Rain fell like the city was trying to wash away its sins.
Aarav Knight stood alone on the balcony of the Knight Empire headquarters, thirty floors above the ground, watching the lights blur beneath the storm. The glass in his hand trembled—not from the cold, but from the memories he refused to name.
People called him many things.
A genius.
A monster.
A king without mercy.
But no one called him human anymore.
He took a slow sip of whiskey, the burn in his throat familiar, comforting. Pain was easier to control when it came from a glass.
"Sir, the board meeting starts in ten minutes."
Aarav didn't turn around. "Cancel it."
The assistant hesitated. "Sir… the investors—"
"Cancel it," Aarav repeated, his voice low and sharp enough to cut steel.
The assistant left without another word.
Aarav clenched his jaw. Money, power, respect—he had everything. Yet every night ended the same way: alone, angry, and haunted.
His phone buzzed.
Ryan.
Aarav ignored it.
The past had a voice. Tonight, he didn't want to listen.
Two Hours Later
The rain hadn't stopped.
Aarav drove without destination, the city streets empty and soaked, neon lights reflecting like broken dreams on wet asphalt. He didn't know why he stopped near the old Riverside district—an area he hadn't visited in years.
Maybe pain had a map.
He parked the car and stepped out, rain instantly soaking his tailored coat. He walked, hands in pockets, head low, until a warm glow caught his attention.
A small café.
"Moonlight Pages."
The name felt strange. Gentle. Out of place.
Aarav almost walked past it.
Almost.
Inside the Café
The bell above the door chimed softly.
Elena Moore looked up from the counter, startled.
The man who entered didn't look like he belonged anywhere warm.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair damp with rain. His eyes—cold, distant, dangerous—scanned the room like he was searching for a threat instead of comfort.
She swallowed.
"Welcome," she said, forcing a polite smile. "We're about to close, but—"
"Coffee," he said.
One word. No emotion.
Elena nodded. "Sure. Please sit anywhere."
Aarav chose the corner table, back to the wall. A habit born from years of betrayal.
As Elena prepared the coffee, she watched him from the corner of her eye. He wasn't handsome in a gentle way. He was… intense. Like a storm pretending to be a man.
She placed the mug in front of him.
"Black," she said softly. "No sugar."
He looked up, surprised. "I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Their eyes met.
For a second, something passed between them—recognition, maybe. Or loneliness.
Aarav looked away first.
"How much?" he asked.
"On the house," Elena replied. "You look like you need it."
He almost laughed. Almost.
A Silence That Spoke
Rain tapped against the windows.
Minutes passed without words.
Elena wiped the counter, pretending not to watch him. Aarav stared into his coffee like it might confess something.
"Why are you open this late?" he asked suddenly.
Elena blinked. "Why are you out in the rain?"
Aarav smirked faintly. "Fair."
She leaned against the counter. "I like quiet hours. Fewer masks."
His fingers tightened around the mug.
"Masks keep people alive," he said.
"Or they suffocate them."
He looked at her again, more closely this time.
"You talk like someone who's been hurt."
She smiled sadly. "You drink like someone who hasn't healed."
Silence returned—but it wasn't empty anymore.
The Call
Aarav's phone rang again.
Ryan.
This time, he answered.
"What?" Aarav snapped.
Ryan's voice was smooth, poisonous. "Brother, still hiding from your engagement announcement?"
Aarav froze.
"Don't start."
"You can't cancel destiny," Ryan continued. "The media is waiting. Your fake girlfriend would've helped."
Aarav ended the call.
Elena noticed his hand shaking.
"Bad news?" she asked.
"Life," he replied.
She hesitated, then said, "You don't have to fight everything alone."
Aarav stood abruptly. "People who believe that get destroyed."
He reached for his wallet, dropping several bills on the table.
As he turned to leave, thunder roared outside.
Then—
A sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
His vision blurred.
Elena rushed forward. "Hey—are you okay?"
He stumbled.
She caught him.
For a moment, the powerful CEO leaned against a café worker, rain-soaked and breaking apart.
"Don't touch me," he whispered.
But he didn't move away.
A Dangerous Thought
Minutes later, Aarav sat again, breathing steady.
"I'm fine," he said.
Elena handed him water. "Lying doesn't suit you."
He chuckled bitterly. "Nothing suits me anymore."
He looked at her—really looked.
Simple clothes. Tired eyes. A kindness that felt reckless.
An idea formed in his mind.
A cruel one.
A desperate one.
"How much do you make here?" he asked.
Elena frowned. "Why?"
"I have a proposal," Aarav said slowly. "Strictly professional."
She crossed her arms. "I don't do shady deals."
He pulled out a card, placing it on the table.
AARAV KNIGHT – CEO, KNIGHT EMPIRE
Her breath caught.
"This isn't a joke," he continued. "I need someone to pretend to be my girlfriend."
Elena stared at him, shocked. "You're insane."
"I pay well."
"I'm not for sale."
"I'm not buying you," Aarav said quietly. "I'm offering protection—from lies, from expectations. Temporary."
She shook her head. "I don't even know you."
"That's the point."
Thunder cracked again.
Aarav stood, putting on his coat.
"Think about it," he said. "Because tomorrow, this lie might save us both."
He walked out into the rain.
Elena stood frozen, staring at the card in her hand.
She didn't know why her heart was racing.
She didn't know why his broken eyes haunted her.
But she knew one thing—
Meeting Aarav Knight was the beginning of something dangerous.