Chapter 4 Chapter 4
It had only been three days since the contract began, but it already felt like her entire life had been rewritten.
Lila stood in the middle of the bustling student lounge, trying her best to look like she belonged there.
Everywhere she went, people stared. Some with curiosity, others with clear envy. The whispers had changed too from no longer “Did you see how Marcus dumped her?” but “Wait… is she actually dating Christian Sterling?”
She tugged at the hem of the oversized pink hockey jersey Christian had delivered to her dorm that morning. “Wear this today,” his text had said.
Christian appeared at the entrance of the lounge exactly on time.
The moment he stepped inside, the energy in the room shifted.
Loud conversations slowed down, and heads turned. He moved with that effortless, commanding presence; shoulders back, jaw set, eyes scanning until they landed on her.
Their eyes met. A small, satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he took in the sight of her in his team colors; except this time in soft pink.
He crossed the room in long strides and stopped directly in front of her, close enough that she had to tilt her head up.
“You wore it,” he said, voice low.
“You didn’t really give me a choice,” Lila replied, trying to keep her tone steady even as her pulse quickened.
Christian’s gaze darkened with approval. “Good girl.”
The words sent an unwelcome flutter through her stomach. She hated how easily he could affect her.
Before she could respond, he reached out and gently adjusted the collar of her jersey, his fingers brushing against the skin of her neck.
The touch was casual to anyone watching, but to Lila it felt deliberate and shows possessiveness.
“Come sit with me,” he said.
He led her to a quiet corner booth where two of his teammates were already waiting. As soon as they saw Christian approaching with Lila, their expressions shifted from relaxed to respectful.
“Sterling,” one of them greeted, nodding at Lila with new interest. “And this is…?”
“My girlfriend,” Christian answered smoothly, sliding into the booth and pulling Lila down beside him. His arm settled around her shoulders as if they had been doing this for months instead of days.
Lila’s cheeks warmed. Girlfriend. The word still sounded strange coming from his mouth.
The conversation flowed easily around her; talk about upcoming games, practice drills, and rival teams.
Christian participated, but his attention never fully left her. Every few minutes his thumb would trace slow circles on her shoulder, or he’d lean in to murmur something in her ear.
“You’re doing well,” he whispered during a lull. “Keep relaxing. They need to believe it.”
“I am relaxed,” she lied.
Christian chuckled softly, the sound low and intimate. “Liar.”
Across the table, one of the teammates; a defenseman named Ryan grinned. “Never thought I’d see the day Christian Sterling got serious about someone. You must be special, Lila.”
She forced a smile. “I guess I am.”
Christian’s arm round her just a fraction.
As they left the lounge twenty minutes later, Christian kept his hand at the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd.
Several girls shot Lila jealous glances. A group of Marcus’s friends watched them pass with narrowed eyes, but none of them dared say anything.
Later that afternoon, they had their first real “couple” study session in the library. Christian had claimed a private study room on the top floor; reserved, of course, because he was Christian Sterling.
Lila spread her design sketches across the table while Christian worked on his finance notes. For a while, they worked in surprisingly comfortable silence.
Until Christian closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair, watching her.
“You’re good at this,” he said, nodding toward her illustrations.
Lila looked up, surprised by the compliment. “Thanks. It’s what I want to do after graduation; illustration and graphic design for sports brands, hopefully.”
Christian studied her for a long moment. “You could do it. You have talent.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. This was the first time he’d spoken to her like a real person instead of just playing a role.
She cleared her throat. “So… why did you agree to this deal? Really?”
Christian’s expression shifted, the walls sliding back into place. “Because it benefits me too.”
“How?”
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I have my own reasons for wanting people to think I’m off the market and you… you’re surprisingly easy to be around.”
Lila’s heart stuttered. “That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Don’t let it go to your head, Stones.”
But there was no bite in his words. Instead, the air between them grew thicker. Christian’s gaze dropped to her lips for a brief second before returning to her eyes.
Lila felt the shift happening again. She was supposed to be the one in control of her emotions because she knew it was fake. Yet, every time he touched her, even casually, it felt a little too real.
“I should go,” she said suddenly, gathering her sketches. “I have a deadline for my design project.”
Christian stood up too, blocking her path before she could reach the door.
“Not yet.”
He stepped closer until there was barely any space between them. Lila’s back pressed lightly against the edge of the table.
“Christian…” she uttered, her voice quieter than she intended.
He lifted a hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering, tracing down the side of her neck.
“You’re losing control of the situation, aren’t you?” he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.
Lila’s heart hammered wildly. She wanted to deny it. She wanted to push him away and remind him of the rules but she couldn't because he was right.
She was losing control and the scariest part was that a small, reckless part of her didn’t want to stop it.
Christian pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his expression dark and intense.
“Remember the rules, Lila,” he said softly. “In this deal… I’m the one who calls the shots.”
He stepped away, leaving her breathless against the table.
“See you at the game tonight. Wear the jersey.”
As he walked out of the study room, Lila pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
She was in much deeper trouble than she had realized.
