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CHAPTER24
Madison
o o o
“And what is this?”
The following Friday, I arrive at the penthouse to the sight of Roman brandishing a clothes hanger with what I presume is my dress for tonight’s gala. It’s been two weeks since his mom’s brief visit, and things have been slightly weird between us. He’s holding back on me, but I can’t work out why. I thought we’d only grown more intimate that night, but our hookups now are short and sweet. No more intense eye contact, no more exploring one another’s bodies like we want to memorize them.
Surprisingly, I’m glad to be invited to tonight’s gala as his plus-one. He can’t escape me if we’re pretending to be married. It certainly worked for us the first time around.
“I need you to try it on while I’m gone. If you don’t like it, I can have my assistant pick out something else.”
“Who’s taking care of Leo tonight?” I raise a brow.
He sighs. “My Mom.”
That surprises me. “Oh… So, you guys are okay now?”
He purses his lips, looking away. “We will be, I’m sure.”
I know better than to push him. Instead, I unzip the clothes cover and am dazzled by gorgeous red satin and gold lace. “Oh, wow. This is gorgeous. Although, I could have gone shopping myself. You didn’t have to do this…”
“And surprise me with one of those sparkly dresses you love? I don’t think so.” He smirks, draping the dress across the couch. The hem whispers across the floor. I can’t stop myself from running my fingers through the folds and pleats, following the detail along the lace arms. I’ve had plenty of nice gowns in my time, but this one is like something a princess would wear.
He watches me carefully, a smug tilt to his chin. “Gold brings out the lighter shades in your eyes. That’s why I chose it.”
I snap my head at him in surprise. “It does?”
I thought he would have asked his assistant to grab me the most expensive dress on the rack and have it done with, but it seems he put genuine thought into the choice. My breath becomes shaky, that familiar swirl of heat returning to my stomach.
It is so difficult to know where I stand with this man. So difficult to know how he truly feels about me.
“There’s something else.” He clears his throat and takes a black velvet box from the coffee table, rounding the couch to hand it to me.
I frown curiously. “Jewelry? That’s very romantic.”
“Anything for my darling wife.” He rolls his eyes, but my heart flutters all the same.
Stop it, Madison. Don’t get caught up in all this. It’s an act, remember?
Except, right now, nobody else is watching. Even Leo is nowhere to be seen.
Holding my breath, I open the box and my eyes bulge. A stunning golden choker necklace with ruby stones greets me, with dangling, delicate earrings to match.
And beside them, two wedding bands. He takes the larger one out and slips it into the pocket of his blazer.
“You bought us rings…” My voice is wispy and barely there, conveying my shock perfectly.
“It wouldn’t look very realistic otherwise, would it?” His voice is as velvety as the box covering, and my knees weaken.
Gently, he sets the jewelry down and takes my hand, slipping the band onto my left ring finger in one precise, gentle movement. His fingertips brush my skin, leaving me tingling, and I swear I’m going to collapse.
“Don’t lose it before tonight.” He dips his head as though confiding in me, our foreheads almost touching. I lick my lips, tempted to close the distance and kiss him despite the fact that we agreed we would keep it secret, and Leo will most likely be out any moment.
“How can I when it fits perfectly?” I wiggle my fingers to prove it, and the ring doesn’t budge. For a moment, I let myself pretend that it’s real, that I belong to him. For a moment, I realize that I want to.
I think of us tonight, walking in hand in hand, tethered to him by these identical rings, and anticipation rolls through me.
