Terms And Conditions Of the Heart

Chapter Six: The Line Between Lies and Truth

Eliana Carter was good at pretending.

She had spent years perfecting the art of composure, of never letting anyone see her sweat.

But as she lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, Adrian's words replayed in her mind.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

No, she wasn't.

Because this wasn't part of the plan.

Her heart is betraying her one more time.

She had agreed to this fake engagement for business reasons—to shut down rumors, to maintain control, to stay ahead in the corporate world.

But now, something had shifted.

Adrian had kissed her.

And worse? She hadn't wanted him to stop.

She shut her eyes, frustrated.

This was a mistake.

A distraction.

A complication she couldn't afford.

But even as she told herself that, her phone buzzed again.

Another text.

From him.

Adrian: Sweet dreams, fiancée.

She swallowed hard.

"What is he doing?"

Because for the first time, she wasn't sure if he was still playing the game.

Or if he was starting to mean it.

A Storm in the Boardroom

The next morning, Eliana arrived at Carter Enterprises to chaos.

Her assistant, Mia, met her at the elevator, looking flustered.

"Eliana, we have a problem."

She sighed, stepping into her office. "What now?"

Mia handed her a tablet. "The media got a hold of something."

Eliana's stomach clenched. That was never good.

She scanned the screen—and her blood turned to ice.

HEADLINE: Fake Romance? Sources Claim Eliana Carter and Adrian Blackwood's Engagement is Just a Business Move

Below it, a photo—a blurry shot of her and Adrian in what looked like a heated argument outside the gala.

"Whaaaatt??!"

Eliana cursed under her breath. "Where did this come from?"

Mia shook her head. "No idea. But it's spreading fast."

Eliana took a slow, steady breath. She could handle this.

She had survived worse.

She reached for her phone and dialed the one person who could clean this up.

Adrian.

He answered after one ring. "Good morning, darling. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

She gritted her teeth. "We have a problem."

He chuckled. "Let me guess—the article?"

She frowned. "You knew?"

"Of course," he said, almost lazily. "I knew the moment someone followed us out of the gala. Amateur work, really."

She pinched the bridge of her nose. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd need me to."

Her irritation flared. He was enjoying this too much.

"This could ruin everything, Adrian."

"Or," he countered smoothly, "it could make everything more interesting."

She froze. "What the hell does that mean?"

He hesitated for half a second. Then—

"Meet me for dinner tonight," he said. "We need to fix this."

She exhaled sharply. "Fine."

But something in his voice unsettled her.

Like he had a plan she wouldn't like.

An Unwelcome Discovery

Later that evening, Eliana arrived at a private rooftop restaurant Adrian had reserved.

The view was breathtaking—twinkling city lights stretching into the distance, candlelit tables glowing with warmth.

But Eliana wasn't here for the ambiance.

She was here for damage control.

Adrian was already there, leaning casually against the railing, a glass of whiskey in hand.

"Fashionably late," he mused as she sat down. "I was starting to think you stood me up."

She ignored the comment. "Just tell me the plan."

He smirked. "You always get straight to business."

"This is no time for this"

She folded her arms. "This isn't a game, Adrian."

His gaze darkened—just for a second.

"Then maybe you shouldn't have played it with me."

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a voice cut through the air.

"Well, well. What a surprise."

Eliana turned—and felt her blood go cold.

Nathan.

Her ex.

The man who had broken her heart and left her to pick up the pieces.

So unfortunate.

And the worst part? He looked amused. Like he had been expecting this.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, keeping her voice even.

Nathan smirked, slipping into the empty seat beside her. "Enjoying the show."

Adrian tensed beside her, but his expression remained unreadable.

Nathan's gaze flicked between them. "So, is this where you tell me the engagement is real? Or where you finally admit it's all a business move?"

Eliana's nails dug into her palm. He knew.

Somehow, he knew.

Adrian was the one who responded, his voice cool, controlled.

"If you came here looking for a reaction, you won't get one."

Nathan chuckled. "Oh, I don't need a reaction, Blackwood. I just came to say—Eliana deserves better."

" I am just saying"

Adrian's eyes darkened. "And you think that's you?"

"Don't be sarcastic"

Nathan smirked. "She used to."

A dangerous silence fell between them.

And Eliana knew—Adrian was seconds away from losing his patience.

She had to shut this down before it spiraled.

So she did the only thing she could think of.

She reached across the table, took Adrian's face in her hands—

And kissed him.

It wasn't soft.

It wasn't gentle.

It was a statement.

A declaration.

By the time she pulled away, Nathan looked positively stunned.

Adrian, on the other hand?

He looked dangerous.

Like she had just started something she couldn't take back.

Nathan scoffed, shaking his head. "Well. That answers that."

Then, with one last pointed look, he walked away.

Eliana let out a slow breath, releasing Adrian's face—only to realize he was still staring at her.

Still watching her like he was trying to figure something out.

"That," he murmured, "was unexpected."

She swallowed hard. "It was necessary."

Trying to adjust her facial expressions.

Adrian's lips twitched. "Was it?"

She hated the way her heart raced at his tone.

She hated the way her skin still burned from the kiss.

Because suddenly, she had a sinking feeling.

The real danger wasn't Nathan.

It was Adrian.

And worse?

She wasn't sure she wanted to be saved from him.

Eliana Carter had spent years building walls.

Not the kind made of brick and mortar, but the ones that shielded her heart from emotional liabilities.

Love? She had tried it once.

It had left her broken.

Which was why this fake engagement with Adrian Blackwood had been such a perfect plan—logical, calculated, controlled.

Except now? Control was slipping through her fingers.

Because Adrian had kissed her.

And worse? She had kissed him back.

Now, as she sat across from him in the rooftop restaurant, she could still feel the heat of his lips, the tension crackling between them like an unspoken challenge.

But the night wasn't over.

Not even close.

A Dangerous Confrontation

Nathan was gone, but his words still lingered in the air.

"She used to think I was better."

Eliana exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay composed.

But Adrian?

He hadn't moved.

He was still watching her, his gaze unreadable, his fingers tracing the rim of his whiskey glass in a way that sent a shiver down her spine.

"What?" she finally snapped, breaking the silence.

Adrian leaned forward, elbows on the table, his voice dangerously smooth. "That was quite the performance, darling."

She frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He smirked. "You kissed me."

"You kissed me first," she countered.

He tilted his head, amused. "Ah, so you remember."

Damn him.

She refused to let him get to her.

"It was necessary," she said, reaching for her wine. "Nathan was pushing, and I had to shut him up."

Adrian leaned back, studying her. And then he said the one thing she wasn't prepared for.

"Did you kiss me for him? Or for yourself?"

The glass almost slipped from her fingers.

For a fraction of a second, she froze.

Then she forced a smirk. "Does it matter?"

Adrian chuckled, low and deep. "It does to me."

She arched a brow. "Why?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he lifted his glass to his lips, taking a slow sip, watching her like he was waiting for something.

But Eliana wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.

She reached for her phone, scrolling through her notifications. "We still have a PR nightmare to fix," she said, changing the subject.

"Ah, yes," Adrian murmured. "The scandal."

She glanced at him. "You don't sound very concerned."

He smirked. "Maybe because I have a plan."

She narrowed her eyes. "I don't like the sound of that."

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "We go bigger."

She frowned. "Bigger?"

He nodded. "The media is already speculating about us. So, we don't fight it. We control the narrative."

She crossed her arms. "And how do you propose we do that?"

Adrian's smirk deepened.

"We get married."

Silence. Pure, deafening silence.

Eliana stared at him, convinced she had misheard.

Then she laughed.

A short, sharp, disbelieving sound.

"That's funny."

Adrian didn't laugh.

He didn't even blink.

And that's when the amusement died in her throat.

"You're serious."

He took another sip of whiskey, then set his glass down with an easy shrug. "Why not?"

She gaped at him. "Adrian, we're already in a mess. Marrying you is like setting the whole damn house on fire."

He tilted his head, considering. "Or it's like throwing gasoline on the fire to make sure we're the ones controlling the burn."

She exhaled sharply. "You're insane."

His smirk widened. "And yet, you haven't said no."

She opened her mouth. Then closed it.

Because the terrifying part?

He was right.

She hadn't said no.

Because on a purely strategic level, it made sense.

If they were already playing this game, why not take it to the final move?

A real marriage—even if temporary—would eliminate all doubt.

Investors would have more faith in her.

The media would stop speculating.

Nathan would finally shut up.

It was risky. Reckless. Dangerous.

And yet…

The idea of being Adrian's wife, even if just for a while, made something deep inside her stir.

Something she had spent years trying to bury.

A Line Crossed

Adrian must have seen the hesitation in her eyes, because his expression shifted—from amusement to something deeper.

Something almost unreadable.

"Eliana." His voice was quieter now, more serious. "What are you afraid of?"

She inhaled sharply. "I'm not afraid."

His gaze never wavered.

"Then say yes."

She should have said no.

She should have walked away.

Instead—

She reached for her wine glass, took a slow sip, and looked him dead in the eyes.

"Convince me."

Adrian smiled, slow and dangerous.

"Oh, darling," he murmured. "You have no idea what you've just started.