Aria had never owned a dress that cost more than a month of rent.
Now she was standing in Leo's penthouse dressing room, staring at a gown that shimmered like it had captured starlight and stitched it into silk.
"It's too much," she whispered.
Leo leaned against the doorway, sleeves rolled, watching her through the mirror. "It's exactly enough."
The dress was gold. Soft. Elegant. Not flashy - but powerful.
"It probably costs more than my entire house did," she muttered.
"It does," he said casually.
Her head snapped toward him. "Leo."
He shrugged. "You're my girlfriend."
Contract girlfriend.
The word hovered between them even though neither of them said it.
She swallowed. "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
That was becoming a dangerous pattern.
The charity gala was being held at the Grand Meridian Hotel - chandeliers, marble floors, political families, business moguls, cameras flashing at the entrance.
Aria's heels clicked softly as she stepped out of the car.
The flashes hit her immediately.
Reporters hadn't been invited to focus on her.
But they noticed her.
Because she stepped out beside Leo Moretti.
And Leo didn't let go of her hand.
He laced their fingers together like it was natural.
Like it had always been.
"Smile," he murmured near her ear.
"I'm terrified."
"I know."
His thumb brushed her knuckles once.
"You look stunning."
Her breath caught.
Inside was worse.
Women in designer gowns. Men discussing mergers. Laughter that sounded expensive.
Aria kept her back straight.
She had studied harder than everyone here. She had earned scholarships they couldn't even pronounce. She had carried her family on her shoulders before she turned eighteen.
She would not shrink.
"Leo."
A tall silver-haired man approached, eyes calculating.
"Sir," Leo nodded respectfully.
Aria felt the shift. This wasn't campus Leo.
This was heir Leo.
"This must be the girlfriend," the man said, examining her like an investment portfolio.
Aria extended her hand first.
"Aria Bennett. It's nice to meet you."
His eyebrow twitched slightly - surprised.
"Scholarship student, correct?"
There it was.
She smiled politely. "Yes, sir."
"Impressive. Social mobility is always fascinating."
Fascinating.
Like she was a case study.
Before she could respond, Leo's voice cooled.
"She's top of the economics department. Highest ranking in three years."
The man looked at Leo instead now.
Not her.
"Ambitious choice."
Leo's jaw tightened slightly. "She isn't a choice."
Silence.
A beat too long.
The man cleared his throat and moved on.
Aria exhaled slowly.
"You didn't have to defend me."
"I did."
"It doesn't bother me."
"It bothers me."
She looked at him.
And something in her chest shifted.
As the night continued, the whispers started.
"That's her?"
"The scholarship girl?"
"She's pretty but-"
"But not one of us."
Aria pretended not to hear.
Leo definitely heard.
His hand stayed on her waist almost the entire evening.
Not possessive.
Protective.
At one point, a woman approached - mid-thirties, polished smile.
"Leo, darling. We missed you in Milan last quarter."
"Business conflict," he replied smoothly.
Her eyes flicked to Aria.
"And this is?"
"My girlfriend."
No hesitation.
No pause.
The woman's smile tightened. "How... refreshing."
Aria smiled sweetly. "Nice to meet you."
The woman looked her up and down once, subtle but intentional.
Then she walked away.
Aria forced her shoulders not to curl inward.
"Do they all do that?" she asked quietly.
"Yes."
"And you're used to it?"
"Yes."
"I'm not."
Leo turned to face her fully.
"Then get used to standing next to me."
Her heart skipped.
"That sounded arrogant."
"It wasn't."
His voice softened slightly.
"I don't want you shrinking."
Her throat tightened.
"I'm trying not to."
Later, during the auction segment of the gala, Leo leaned toward her.
"Pick something."
"What?"
"Anything you want."
"Leo-"
"Anything."
She scanned the list. Luxury vacations. Rare paintings. Private island retreats.
She felt ridiculous.
"I don't need anything here."
He studied her face carefully.
"What would you pick if none of this intimidated you?"
She hesitated.
Then pointed at something small near the bottom of the list.
A funding grant for a public school technology program.
Leo looked at it.
Then at her.
"That one?"
"Yes."
He didn't say another word.
When bidding opened, Leo raised his paddle calmly.
Numbers climbed.
Voices countered.
He didn't hesitate.
Didn't blink.
He won it.
By a landslide.
Applause filled the room.
Aria stared at him.
"You didn't have to overpay."
He leaned close enough that only she could hear.
"I didn't."
"You just donated a small fortune."
"I know."
"Why?"
His eyes held hers steadily.
"Because you would've."
Her breath stalled.
After the event ended, they escaped to the balcony overlooking the city.
Finally quiet.
Finally air.
Aria slipped off her heels and leaned against the railing.
"My feet are numb."
He chuckled softly.
"First gala survival complete."
She stared at the skyline.
"Do you ever get tired of it?"
"Of what?"
"Being expected to belong everywhere."
He leaned beside her.
"I don't belong everywhere."
"You look like you do."
"That's training."
She turned slightly.
"Does it ever feel fake?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"Yes."
That surprised her.
She studied him in the soft golden lighting.
"You looked different tonight," she said.
"How?"
"Untouchable."
He smirked faintly. "I am."
She rolled her eyes.
Then his expression shifted - something quieter.
"But not with you."
The city hummed below them.
Her pulse picked up.
"This was supposed to be temporary," she said softly.
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Temporary.
The contract.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"I know."
Silence stretched.
"But it doesn't feel temporary," she whispered.
There.
It was out.
He turned fully toward her now.
"Say that again."
Her heart pounded violently.
"It doesn't feel like I'm pretending."
"You're not."
She searched his face.
"Leo... if this ends in a year-"
"It won't."
Her breath caught.
"That's not how contracts work."
His hand lifted slowly.
He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
Gentle.
Careful.
"That's not how feelings work either."
Her chest felt too tight.
"You said we wouldn't complicate this."
"I lied."
Her lips parted slightly.
"You're terrifying."
"I know."
His hand was still near her cheek.
Not touching.
Almost.
The air between them thickened.
No cameras.
No whispers.
No world.
Just them.
He leaned closer.
Not rushed.
Not forceful.
Giving her space to step back.
She didn't.
Her fingers curled lightly into the fabric of his suit jacket.
Her heart felt like it might shatter out of her ribs.
Their foreheads almost touched.
"Aria," he murmured.
She swallowed.
"Hmm?"
"If I kiss you right now... it won't be for the contract."
Her breath trembled.
"Then what would it be for?"
His voice dropped, softer than she had ever heard it.
"For me."
Her world tilted.
For him.
Not strategy.
Not obligation.
Not image.
Her.
His hand slid gently to her waist.
Waiting.
Always waiting.
She closed the remaining inch of distance.
Barely.
Just enough for their lips to brush.
Soft.
Tentative.
Real.
The city didn't explode.
The world didn't end.
But something shifted.
When they pulled back slightly, her cheeks were flushed, eyes wide.
"That was..." she started.
"Not contractual," he finished.
She laughed breathlessly.
"You're in trouble," she whispered.
"Why?"
"Because I think I am too."
He didn't smile smugly.
He didn't tease.
He just looked at her like she was something rare.
Something chosen.
"Good," he said quietly.
And for the first time since signing that paper, Aria didn't feel like a scholarship girl in someone else's world.
She felt like she belonged exactly where she was.
On that balcony.
In his arms.
Not temporary.
Not borrowed.
Not small.
And that scared her more than anything.
