, the kind of kiss that left us both breathless and trembling.

Aiden gripped my my jacket, pulling me closer like he couldn't get enough, while I stayed in control of the pace, the pressure, everything.

In between kisses, he gasped against my mouth, "I'm sorry... I should've told you..."

"It doesn't matter," I said as I bit the corner of his lips, savoring his quiet groan. "Because next time I won't be this forgiving."

He nodded helplessly, and I felt him melting in my hands.

And that's when I saw something.

A distant camera flash lit the hallway for a split second, gently showing off the polished frame on the wall.

I stopped as his lips were on mine, but it was only for a second. As I tried to make sense of what I saw.

Aiden didn't noticed, because his eyes were closed and he was still fixed on me.

I ran my hand over his jaw, as I held the back of his neck, while tugging his hair.

I felt hurt that he kept a secret from me, but here I was, about to do the same thing. Victoria wanted to bury him in lies, while the vultures outside wanted to expose him.

And now, I've got a secret of my own that needed to stay hidden.