Sienna had barely taken a sip of her morning coffee when Damien's phone buzzed.
At first, she didn't think much of it. He was always getting calls, always handling business. But when she glanced up from her seat at the breakfast bar, she noticed something off.
Damien was staring at his phone, jaw clenched, fingers tightening around the device.
She set her mug down. "What is it?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he exhaled slowly, then turned the phone toward her.
Sienna's stomach dropped.
A glaring headline flashed across the screen in bold letters:
"Billionaire Damien Sinclair's Fiancée Exposed: Is Their Engagement a Lie?"
She froze, her heart hammering as she reached for the phone. "What the hell is this?"
Damien didn't say anything as she scrolled, her pulse spiking with every word.
A so-called 'anonymous source' had come forward, claiming their engagement was fake. The article detailed how their relationship had "conveniently" started just before a major business deal, emphasizing how they had no real emotional connection.
But that wasn't the worst part.
They had pictures.
One of Damien leaving the penthouse alone late at night—proof, they claimed, that he and Sienna weren't really living as a couple. Another of her outside the café before they had ever "met."
But then—
Her breath caught.
There was a photo of her and Ethan.
Sienna's grip tightened on the phone. It was an old picture, taken months ago, long before she had even met Damien. Ethan had leaned in to say something to her, and she had laughed, tilting her head slightly toward him.
It wasn't incriminating—but to someone looking for a scandal?
It looked bad.
Damien's voice was calm when he finally spoke. Too calm. "Who is he?"
Sienna swallowed hard. "An old friend."
Damien's eyes darkened. "Is that all?"
She bristled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He tossed his phone onto the counter, his movements controlled, deliberate. "It means this just gave the media exactly what they wanted—a reason to doubt us. And now, if we don't handle this properly, everything falls apart."
Sienna folded her arms. "So what do we do?"
"We make them believe us." His tone was firm, decisive. "We go out. Together. Make sure the world sees us. And we don't just act like a couple—we become one in their eyes."
Sienna's breath hitched. "Meaning?"
Damien leaned in slightly, his voice lower. "Meaning, you're about to be the most adored fiancée in this city. And I'm going to make damn sure of it."
She held his gaze, her pulse pounding.
The idea of faking their relationship in public was one thing. But becoming a real couple in the public's eyes?
That was another level entirely.
Hours Later…
By the time they arrived at one of the city's most exclusive restaurants, paparazzi were already swarming outside, camera flashes lighting up the night.
Sienna gripped Damien's arm tighter than necessary as they stepped out of the car, plastering on a smile.
He glanced at her, his lips quirking slightly. "Nervous?"
She tilted her chin up. "Of course not."
His low chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. "Good. Because tonight, we're giving them exactly what they want."
The moment they walked in, heads turned. People stared. Conversations hushed.
Sienna could feel their eyes on her—on them—analyzing, judging.
Then, as if on cue, Damien slid his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
Her breath hitched.
His hand was warm, firm against her back. It should have felt forced—except it didn't.
She looked up at him, but he was already in character, his expression relaxed, confident. And damn it—he was good at this.
The waiter greeted them with an eager smile, leading them to a private table near the back, though Sienna knew there was nothing private about it. The placement was perfect—just enough exposure for people to watch them but not enough for anyone to eavesdrop.
Damien pulled out her chair, and she sank into it, still hyper-aware of his every movement.
The meal passed in a blur of casual conversation and lingering touches—Damien brushing a stray hair from her face, his fingers grazing hers as he passed the wine.
Each touch sent a spark through her skin, making it harder to remember what was real and what wasn't.
And when dessert arrived, he did something that nearly made her forget how to breathe.
He reached across the table, took her hand in his, and brought it to his lips.
It was a simple gesture.
But effective.
The room buzzed with whispers.
Damien smirked slightly against her skin before pulling away, his eyes locking onto hers as if they were the only two people in the world.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
It was an act.
It had to be.
But then why did it feel so real?
Later That Night…
Back at the penthouse, Sienna kicked off her heels and exhaled. "That was… intense."
Damien loosened his tie, watching her. "You did well."
She raised a brow. "So did you."
He smirked. "I'm always convincing."
She rolled her eyes, turning toward the bedroom. But before she could step inside, his voice stopped her.
"By the way."
She glanced back. "Yeah?"
Damien's gaze was steady. "Who was the one that leaked this?"
Sienna blinked. "What?"
"This wasn't random," he said. "Someone planted that article. Someone who had access to those photos." His jaw ticked. "I need to find out who."
Sienna swallowed.
Because suddenly, this wasn't just about faking an engagement anymore.
This was about something bigger.
And she had a sinking feeling—this was just the beginning.