Chapter 3

The article.

His expression darkened.

The board members exchanged nervous glances.

One of them cleared his throat.

“Sir… should we issue a denial?”

Damian’s jaw tightened.

He hated gossip.

He hated speculation.

And most of all, he hated the fact that the photo had affected him.

Because when he looked at it, all he could think about was the warmth of Celeste’s waist under his hand.

“No statement yet,” he said coldly.

The room fell silent.

Mara blinked.

“Sir?”

He stood, buttoning his suit jacket.

“I’ll handle it myself.”

By afternoon, Celeste was summoned to Damian’s office.

The top floor of Vale Tower felt exactly like him.

Elegant.

Minimal.

Dangerously intimidating.

She stepped inside without knocking.

“You owe me breakfast for this scandal.”

Damian looked up from his desk.

“That’s your opening line?”

She dropped her sunglasses onto the table.

“I woke up to three million people shipping us.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“I’m aware.”

Celeste crossed her arms.

“So what’s the plan, Mr. Billionaire?”

His gaze stayed on her for a long moment.

Then he said something that made her blink.

“We continue it.”

Silence.

Celeste stared.

“I’m sorry… what?”

“The scandal benefits both of us.”

Her brows lifted.

“I’m listening.”

He stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“My company is launching a new entertainment subsidiary next month. Public interest is useful.”

Celeste narrowed her eyes.

“And what do I get?”

He turned toward her.

“Your movie premieres in six weeks.”

She froze.

Okay.

He had a point.

The buzz alone could double ticket sales.

Nina was absolutely going to love this.

“So,” Damian said calmly, “we fake date.”

Celeste let out a laugh.

“You’re serious.”

“Completely.”

She studied him.

Perfect suit.

Perfect hair.

Perfectly unreadable expression.

The man was offering the most cliché romcom plot in existence, and somehow he still made it sound like a business merger.

Celeste stepped closer.

“Ground rules.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Go on.”

“No actual feelings.”

“Agreed.”

“No controlling my life.”

“Fine.”

“No random kissing unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

For the first time, Damian’s expression shifted.

“Necessary?”

She smirked.

“You never know with paparazzi.”

His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

“Understood.”

Her heartbeat betrayed her.

Fast.

Annoyingly fast.

Then she extended her hand.

“Deal.”

He looked at her hand for a second before taking it.

The moment his fingers wrapped around hers, a small electric shock ran up her arm.

Both of them felt it.

Neither mentioned it.

The first public appearance happened that night.

A luxury restaurant opening.

The media had already been tipped off.

As Damian’s black car stopped outside the venue, flashes exploded like lightning.

Celeste turned to him.

“Ready, boyfriend?”

His mouth twitched.

“Don’t enjoy this too much.”

Too late.

The driver opened the door.

Damian stepped out first, then extended his hand to her.

The moment Celeste placed her hand in his, the crowd erupted.

Cameras.

Voices.

Questions shouted from every direction.

“Celeste! Are you dating Damian Vale?”

“Mr. Vale, how long has this been going on?”

She slipped naturally into the role, leaning closer to him.

His arm moved around her waist.

Again.

That same warm, possessive touch.

Her pulse jumped.

He bent slightly toward her ear.

“Smile.”

She did.

And maybe it was the cameras.

Maybe it was the act.

But when she looked up at him beneath the flashing lights, something about the way he looked back felt far too convincing.

Inside the restaurant, they were escorted to a private corner table.

The moment they sat down, Celeste exhaled.

“Well,” she whispered, “we’re officially the internet’s favorite couple.”

Damian loosened his tie slightly.

“You seem pleased.”

“I am a superstar. Attention is part of the job.”

He gave her a look.

“You enjoy teasing me more.”

She grinned.

“True.”

The waiter poured wine.

The lights were dim and golden.

Soft music played in the background.

For a moment, the fake date felt suspiciously like a real one.

Celeste rested her chin on her hand.

“So tell me something real.”

Damian looked at her.

“About?”

“You.”

He was silent.

Then, surprisingly—

“I hate crowds.”

She blinked.

That wasn’t the answer she expected.

“You?”

His gaze remained steady.

“Too many people. Too much noise.”

Her teasing expression softened.

“That’s why you always look like you want to escape events.”

“Yes.”

Celeste smiled gently.

“I get that.”

He studied her face.

“No cameras,” he said quietly. “No audience. Who are you?”

The question landed somewhere deep inside her.

She looked down at her glass.

“Just Celeste.”

Something in his expression softened.

For the first time, it didn’t feel like two public figures speaking.

It felt like two people.

And that was dangerous.

When the dinner ended, they exited through the front entrance.

More cameras.

More flashes.

A reporter suddenly called out—

“Miss Laurent! Is it true your ex wants you back?”

Celeste froze.

Her ex.

Adrian Cruz.

A famous actor and one of the most public heartbreaks of her life.

The reporter kept going.

“Did Damian Vale steal you from him?”

The question hit harder than she expected.

Before she could answer, Damian’s arm tightened around her waist.

Then he turned to the cameras.

His voice was cool and controlled.

“Celeste is with me.”

The crowd went wild.

But Celeste wasn’t listening to them.

She was looking at Damian.

Because the way he said it didn’t sound fake at all.

It sounded possessive.

Protective.

Real.

And for one dangerous moment, she liked it.

A lot.

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