Chapter 4 Playing Girlfriend

Sienna.

“Good girl.”

The way he said it made my skin prickle. Not in a good way—okay, maybe a little in a good way, but I’d rather down acid than admit it to his face.

“So, do we set rules now, or what?” I questioned, swallowing hard to distract myself from the heavy scent of his cologne. It was woody, intense, and way too distracting.

“Six pm. My room,” he said shortly. He didn’t wait for an answer before walking off, leaving me standing there like an idiot.

“Phew.” I finally let the air out of my lungs, my shoulders dropping. Big mistake. I left the corner only to find Bianca doing what she does best—sticking her tongue down Simon’s throat. I rolled my eyes for the thousandth time today.

“I’ll talk to you later, Bianca. I have a class.”

She just waved me off, her lips still sealed to his. Seriously, get a room.

Focusing in class was a lost cause. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his Adam’s apple bobbing as he spoke, those deep dimples that formed with his arrogant smirk. I absolutely hated it. How could one prick waltz into my life and mess with my head this much?

Nothing is going to happen, I told myself. It was just one week of fake dating to get whatever he wanted, and get back at Bianca and then I’d be out of his sight for good.

By five-fifty PM, my palms were clammy. I stood in front of his door, wondering if he was just going to make me his personal errand girl or ask me to go buy him weed. I reached out to knock, but the door flew open before my knuckles could even touch the wood.

Roman stood there, looming over me. He stared me down, his eyes scanning my face with a look that made me want to cancel the whole deal and walk away.

“Get dressed and meet me downstairs,” he commanded.

“Are we going somewhere?” I snapped back, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

“You’ll find out. You said 'anything,' right?” He didn't even wait for a nod before shutting the door.

Fine. Two can play the game.

I was downstairs in five minutes max. He was already in the car, the engine idling with a low growl. He popped the locks, and I slid into the passenger seat. The interior rich and the burgundy leather even looked richer, and more of that damn cologne.

I tried to look out the window, but my eyes kept betraying me. I caught the way his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, his thick forearms tensed as he effortlessly turned the steering wheel with one hand. Focus. You’re a man hater for God’s sake. I kept telling myself because what the actual fuck?

“We’re getting you a dress,” he said, his voice dropping low. “You’re coming with me to a party.”

“I don’t do parties,” I said quickly. “I’m sorry, but—”

He didn't say a word. He just turned his head and gave me a hard, warning gaze. It was enough to shut me up. 

“Okay, fine. But I don’t drink. And if this is some weird sex thing, like an orgy—”

“Do I look like the type?” he cut me off, sounding bored.

“Well, your ‘visitor’ from the other night was loud enough that I couldn't study,” the words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. My face heated up instantly.

“You were listening?” A small, dangerous smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Anyone with ears would have heard that,” I countered, crossing my arms.

He didn't reply after that. He just drove until we pulled up to a store that looked way too expensive for me. The mannequins in the window were wearing outfits that probably cost more than my entire life savings.

Inside, an attendant whisked me away to a dressing room with a large grin in her face. 

“Too tight,” I complained from behind the curtain.

“This one is way too short!”

“My boobs are literally falling out of this”

I was still fuming and clutching a piece of fabric to my chest when Roman just... walked in. I gasped, my hands flying up to cover myself, though the tiny scrap of fabric didn't do much.

I waited for the creepy stare, the typical guy-looking-at-cleavage move. But he didn't. His eyes stayed on mine for a second—intense and dark—before he started flipping through the rack himself. He pulled out a deep crimson red dress. It was silk, with thin spaghetti straps, low-cut back and a long slit that’d reach my thighs for sure. 

“Try this.” He handed it to the attendant and stepped out as coolly as he’d entered.

I put it on, hating how much I liked it. The silk hugged my hips and cinched at my waist, showing off curves I usually hid under oversized hoodies. 

He paid with a single, careless swipe of his card, and we were back in the car. Next stop was a  high-end salon. The smell of hairspray and expensive shampoo brought back memories of my mom, but I shook them off. That was the past.

“I’ll pick you up in two hours,” Roman said, leaving me with a team of women who treated me like a doll.

Two hours later, I didn't recognize the girl in the mirror. My hair was swept up in a clean messy bun with strands falling onto my face, my skin was porcelain, and my eyes looked wider and darker.

“She’s so beautiful,” a customer whispered as I examined myself.

I felt like an imposter. I was just about to reach for my bag when I felt a presence behind me.

“Your boyfriend asked me to put this necklace on you,” the stylist said, holding up a shimmering diamond pendant.

“Oh, he’s not my boyfriend,” I corrected her quickly.

“Denying me already?”

I jumped at the sound of his voice. I turned around and there he was, looking devastating in a dark suit.

“No, I mean—” I looked at him, feeling that weird pull in my chest again. “You’re... my boyfriend.”

His expression shifted. It wasn't a smirk anymore. It was a llook that made my stomach do a somersault. The stylist slid the cold metal around my neck and clicked it into place.

“I can’t wear this,” I whispered, touching the diamond. “It’s looks really expensive. What if I lose it?”

“I don’t care,” Roman said, stepping closer until I had to tilt my head up to see him. “Just stay pretty and play the part.”

“Fine,” I huffed, trying to fight the blush. Did he just call me pretty?

As we walked to the exit, I tried to regain some of my sass. “Hold on... you don’t have an angry ex that’s going to throw acid on me at this party, do you?”

Roman opened the door for me, a dark smile on his lips. 

“You’ll find out.”