Louis still couldn't fully accept the reality that he had now become the center of media attention. In less than 24 hours, his status had changed from an ordinary man to the fiancé of the most controversial CEO in the country.

As they arrived at Cleopatra's penthouse, Louis could still feel the aftereffects of the camera flashes and the journalists' shouts ringing in his ears. Cleopatra, on the other hand, appeared completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened. With elegance, she removed her expensive blazer and tossed it onto the sofa.


"Do you want a drink?" she asked casually while walking toward the minibar.

Louis let out a long sigh, loosened his tie, and collapsed into one of the plush chairs in the spacious living room. "If there's something that could erase my memory of today, I'll take it."

Cleopatra chuckled, pouring herself a glass of wine and a glass of water for Louis. "You should start getting used to this, Mr. Toreto. This is just the beginning."


Louis accepted the glass with a weary expression. "You said this was just an act, but why does it feel like I've just sold my soul to the devil?"

Cleopatra raised an eyebrow, smirking mischievously. "If you feel that way, maybe you should read the contract again. I never forced you, did I?"


Louis sighed, then looked at Cleopatra, who was now sitting across from him with grace. For the first time that night, he noticed something different—not just about their status or their game, but something deeper. Cleopatra's gaze was as sharp as ever, but behind it, there was exhaustion she was trying to hide.

"Why are you doing all this?" Louis finally asked, his voice softer than before.

Cleopatra took a sip of her wine and looked at Louis with an unreadable expression. "Because I have no other choice," she replied simply.

They fell into silence for a while, accompanied only by the sound of the night wind blowing from the balcony.

"But at least..." Cleopatra suddenly stood up and stretched. "We've made Theodore uncomfortable, and that is incredibly entertaining for me."

Louis snorted. "Of course, because you enjoy this game more than anyone."

Cleopatra let out a small laugh. "And you enjoy it too, don't you? I saw the way you looked at me during the press conference."

Louis choked on his water. "I wasn't looking at you! I was just trying to... process everything that was happening."

Cleopatra leaned forward, smirking at Louis. "Oh, so you think I'm not attractive enough to look at?"

Louis opened his mouth, but no words came out. Cleopatra laughed in satisfaction, then walked toward her bedroom. "Get some sleep, Louis. Tomorrow, we'll have to deal with even more people wanting to know about our 'fake love' story."

**

The sun had barely risen when the commotion outside woke Louis from his sleep. It took him a few seconds to realize where he was—Cleopatra's penthouse.

He groaned softly and rubbed his face. But before he could fully get up, the sound of light footsteps came from across the room.

"Morning."

Louis turned—and instantly froze.

Cleopatra stood in the doorway of her bedroom, letting out a small yawn while wearing a silk nightgown that was almost transparent. Her hair was slightly messy, and her expression was relaxed, as if there was nothing strange about this situation.

Louis, on the other hand, nearly choked on his own spit. "W-Why are you coming out like that?"

Cleopatra gave him a lazy look. "Like what?"

Louis quickly averted his gaze, feeling his ears heat up. "You... should at least wear something more appropriate. We have uninvited guests outside."

Cleopatra walked over and peeked out the large penthouse window. Dozens of journalists were still swarming in front of the building, holding cameras and microphones, ready to dissect every detail of their relationship.

"Oh, perfect." Cleopatra chuckled. "I'm sure today's headlines will be even more interesting."

Just then, the penthouse door swung open, and Peter Moon walked in with a tense expression, carrying a newspaper fresh from the press.

"Good morning, Miss Thompson. And welcome to hell, Mr. Toreto."

Peter placed the newspaper on the table, and Louis read the headline with a horrified expression:

"Louis Toreto: The CEO's Cinderella. Is This Love Story Real?"

Cleopatra burst into laughter while Louis buried his face in his hands.

"I need to get out of here before I go insane," Louis muttered.

Cleopatra winked. "Unfortunately, you're already too late."

"I need some time alone," Louis groaned, letting out a heavy sigh as Cleopatra tossed a towel at him.

Cleopatra grinned, already wearing a thin black bikini that left almost nothing to the imagination. Her body glistened with water droplets, and Louis could see every perfect curve illuminated by the pool's warm lights.

"If you want time alone, you can swim alone," she said lightly. "But I want to play a little."

Louis eyed her suspiciously. "Play what?"

Cleopatra dived into the water, then surfaced in front of him with a teasing expression. "A swimming race. If you win, I'll let you sleep peacefully tonight."

Louis frowned. "And if I lose?"

Cleopatra moved closer, lifting his chin with her cool fingers. "You come to bed with me... and we don't sleep."

Blood rushed through Louis' veins, but he tried to stay composed. "You're cheating."

Cleopatra chuckled. "I never play fair, darling."

Without waiting for Louis' response, Cleopatra had already started swimming toward the other side of the pool, her body gliding effortlessly through the water. Louis, realizing what was happening, quickly followed.

But Cleopatra was clearly ahead. Every time Louis got closer, Cleopatra would slow down slightly, only to suddenly pick up speed again, keeping him perpetually behind. In the end, Cleopatra reached the edge of the pool first and emerged with a victorious smile.

"I win," she said casually, wiping water from her face.

Louis ran a hand through his wet hair, catching his breath, and stared at Cleopatra, who was still smiling triumphantly. "I have a feeling you tricked me on purpose."

Cleopatra shrugged. "Maybe. But rules are rules."

She swam closer, her gaze burning, then cupped Louis' face and kissed him without warning. Cleopatra's lips were hot and commanding, pressing against his with raw passion. Louis froze for a moment, but his body reacted faster than his mind. His hands instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.

Cleopatra let out a soft moan, then tugged Louis deeper into the kiss. She playfully bit his lower lip, making Louis lose the last of his rationality.

"Let's continue inside," she whispered huskily.

Louis swallowed hard. He knew this wasn't a good idea, but when Cleopatra pulled his hand, her wet body pressing against his, her breath warm against his ear, he realized he was already in too deep.

They entered Cleopatra's bedroom, their breaths heavy. Cleopatra pushed Louis onto the bed and climbed on top of him, their lips crashing together hungrily. Her fingers moved swiftly, undoing Louis' shirt and tossing it onto the floor.

"I want you, Louis," she whispered between kisses, her hands roaming over his toned chest.

Louis gazed into her eyes, hesitating for a moment. "Is this part of our contract?"

Cleopatra smirked wickedly. "This is part of us."

But before they could go any further, a loud noise from outside the room caught their attention.

BANG!

Louis immediately sat up, pulling Cleopatra behind him, alert to the strange sound.

"What was that?" Cleopatra asked, her voice still thick with desire.

Louis walked to the door and peeked outside. But the hallway was empty. No one was there.

"Probably just the wind," he said, though his instincts told him otherwise.

Cleopatra stood behind him, gripping his arm tightly. "Don't tell me this is part of the bet too," she muttered.

Louis smirked but remained on high alert. "If it was, I'd rather have lost earlier."

Even though the room fell silent again, an eerie feeling lingered. Louis glanced at Cleopatra and sighed. "Looks like we'll have to postpone tonight."

Cleopatra shot him a sharp look, then exhaled heavily. "I'll be collecting this debt tomorrow, Toreto."

Louis chuckled softly. "I'll be ready."

But deep down, he knew this wasn't just about a game or a bet. Something bigger was lurking in the shadows.