Chapter 58

Ella POV

My hand trembled slightly as I took the pen from Alexander. The weight of the moment pressed down on me as I stared at the long contract in front of me, its fine print blurring as my pulse pounded in my ears. I sat down slowly, trying to focus on the words, but my mind was spinning. This contract was more than I had expected. It was a binding promise—one that went far beyond the simple terms I had anticipated.

“What is this?” I whispered, my voice barely steady as I lifted my gaze to meet Alexander’s eyes.

"A promise," he replied, his voice calm but with an edge of seriousness that made my heart skip a beat. "In light of the scandal, August has convinced me we need to protect your interests in this deal. I can’t allow my reputation to harm you. That would be a violation of our agreement. So, by signing this, you agree to the terms I’m proposing."

His intense gaze held mine as he continued, his words sending a chill down my spine. "I will have no lovers, no one-night stands, no other romantic partners for the duration of our relationship. The scandal it would cause if I was caught... cheating on you would be difficult to control."

I glanced back down at the contract, my fingers gripping the pen tightly. His words were laid out in stark legal terms—cold and clear. But there was more. My breath hitched as I read the clause that caught my attention: if Alexander violated the contract, he would owe me damages—a million dollars, to be exact.

"But... this is too much," I protested, my voice wavering. I looked back up at him, my emotions a swirling mess of confusion and disbelief. This wasn’t just a business arrangement anymore. This was personal.

Alexander’s expression softened slightly, but his tone remained resolute. "Ella, this is necessary. The moment our names were tied together, my actions stopped being just about me. They affect you too. I can’t risk dragging you through the mud because of my past... or because of any missteps I might make in the future."

His words hung between us, heavy and meaningful. I felt an odd mixture of gratitude and fear—gratitude that he was willing to protect me like this, but fear because the line between fake and real seemed to be blurring. Why was he doing this? Why was he offering such a strict promise? And why did my heart twist every time I looked into his eyes?

"But what about you?" I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why go to such lengths for a relationship that’s not real?"

For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—something raw and unguarded. "Because I made a promise, Ella." His voice dropped, his gaze locking with mine in a way that made it hard to breathe. "And I take my promises seriously.

I felt lost. I didn’t know if this was the right thing to do, but Alexander seemed so earnest. I signed the contract and slide it across the table to him.

“Thank you,” he said. He signed himself, then held the contract out to August.

August took the contract and left the room.

Silence settled over us uncomfortably. Alexander was staring at me and I was finding it hard to meet his gaze.

His brow furrowed, and he leaned forward. “How did you know this was going to happen? With all of these women… Had you already started getting these messages before you told me?”

“No,” I replied, meeting his gaze. “But I knew. After all, Alexander… you do have a reputation as a playboy.”

A sour look crossed his face at my words. “I’m well aware of my reputation,” he said curtly. “And I’ve begun taking steps to address the situation, just as you asked. But Ella, you need to understand that not all of the things they’re saying about me are true.”

I looked at him in surprise. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“I was a selfish man, yes, but I never cheated, and I was never abusive. I know that what’s between us isn’t real, but I need you to understand that I’m not that kind of person.”

I searched his eyes for any sign of deception, but I found none. I felt in my heart that Alexander was telling the truth, and it ignited a spark of anger within me. How could people spread such awful lies about him?

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I demanded. “I could have defended you more forcefully! It’s going to be harder to win people back to your side now because of the delay.

“Will it?” he asked, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. “I think if I had rushed out to make a statement immediately, it would’ve made me seem guilty.”

I paused, considering his words. Maybe he was right. If he’d hurried to respond to the first one or two women who had spoken out, it might have seemed overly defensive, even suspicious. Perhaps it was my own anxiety driving my frustration, not his lack of action.

“What have you done to address it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“You don’t need to concern yourself with all the little details, but I believe that someone has hired these women. There are some of them posting now that I’ve never even met. This seems to be an organized attempt to smear my name.” he said, his tone tight with anger. “I’ll make a public statement tonight. I’ve already arranged it.”

“Well… I’m relieved to hear that,” I said quietly.

I was relieved, but something still felt off. I had an idea of who would be willing to go to such lengths to hurt Alexander’s reputation, and it angered me to think that David was still trying to manipulate me like this.

Alexander POV

The way Ella was pouting was almost cute, though guilt gnawed at me for the situation I’d inadvertently put her in. It couldn’t be easy for her to receive all those messages and letters from my exes.

In a way, it was embarrassing. If there was something real between us, I’d be infuriated. But since our relationship was just for show, it was more of an annoyance—though one that seemed to be wearing on her.

I had consulted August, of course, and he agreed with my decision to make a public statement. Addressing the situation all at once seemed like the best option, but seeing Ella like this made me wonder if it was already too late.

Maybe I should have communicated my plans to her earlier; it might have eased her mind and avoided this growing tension between us.

"Would you like to come with me?" I asked.

Ella looked up at me in surprise, her big, dark eyes wide and innocent, and I had to glance away for a moment, the intensity of her gaze stirring something in me.

"To make the public announcement?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied. "It might look better if you were by my side, to show that you're standing with me through this turmoil."

"That does make sense," she said, nodding thoughtfully. "When will it be?"

"In about an hour," I said, checking the clock. "It'll be brief, I promise. Just a quick statement to a few media outlets downstairs in the lobby."

"Okay," Ella agreed, her tone soft but resolute. "After all, it won't be long before we're announcing our engagement. We can't let people think there's any strain in our relationship."

"That's right," I murmured.

But I couldn't shake the thought that there was a strain between us now, and it was likely my fault.

"I'm going to get a cup of tea, and I'll meet you in the lobby in 45 minutes," Ella said, her gaze lingering on me as if searching for something.

"Yes, that sounds good," I replied, pretending to be absorbed in the work on my desk. But as she stood and left the room, I couldn't help but watch her go.

Ella was certainly doing her part to fulfill our agreement. It was only natural, as I was upholding my end by helping her expose David for the manipulative, disloyal creep that he was.

But there was more to her than that. Something she wasn’t sharing, something she wasn’t telling anyone else either. I had a strong suspicion that she was keeping her own secrets, perhaps because she didn’t have anyone she truly trusted.

I understood what that felt like.

The more time I spent with Ella, the more I realized we might have more in common than either of us had expected. And the more I felt that we were a better pair than I ever could have imagined.