Chapter 2 Shattered first impressions

Annika

Malakai. Barely dressed. With a woman who wasn't me. He met my gaze without any shame, only indifference, as he shut the door in my face.

My legs felt unsteady as I stumbled backward, trying to comprehend what I had just witnessed.

It wasn't only about the betrayal; it was the way he looked at me, as though I was the intruder. My heart raced like an alarm bell. I blinked, wishing it were all a misunderstanding.

But it was real. Was this truly the man I was meant to feign affection for over the next six months?

Of course, who else would it be? His father? How am I supposed to cope with this guy? He's supposed to be my fiance for six months.

As I began to spiral deeper into my thoughts, something-or someone-bumped into me. My suitcase teetered, one of its wheels painfully rolling over my foot.

I grimaced and let out a sharp "Ow!" as I stumbled a bit.

" Damn, I'm so sorry," he said, taking off his headphones, and scanned me with a smile.

" You must be Annika Wilson..... I'm Ares your fiance's brother"

"Ha-ha, that's not amusing considering what I just witnessed," I attempted to make a joke, but my voice trembled.

"I haven't noticed you around lately."

" ohh right ... .I'm sorry you had to witness that Well I'm not really needed in the industry," he scoffed.

" Thanks honestly, you seem like a better option," I said, taking my luggage and walking with him; he led me towards my room.

" you flatter me miss Annika..... I love having you around already.... sorry you had such a bad day.

We walked in silence for a few moments, his presence oddly soothing. Each step away from Malakai felt like inhaling clean air. The hallway buzzed faintly with chatter, cameras being adjusted, and staff moving about like apparitions.

Ares had an innate ability to blend into the background yet still make you feel acknowledged. He glanced at me once or twice, his smile never truly fading.

I flashed a smile at him and went into my room to see the beautiful atmosphere and the queen-sized bed.The room had a bright atmosphere, a chandelier hanging right at the top.

The bed is adorned with floral sheets.

Walls painted in grey and the large thick textured rug in grey color.

I went over to my fully packed walk in closet.

Filled with hundreds of designer shoes and bags, accessories I could never have thought off.

" What the hell!!!...why did I pack my clothes then? , doesn't matter".

********

Malakai

" you're the one I've been waiting for my whole life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

" Oh my gosh, yes," she said, her eyes beaming with joy. She was a great actress.

I wonder how she could manage to do all this after all she witnessed yesterday, that wasn't a good introduction at all. I twirl hugged her and twirled her around.

We were outside.

Flashes from cameras. Dazzling lights. A chaotic scene filled with filming equipment and forced grins.

This isn't at all how I imagined it-never in a hundred lifetimes. But what was I really expecting? Genuine love in a phony engagement?

My mom and I had always planned my proposal to be in a dark room, with thousands of white lily petals on the floor. Long scented candles right next to it.

A bunch of petals wrapped in metal to form the shape of a heart,with rope lights at the center saying 'will you marry me?'.

I couldn't help but wonder how she feels right now, her proposal not being magical... getting engaged publicly to someone she doesn't love.

" And.....cut," A director said, and everyone cut the videos of us that they were taking.

They took a few pictures of us in a kissing pose. She looked straight into my eyes, glistening in anger.

" Let go now"

I did and pulled her in again with a forehead kiss.

"Forget what you saw yesterday, it wasn't how it seemed." She looked up to me, in the form of a kiss.

"Trying to protect your reputation Malakai?"

" I don't care what you think about me, just making it clear if we're gonna be around each other for that long," I said, then kissed her.

Her eyes widened, I could feel her heart beating fast. I started to imagine fumes coming out of her head.

She wiped her lips with her hand, making her lipstick become all smudged, and pulled away on the spur of the moment.

Cleared her throat, reluctantly facing the crowd to see if they noticed what just happened.

Lucian appeared and came to me with a casual hug. "Hey man, how's it going? ..... and this must be the one and only Annika Maeve Wilson...I'm Lucian, this demon's longest friend".

I shoved his chest as he said that.

How does he know her middle name?

" Nice to meet you too," she said, only looking at him. Ares walked up to us with a plate of finger foods in his hand and put his arm around Annikas' shoulder.

Why is everyone so casual with her?

"Hey guys, hungry?"

Yeah you mean is Annika hungry ?

The others all took from the plate.

" Good work today guys". The director said.

As if. You're getting paid to record and publish my whole life to the public.

At dinner at home ,it was awfully quiet . The atmosphere at the dinner table was so tense that it could have been sliced through with one of the butter knives.

Crystal glasses clinked awkwardly together, and nobody dared to initiate a genuine conversation. I surveyed each guest-some were industry professionals, while others were family.

Everyone was putting on an act, just like we were. A gathering full of individuals pretending that everything was okay.

I strained my eyes looking for my brother after noticing his empty seat, I whispered to Lucian .

"Have you seen?___"

Just as I was about to mention his name, he rushed to open the door, panting showing us he ran here. My dad looked annoyed.

" What's all the ruckus about son ?" my dad said , all of us shifted our attention to him to hear what bombshell is going to drop from him.

"We're back in the spotlight," Ares said, out of breath.

"But not for a good reason."