Chapter 1 - The Stranger I Hired for One Night
A woman in a wine-red dress grabbed a stranger’s arm and whispered: "Please pretend you’re my boyfriend for the next three hours."
When Delia Barnes arrived at the Meridian Hotel, she discovered a man in a black suit holding the fake relationship card meant for her date.
But one line on the card caught his attention: "Do not let my mother plan our wedding."
Jesse realized this was not going to be an ordinary evening.
Delia Barnes had never imagined that a simple decision made out of embarrassment would completely change her life.
She only wanted one night.
One dinner.
One evening where nobody looked at her with pity.
For two years, she had dated Grant Avery, a man who knew exactly how to make her feel special when they were alone and exactly how to make her feel invisible when other people were watching.
Grant had never insulted her directly.
That would have been easier.
Instead, he used softer words.
"You’re amazing, Delia. I just think we want different lifestyles."
"I need someone who fits the future I’m building."
"You deserve someone who appreciates you."
But what he really meant was something she heard clearly.
She was not polished enough.
Not thin enough.
Not the kind of woman he wanted standing beside him at expensive events.
So when Grant invited her to his sister’s rehearsal dinner after their breakup, Delia knew exactly why.
He wanted to show everyone he had moved on.
And she was supposed to arrive alone.
Her best friend Emily refused to let that happen.
"One night," Emily said while scrolling through her phone. "That’s all you need."
Delia looked suspiciously at the screen.
"What is that?"
"A professional date service."
"A fake boyfriend?"
"A temporary confidence boost."
Delia laughed.
It was ridiculous.
Completely ridiculous.
But five hours later, she found herself standing outside the Meridian Hotel wearing the most expensive dress she had ever bought.
A wine-red gown that actually fit her.
A dress that did not ask her to hide.
For once, she looked in the mirror and did not immediately search for flaws.
She walked into the hotel bar at exactly six o’clock.
And then she saw him.
A tall man standing near the window.
Black suit.
Dark hair.
Broad shoulders.
The kind of presence that made people unconsciously move around him.
He looked nothing like the photos from the dating agency.
Delia stopped.
The man noticed.
"Jesse?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
She smiled with relief.
"You’re from Perfect Plus One, right?"
A pause.
His expression barely changed.
"Perfect Plus One."
"Yes."
He looked at the card in her hand.
Then at her.
Then back at the card.
Delia laughed nervously.
"Please tell me I didn’t pay three hundred and fifty dollars for someone who doesn’t exist."
For the first time, something almost like amusement appeared in his eyes.
"I exist."
"Good."
She handed him the instructions.
He read them carefully.
Five months together.
Met at pottery class.
Commercial insurance.
Likes dogs.
Favorite food: Italian.
Do not let Mom plan our wedding.
Jesse looked up.
"Our wedding?"
Delia immediately grabbed the card.
"Hypothetical."
He nodded.
As if fake relationships were something he handled every day.
"You have rules."
"A lot of them."
"Why?"
Delia hesitated.
Because explaining the truth sounded pathetic.
Because saying "I want my ex to regret leaving me" sounded even worse.
So she simply said:
"Because tonight I need someone who looks like they chose me."
Something changed in his expression.
Not pity.
Not amusement.
Something deeper.
"Understood."
And that was the first strange thing about Jesse.
He understood too quickly.
For the next few hours, he played the role perfectly.
But Delia slowly realized he was not acting the way most fake boyfriends would.
He remembered small details.
He noticed when she became uncomfortable.
He interrupted conversations before they became cruel.
When her mother started apologizing for Delia being "too independent," Jesse calmly said:
"She doesn’t need fixing."
Everyone went quiet.
When Uncle Ray challenged him to arm wrestling, Jesse let the older man win.
When a baby started crying nearby, Jesse picked him up without hesitation.
Delia watched him carefully.
"You’re surprisingly good at this."
"At pretending?"
"At making people comfortable."
Jesse looked away.
"I learned a long time ago that people reveal themselves when they think nobody important is watching."
She frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before he could answer, Grant approached.
The smile on his face was familiar.
The same smile he used when he wanted to appear kind.
"Delia."
She straightened.
"Grant."
His eyes moved toward Jesse.
"And who is this?"
Jesse stood.
"Jesse."
Grant smiled.
"Interesting."
The word carried judgment.
"I didn’t know you were seeing someone."
Delia opened her mouth.
But Jesse spoke first.
"She wasn’t hiding."
Grant looked at him.
"Excuse me?"
Jesse calmly held Delia’s hand.
"She was simply waiting for someone who knew her value."
The room became silent.
Grant laughed awkwardly.
"You don’t know anything about us."
Jesse looked directly at him.
"You left her because you thought replacing her would improve your image."
Grant’s smile disappeared.
"You have no idea what you’re talking about."
Jesse leaned slightly forward.
"No. I think you know exactly what I’m talking about."
Delia forgot to breathe.
Nobody had ever defended her like that.
Not even herself.
Later, during dinner, Jesse continued holding her hand.
At first, she thought it was part of the performance.
But then she realized something.
He had forgotten to let go.
And maybe she had forgotten too.
For the first time in years, Delia felt seen.
But she didn’t know that the man sitting beside her was hiding something far bigger than a fake relationship.
Something dangerous.
Something that would arrive before the night ended.
Because at 9:17 p.m., while everyone was laughing around the dinner table, Jesse suddenly stopped smiling.
His fingers tightened around hers.
"Keep talking."
Delia looked at him.
"What?"
"Tell me about pottery."
Her heart slowed.
"Jesse?"
"Don’t look behind you."
She felt the warmth leave her face.
"Why?"
His eyes moved toward the service entrance.
And the man walking through those doors was someone Jesse clearly recognized.
Someone who made the entire room change.
Jesse stood slowly.
May you like
And whispered:
"Because they found me..."
