Previously: Hilary spent her first day at Kai's and met more of his friends during dinner.

Suddenly, eveything makes me nervous. Especially You.

Kai leads me back into his office. The lights come on automatically as we pass through the doors, setting to a low warm glow. The city looks magical, like a starry sky outside the windows.

"How was your day?" Kai asks as he takes a seat at his desk.

I sit across from him. "Fine. Slow. Thanks for letting me borrow Spencer."

He nods once. "The condo will be ready by the end of the week. You'll be able to start moving on Friday morning." Looks like the good mood from dinner has lifted and his usual attitude is back.

"I'll need help getting my furniture over from my apartment,"

At this, Kai hesitates. He stares me down, calculating his next move. Spencer's words from earlier echo in my mind: everything is a negotiation with him. "Are you sure you don't want to pick out some new pieces? Something more updated, that will better suit the style of the condo? It's not like you're the one paying for it."

With a shake of my head and a shrug, I pretend to be clueless. "I've never seen the space, so I wouldn't know the style. But also, I like my things." It's the first time I'm really arguing with him to get my way. There's a strange thrill that jolts up my spine when I see his lips twitch just the slightest.

"I can arrange for Spencer to take you there tomorrow."

He's not happy about having to give an inch, but to me, it's only a small success. Now, I'm the one hesitating. In my personal life, I have no problem fighting and arguing for what I want. We've calmed down over the years, but in the past, Emily, the twins, and I have had some real all-out wars. However, with Kai, I can feel that my mind is divided. Technically, he's my employer, despite the unusual circumstances of our arrangement. That perfect model employee inside me is pushing towards excellence.

"Fair enough," I relent as well, satisfying my need to be seen as a team player. "Is there a style you think will be more appropriate?"

Kai visibly relaxes. "It'll be your own private residence. Only those who you invite in will be there, and sometimes that will include members of my family. It's not your style that's bad," he says the last comment offhandedly and I can't help but grin. He likes my style? "Just try to stay away from those cheap items you seem to gravitate towards."

My face drops. Whatever. He probably didn't pick out anything in here and just left it to an interior designer. I'd like to see him do better with the budget I was working with.

"Speaking of which," Kai's face darkens, "our first dinner with my family is Friday night,"

The grave tone of his voice, the clenched fist on his chair, it all sends a shock through me. I remember him saying something about his family being worse than mine. I may not know Kai very well, but any family that has him resorting to a fake engagement as a last resort can't be a fun one.

Still, this is what I signed up for. "So, I should buy a dress for dinner as well?"

"If you want. Get a whole new wardrobe if it suits you," he answers quickly, brushing past it. In the same breath, he continues, "I should be honest with you. I said before that my family is the whole reason for this mess,"

I nod, humming in acknowledgment. He's gone back to avoiding eye contact with me. Must be uncomfortable talking about this part of his life.

"I wish there was a way to prepare you for them, but I'm afraid there's nothing that I can tell you that will truly encompass everything. You'll just have to stay on your toes." He looks at me then, and there's an uncertainty I've never seen lurking there. "You still up for it?"

My heart thuds in my ribcage at the sight of him being so doubtful. I don't know if it's because I've come to expect his unyielding arrogance, or something else. Either way, this is the last time he's giving me an out, that much I can tell.

"Like a ballerina," I say in reply, and then mentally riot because I don't know where that came from. Am I attempting to be smooth? Embarrassed and trying to hide it, I don't give him a second to comment. "Let's get our story straight. How did we meet? I've been telling anyone who asks we met at the elevator at work."

"That's close enough to the truth." He agrees. And then he smirks. "Should we tell them you tried to sneak a picture of me? Emphasis on tried."

"No, I'd like to omit that now and forever, thank you." I can feel my face flush and tingle at the memory of that night. I still have both pictures of him on my phone, though I did change my wallpaper so that I didn't see him every time I checked the time. "We can just say we started talking in the elevator after work."

Kai considers this and then shakes his head, tsking at something.

"What?"

"There's a reason why that's not our story. I wouldn't start talking to a nobody in an elevator at the office. My family will know that."

Not even offended to be called a nobody, I open my hands wide. "Then I'm out of ideas. Why would you be attracted to me?" My mouth snaps shut but the words are already out. His eyes connect with mine so intently and I wish I could say there was a charged energy in them, but the only thing I can see is Kai trying to hold back his laughter.

"I mean, what could I do to make you start talking to me?"

That isn't much better. I duck my head in defeat.

"Well, I suppose I will just have to make an exception for you. Again, it's true enough."

I peek at him through my lashes. "Meaning?"

"Maybe just this one time, I couldn't resist the girl in the elevator."

He's right that he'd be the one to give up his better judgment. Kai must have people throwing themselves at his feet left and right. Of course, I'd be agreeable to the pairing. Anyone could take one look at us and see that Kai is the one lowering his standards.

"You look worried."

"That won't work," I whisper.

This humors him. "It was your idea,"

"But you're right. There's nothing about me that would garner your attention, especially if the only time we see each other is at the end of the day in the horrible elevator light. Only occasionally, at that. Even if they do believe that's how we met, once people get to know me, they'll see it's fake. Because otherwise..."

I trail off. Because otherwise, this would be real.

Kai coughs, clearing his throat. "Hilary, I wasn't oblivious to you before."

"What?"

"There were...certain nights before we started all of this, where you caught my eye. At first, it was recognition of your late hours, meaning you must be a dedicated and hard worker, which I always appreciate." True to form, Kai is all business first. At least he appreciates my worth in the workplace, unlike certain people.

"Truth is, I don't have someone because I'm busy. And also, I don't like most people. And most people don't really like me, despite what they say. I'm not going to waste my time with people I don't like. More than that, I won't start something I can't finish."

I can't quite figure out what he's saying, but I think he's trying to say that he noticed me before all of this, and not always in a business sense. Which is flattering, in a way only Kai can be.

He continues, "You're here now because I have gotten to know you a little bit and you have qualities that I like. Just because this isn't the true love story we'll be telling people it is, doesn't mean there can't be kernels of truth."

I allow a sly grin to slip. "So, you're saying that you like me,"

Kai rolls his head back. He's still wearing the dark gray shirt from his suit, sans the tie. The top buttons are undone, leaving his neck and the tips of his collar bones exposed. Thick bands of muscle move beneath his skin but I can't focus on any of it because, despite my teasing, I'm still trying to get the true meaning behind his words.

His neck moves again, tilting his head forward. "I'm not repeating myself. We'll stick with this story: We met in the elevator. I noticed that you weren't totally horrible to look at after a long day -"

"What a charmer,"

"-and one day when Spencer was late you invited me for drinks. I thought you were just playing a game like all the other people, but then you asked for my name and I wanted to see how far I could push it before you figured it out. Somewhere in the middle of that, we developed...feelings."

I take a little joy in how hard that word was for him to get out. "And since we worked in the same building, and you are the Great Kai Hiwatari, we decided to keep it a secret. Just to see if you could make it work with someone as boring as me."

"You're not going to let that go, are you?"

"Not anytime soon,"

"I like it when you call me the Great Kai. Has a certain ring."

"That would be the mockery I added to it."

He smirks, leaning forward on the desk between us. "Since we're getting into the details, when did you know you were in love with me?"

"Oh, I was unsure about you for a long time. I doubted you were serious about me, or too serious about your work."

"Is that why you told your cousin first? Because you doubted me? Or were you trying to compete and knew you had an ace up your sleeve?"

I hate the fact that he's right. He's always right.

The only thing to do is to turn it around on him. "What about you? When did you fall in love with me?"

"Probably when you crawled out the window." He draws his thumb down his jaw. "It was a nice view, lifting you up there."

The memory of his hands on my hips burn. "Are you saying you liked the view?"

"Liked it enough to crawl out after you."

We both know that's not the reason he followed me. "Funny, Mariah said you couldn't flirt."

"Are we flirting?"

We are. And we shouldn't be. I realize at some point I started leaning on the desk, edging closer. I pull back and, like a broken spell, Kai does the same.

"We should probably forget the whole window thing; wouldn't fit in with this storyline," I smile, even knowing he'll know it's fake. "You're a mysterious person, Kai. Maybe we leave that part of the story vague. It'll fit better with your image."

"You're probably right,"

I take a deep breath. I've twisted my fingers together in my lap to keep them from fidgeting. "So far, we've covered your family, our end date is December, and our vague love story that started in an elevator. What else do I need to know?"

"I don't think there's a way we can predict everything. We'll have to take it as it comes."

"No rules or anything? Dos and Don'ts?" It's weird to ask him to give me rules, but I'm dying for any sort of direction here. I don't do well without guidelines and steps to follow. I like order.

Kai thinks about it quietly. "I'm you're number one," he says finally. "Number one contact, the one you report to. If anyone asks you to do anything outside the ordinary, let me know. You don't talk to anyone else before coming to me, and any secrets that you accumulate, they're not secrets between us. Even if it's someone who knows this is a farce, you verify it with me first before sharing anything."

We're back to being serious. I prefer our light-hearted joking from earlier, but this is better. It'll keep me focused. I nod in agreement. "Anything else?"

"No, I think that's about it for now," Kai is just as eager to be done with me as I am to leave. "I'll let Spencer know that he's driving you tomorrow."

"We should think about getting me a driver. Or a car." I mutter tiredly as I stand to leave.

"I can give you Rick,"

I cringe at the idea. "How about you keep Rick and I take Spencer." I can't believe we're fighting over people like their pieces of furniture. Or children and this a divorce. It's only been a day, and already I'm sick of myself. If I had anything left in me, I'd burn red with anger.

Kai, already accustomed to his corrupt lifestyle, only chuckles. "Tomorrow," he says as I leave.

"See you," I reply as I close his office door. As I cross the living room to the other side of the condo where the guest suite is, I pass by the empty but sparkling kitchen. It's like no one was ever there.

In my room are the clothes I picked up earlier, still in the suitcase. There's no sense in unpacking. I'll only be here another night. Plus, it looks like I'll have a big day shopping with Spencer. I don't even know what I'm supposed to get, since I assume I can't be seen in my clearance, last season department store attire now. It was perfect for the office, but this certainly isn't there.

Wait. I didn't tell him about quitting.

Collapsing face first on the bed, I groan into the duvet. What am I going to do?

The next morning, I'm up early again, even though I didn't get back to my room until almost one a.m. and couldn't sleep for another two hours, my mind too busy to find rest appealing.

I greet Kai in the kitchen where he's sitting at the island sipping a cup of coffee. I'm surprised to see that he doesn't have his phone out. I don't think there's been a second where his hands haven't been on some sort of technology since I've known him.

Putting on my best customer service smile, I ask him how his morning is going. Small talk is best. Small talk is safe.

"As usual," he says, watching me as I get my own cup for the morning. Everything is out on the counter, so I figure it's meant for guests.

The coffee is warm and deep and gives me something to focus on other than Kai's eyes following me. This is fine as long as we have the island between us.

"Spencer will be around after dropping me off at the office to take you shopping. You know what you need to get?"

"Yep. I did some research last night into clothing brands, so I think I know what I'm looking for."

"Sounds efficient," Kai says. He sounds sarcastic and I have to bit my tongue to keep from calling him on it. "I'll have Spencer take you by the condo this morning so that you can get an idea of the space. There are some items left from when I was living there, so hopefully, you'll be able to put them to use. And after he'll take you to the shops."

"I see you've considered the idea about Spencer being my driver,"

He chuckles. He runs his tongue over his teeth as if that will hide his smile. "You're not getting Spencer."

"Well, I'm not taking Rick. If that happens, I can't guarantee you'll have a fake girlfriend or a bodyguard."

"Rick won't leave me."

"You're so sure?"

Kai nods, eyes silently asking me to challenge him. It's another one of his arrogant mannerisms I'm finding difficult to hate all the time.

"What are you blackmailing him with?"

"Why do you think I'd have to blackmail anyone?" He taunts, "You seem to enjoy my company well enough. Who's to say Rick doesn't."

He's got me there. "I bet it's the money. He seems like the type to be easily bought."

To this, Kai concedes. "Money does get you far."

"That is disgusting."

"It's it?" He questions with mirth, still bantering. He gets up to set his cup in the sink, bringing him closer to me. I try to ignore the lack of distance, focusing on my cup with rapt attention. I jump, letting out a sharp yelp and almost dropping the cup entirely when his hand encircles my left wrist.

His eyes are bewildered as he observes my startled, and I'll admit overdramatic, reaction.

"Yes?" I ask, trying to pull my wrist away.

He lets go, a vacant mask overtaking his face. "Don't forget your ring," he says monotonously as he grabs his briefcase and heads out of the kitchen. I look down at my empty finger, thinking of the ring I left in the bag in the bottom draw of the dresser in my room.

It's my job, I tell myself again. And I am a hard worker.

I don't have to wait long for Spencer to come back after dropping Kai off.

"Thanks for coming again. Toting me around must be getting boring." We get into the elevator together and he hits the button to take us down.

"You don't have to thank me for everything, Hilary. It's my job."

That's right. We're in the same boat, Spencer and I. Despite how I got here, my status is actually closer to him than to Kai. Another good thing to keep in mind when things with Kai start getting too confusing.

"I don't think I'll be able to stop thanking you. That would feel rude."

He spares me an exhausted glance but doesn't say anything. I guess when your job is serving one person all day, having them thank you for every act would be overly tiring.

"But I'll try to keep my 'thank you' at the end of the day. How about that?"

I hear him exhale sharply and take it has a begrudging 'fine'. That counts as a win in my book.

The first place we stop is Kai's condo, or I guess mine now. It's still a weird thing to think of and it doesn't help seeing it in person. It's a little farther out of the city but still in a large, gated community. As we drive through, I'm startled by the extravagance.

"Is that a lake?"

"It's manmade," Spencer answers. "There's a spot with sand you can swim at, but others take their boats out as well."

"Wow," I breathe.

"The condo is in the first of two towers, which are connected to a larger neighborhood. He lived here when he first moved back from school. Once he was named president and it became necessary for him to be closer, that's when he moved into the city."

"It does feel a little disconnected,"

The towers are just ahead of us and I have to lean forward to get an eyeful of them before we disappear into an underground parking garage. But this isn't like other garages. The lanes are extra wide and instead of park spaces, there are two-car garages. Actual garages.

"No way,"

"When you have the money," Spencer replies to my awe.

"Right. It takes you far."

Spencer pulls into one of the garages and parks. He leads me up to the condo, which thankfully isn't on the top floor and it's all that large. I try to walk tall, which my head and shoulders back. No one appears to give me a second glance, but I can feel eyes on me anyway.

I am the future Mrs. Hiwatari, I think, trying to put every ounce of grace and power than name contains into my step.

Spencer unlocks the condo with a keypad code, saying he'll write it down for me so I can remember it. I step in slowly and already feel like I'm in the wrong place. I shouldn't be here.

Even mostly empty, it's much smaller than Kai's, with an open living, dining, and kitchen area. Everything is white or light gray, from the tile to the counters to the backsplash. The windows along the back wall of the living room and dining room open completely onto a balcony that spans the entire space. It gives me a view of the city. I think I can even see Kai's building from here.

There's a powder room off the living room. Down the hall is a laundry room, and then another bathroom that's connected to the second bedroom. The master is slightly larger than the other room but still smaller than Kai's guest suite. There's another balcony off of it.

It's magnificent and better than anything I could ever afford, even if I were to get that promotion.

I turn to Spencer who has cautiously been following me as I explore. "It's sufficient," I say in the most snobby way I can. He barely tilts his lip in a grin. Maybe I shouldn't make fun of his boss's lifestyle so much.

Fortunately, he takes pity on me as we leave. "I'm sure you can adjust to such lowly accommodations," he says.

"This place is so elegant and I'm just cheap and frumpy."

"Wow," Spencer mutters, "of all things, it's going to be furniture that takes you down."

"I know what you're doing." His eyes meet mine. "Fine. Let's go."

It's actually easier than I thought. Once we got to the design studio, instead of picking out one item from twenty, I'm matched with a designer who, after asking me a few questions, can show me a few items that match my preference more. Kai had left a table for the dining area and a bed frame and dresser in the master. I like them well enough that I don't feel like changing them, but everything else is mine to choose. The thing I'm most excited about? The new mattress. After sleeping on that heavenly cloud in Kai's guest bedroom, I refuse to go back.

I'm not surprised that they already had the measurements for the unit.

"Have you worked with Kai before?" I ask when we're done and she walks us to the door.

She nods with grace. "Mr. Hiwatari came to us when he first moved in, and again for his current residence. It's always a pleasure to assist him. Should I expect a call after the wedding, when you officially move in?"

I knew it, I think gleefully.

"I think we'll be moving someplace new, but we'll still discussing," I lie, still happy that I was right about Kai not designing his own place.

After that, it's on to clothing. I'm not ready to completely abandon the wardrobe I have at home that I worked hard for, but I can understand needing a few items that will impress Kai's family when we're there.

I know I can't be making a spectacle of myself by buying mass amounts, so I quietly go into a store and grab a few outfits that I think will work for now. I can order more online so it doesn't look like I've just gotten access to Kai Hiwatari's credit card and started going crazy. Spencer's already alerted me to more than one paparazzi following us, so the last thing I need to do is start a rumor.

"A dress," I sigh from the back seat. It's getting close to one and I haven't eaten yet. I was trying to power through until I could get back to Kai's, but I'm starting to feel the effects. "That's the last thing. I really have no idea where to start for that one."

"Why don't you go back to Hiwatari's and order a designer's collection for an in-house fitting," Spencer suggested.

"They do that?"

Spencer's eyes meet mine.

"Right," I groan. "Money. But I don't know who to call or even how to reach a designer."

"Call him and ask."

"I don't want to have to turn to him for everything,"

I want to be the best fake fiancée for Kai but I'm starting to feel out of my depth. I didn't take 'How to Fake Being Rich' in college.

Spencer drops me off at Kai's and I return to his penthouse alone. Apparently, Kai texted him about some errand he needed and Spencer refused to let me come with him, telling me to focus on my own task. Once inside with all of my bags of newly acquired clothes, I throw them over the back of the couch and head into the kitchen. There must be something to eat in there.

Immediately, I spy leftovers from yesterday's dinner and almost cry out in delight. "Oh, baby," I pile it on a plate and put it in the microwave. While it's warming, I make myself another coffee.

I can't believe how tired I am. "Where's the girl who pulled fourteen-hour days?" I ask myself out loud.

As I take a seat at the island, I hear the elevator doors open again and freeze in alarm. It can't be Kai – it's way too early.

"Someone's made themselves at home," Mariah says as she steps into the living room from the entry hall, eyeing my bags. She laughs when she sees me. "Long day?"

"What are you doing here?" I ask now that I'm able to breathe again. "And is there a way to put an alarm on that door or something?"

"Spencer called me about the dress. And yeah, you can put an alarm on it and lock it so that it doesn't open. But I'm not going to show you how." She pats my head, looking all too happy.

Huh, looks like all of Kai's employees gossip worse than high schoolers. "How'd you get here so quickly? I've only been back for ten minutes."

"Rei and I live a few floors down," she shrugs, picking a veggie off my plate. After that, she claps her hands. "Okay, I've called a designer that Kai's used before. They'll be here soon, so you should go freshen up."

"But my food,"

"Go," Mariah urges me off the chair. "It'll be after here your fitting."

Still hungry, I take a quick shower. As soon as I'm finished redressing in fresh clothes, the collection arrives with a petite man. From the moment he lays eyes on me, his excitement turns to boredom.

I want to snort; I know the feeling whenever I see myself first thing in the morning.

He introduces himself as Olivier and then presents me with the rack of dresses he's brought up.

The dresses are exquisite. Olivier, for his part, listens to what I say I like and pulls out options that will actually compliment me. A deep violet knee-length dress holds my attention. I pull it out to admire it and Mariah nods eagerly while Olivier hums with approval. At least I hope that's approval and he's not just humoring me.

It's not too over the top, but it's more sophisticated than what I usually go for. It has a sweetheart neckline and the bodice holds my bust in place, revealing the curve of my waist and hips. If I've got to provide reasons for Kai's attention, might as well start with those.

"It was a nice view,"

I shake my head to get Kai's voice out of my mind. He was teasing. He didn't mean it.

Mariah jumps when I step out to twirl in front of her and Olivier.

"That's the one," she says. I swear there's a twinkle in her golden eyes.

I brush down nonexistent wrinkles, feeling the quality fabric against my skin. I glance at Olivier. "You're the designer. Is it right?"

"You may be the one wearing it, but it's my name on the label. I wouldn't let you take it if it wasn't good."

That's all the approval I need, I guess because then I'm just as excited as Mariah. You'd think this was a school dance I'm preparing for with all this hoo-rah. Still, I keep myself from jumping up and down.

The rest of the night rushes by. Olivier leaves after pinning the dress, saying he'll return the dress tomorrow fitted to my measurements, and I'm surprised to realize hours have gone by since he arrived. Mariah hugs me, telling me that I'll be fine. I feel joyous for a moment and then empty when I'm left alone with my thoughts again. I warm up my abandoned lunch and sit at the island, though now it's closer to dinner.

Tomorrow will be our first official outing as a couple but I do not feel prepared at all. I barely got through today, and I wasn't even doing anything all that hard. I don't know how I'm going to survive Kai's family.

The elevator opens sometime later and I leave the kitchen to meet Kai as he exits. He's alone as well, jacket thrown over his arm along with his tie, the buttons on his shirt already open. He chose black today.

He looks over me as he passes, his gaze tired and forbidding.

"How was your day?" I ask cheerfully, brushing off the serious aura that came in with him. I feel it weighing heavy in the air, like a storm cloud.

He doesn't answer my question. "Did you get what you needed?"

"Shopping? Yeah. I got the furniture for the place and a few articles of clothing that will hold me over for a while. And a dress that Mariah really loves -"

While I'm talking, Kai sets his things down on the sectional and then turns back to me. I don't think anything of his approach until he is standing in front of me, looking down from his impressive height. When did he get so tall? I'm acutely aware of my bare feet on the smooth tile floor and instantly miss the heels that give me a good five inches with which to narrow the gap between us.

"Kai?"

I watch as his right hand comes up to cup my face while I feel the other wrap around my waist and draws me close. I swat at both. "What are you doing?"

"That's no good," he mumbles.

"What?" I try to pull away from his grip but he's not giving an inch.

He pulls me closer so that we're face to face and I have to work very hard to not think about my chest brushing against his. I try to push away.

"You can't jump a mile in the air every time I touch you," he bears down on me. "Nothing we do will matter if we can't sell this part of our relationship."

"Maybe I'm the waiting for marriage type,"

"But I'm not."

I can feel my mouth open and close like a fish, and I know I should be saying something. Those slippery, slippery words though, they've all left my mind.

"All I'm suggesting is we get comfortable with each other."

Still trying to pull away, I narrow my eyes in doubt. "How comfortable, exactly?"

His hand moves, his fingers wide across my back, each point of contact burning through my shirt and into my skin as if he's trying to pull me even closer. The other hand comes back up to my jaw.

"I think we should start with a kiss."

Hello! Another sort of slow chapter. Don't worry, things will pick up again! As always, I love hearing you thoughts and ideas about what will happen, as well if there's any issues you're seeing. Have a great week, and I'll see you next time - Konix