EMILY POV

I lay on the bed beside Jake. His lips moved slowly along my neck, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.

All I could think about was how to seduce Kay.

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to start my plan. Waiting suddenly felt unbearable. If I wanted control of this situation, I needed to act now.

Tonight.

After Jake finished and inevitably fell asleep, I would begin.

I knew Kay didn’t go to sleep early. He liked staying awake, usually smoking on the balcony. Vanessa was probably already asleep by now anyway.

Everything would be perfect.

Fifteen minutes later, Jake rolled onto his back, already fast asleep.

Predictable.

I quietly slipped out of the bed and walked to my dresser. After a moment of searching, I pulled out my most seductive nightgown — silky, soft, and just revealing enough.

Perfect.

I slipped it on, then slowly and silently walked out of the bedroom.

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I smelled cigarette smoke.

I smiled slightly.

Kay.

He was on the balcony exactly where I expected him to be.

I walked toward the balcony and stepped outside. Kay was sitting in a chair, staring ahead into the darkness as he smoked. The glow of the cigarette briefly illuminated his face.

I put on my sweetest smile.

“Kay?” I said softly.

Inside, I gritted my teeth when he didn’t even turn around.

“What do you want, Emily?” he asked coldly.

His voice was like ice — completely different from the tone he used when speaking to Vanessa.

I didn’t understand it.

How could he treat me like this but behave like a perfect gentleman with her?

Especially when he was only pretending to be Vanessa’s fiancé for Jake’s sake.

“I just wanted to talk to you,” I said softly, doing my best to hide the irritation creeping into my voice.

I wasn’t used to being treated like this.

Like I was just some random girl.

Kay finally glanced at me, his eyes briefly scanning my outfit.

“Is that so?” he said flatly. “Then why are you wearing such slutty pajamas?”

I flinched.

“Slutty?” I repeated.

He simply nodded.

That was when I realized I needed to take a more drastic step.

So I did.

I walked closer and sat on his lap.

The movement was slow and deliberate. My silk nightgown slipped slightly along my thigh as I settled against him, the fabric cool against my skin.

Kay didn’t react.

Not even a little.

His body stayed completely still beneath me, like I had just placed a pillow on his lap instead of myself.

I forced a soft laugh and leaned closer, letting my fingers lightly trace the collar of his shirt.

“Kay… why are you always so cold to me?” I asked gently, tilting my head so my hair brushed his shoulder.

Nothing.

His gaze stayed fixed ahead beyond the balcony railing, the cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers.

I shifted slightly closer.

“I thought men liked women who made the first move,” I murmured.

Still nothing.

Not even a glance.

The silence stretched long enough for irritation to start creeping up my spine.

My hand slid slowly from his collar down to his chest, my fingertips grazing the fabric.

“You’re really going to pretend this doesn’t affect you?” I whispered.

Finally, he moved.

But not the way I expected.

Kay slowly turned his head and looked at me.

Really looked at me.

And the expression in his eyes wasn’t desire.

It was annoyance.

Maybe even disgust.

“Emily,” he said flatly, taking another slow drag from his cigarette.

Smoke curled between us.

“You sitting on my lap doesn’t suddenly make you interesting.”

My jaw tightened, but I forced my smile to remain.

I leaned closer, brushing my lips near his ear.

“Then what does?” I murmured.

Kay flicked the ash from his cigarette over the balcony railing.

Then his hand came to my waist.

Not gently.

Not possessively.

Just firm.

A second later he lifted me off his lap like I weighed nothing and placed me back on my feet.

“I’m not Jake,” he said calmly.

His eyes moved over me once — not with hunger, but with clear disinterest.

“If you’re looking for attention, go back to the man in your bed.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

For a moment, I just stared at him.

Kay took another drag of his cigarette, already looking away again like the conversation was over.

That was when humiliation started burning through my chest.

Because for the first time in a long time…

My charm hadn’t worked.

At all.

“Even if I’m just pretending to be Vanessa’s fiancé because Jake and you want to mess with each other,” Kay said suddenly, taking another puff of his cigarette, “that doesn’t mean I would ever sleep with you, Emily.”

His voice turned colder.

“To me, you’re just a slut.”

My cheeks burned instantly.

“And I hate you with my whole heart.”

“Bu—”

He didn’t even let me finish.

“And don’t ever try to seduce me again,” he said sharply. “Because next time, I won’t be nice.”

I swallowed hard.

But my pride refused to submit.

I straightened my shoulders and forced my expression back into something calm and controlled. I had spent years perfecting that smile — the one that made people believe I was sweet and harmless.

Kay still hadn’t looked at me again.

Fine.

If my charm didn’t work physically, I would use something else.

“You’re overreacting,” I said lightly, crossing my arms. “I was just teasing you. No need to act like I attacked you.”

Kay exhaled a slow stream of smoke.

“You were sitting on my lap,” he replied flatly. “That’s not teasing.”

I forced a small laugh.

“You act like you’re some saint, Kay,” I said, tilting my head. “You’re pretending to be Vanessa’s fiancé just to satisfy Jake. Don’t tell me you suddenly care about morals.”

That finally made him turn his head.

The look he gave me was sharp enough to cut.

“You’re right,” he said quietly.

“I don’t care about morals.”

For a brief moment, hope flickered in my chest.

But then he continued.

“I just don’t like you.”

The words landed like a slap.

“You’re lying,” I said quickly, stepping closer. “Men don’t ignore women like me unless they’re trying very hard to pretend they’re not interested.”

Kay let out a low, humorless chuckle.

“Women like you?”

His gaze moved over me again.

Slowly.

Judging.

“Emily,” he said calmly, “you’re not nearly as impressive as you think you are.”

My chest tightened.

“You’re just saying that because you want to look loyal,” I snapped. “To Vanessa.”

Kay flicked his cigarette over the balcony railing and leaned back in his chair.

“No.”

His eyes met mine again.

Cold. Unmoved.

“I’m saying it because Vanessa is ten times more attractive than you’ll ever be.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

He continued like he hadn’t just shattered my pride.

“She doesn’t need to throw herself at people to get attention.”

Each word felt like another blow.

“She walks into a room and people notice her without her even trying.”

My cheeks burned.

“And you?” he added bluntly.

“You try too hard.”

Silence filled the balcony.

My nails dug into my palms.

Kay leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping lower.

“So here’s some advice.”

I hated how calm he sounded.

“Stop embarrassing yourself.”

My throat tightened.

“And don’t ever try this again,” he finished.

His gaze hardened.

“Because next time, I won’t just insult you.”

For the first time that night, something crawled down my spine.

Not anger.

Not humiliation.

Fear.

Kay leaned back again like the conversation was over.

Like I wasn’t worth another second of his attention.

Then he leaned slightly closer to me.

I froze at his next words.

“Don’t tell Jake,” he said quietly, “but the only reason I haven’t told the truth yet is because I want to keep Vanessa all to myself.”

My eyes widened.

Shock ran through me.

Before I could say anything, Kay flicked his cigarette off the balcony and stood up.

Then he simply walked past me and headed toward the bedroom he shared with Vanessa.

I stood there, frozen.

My mind spinning.

Was he pretending the whole time? Pretending to Jake that he felt guilty about all of this?

Did he only agree to this arrangement because he secretly had a crush on Vanessa?

Did he take Jake’s offer as an opportunity to be close to her?

The thought made my stomach twist.

I needed to get back before Jake woke up and noticed I was gone.

Quickly, I slipped back into the hallway and returned to the bedroom.

But even as I climbed back into the bed beside him, my mind stayed trapped on Kay’s last words.

And for the first time since I started this plan…

I wasn’t sure who was really playing who.