The first music piece soon came to an end, and in that short two second break, I finally blinked for the first time. I was still standing extremely close to André, but the trance was finally broken.

The lights slowly came to life, and the music picked up pace as well. I looked around and noticed that the other couples had followed suit, and were encircling us in pairs. I spotted Lily dancing with Janvier, Martin with one of the models for our season, and Madison with Brice.

Although I was looking at them, my mind was all muddled and I didn't have the courage to face André anymore. I didn't know what was happening between us anymore, but our closeness still flustered me. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that somewhere down the line, I would be engaged to someone and have my first dance with them.

But the most unbelievable part was that it would all be fake. And that was also the most hurtful part.

When common sense settled in again, I admonished myself for losing myself so easily. This man was called a player for a reson – he was experienced in acting all cool and charming and draw ladies to him. He could do this a thousand more times without blinking an eye, and here I was, totally losing my sanity after one dance. This was probably nothing to him.

Feeling more and more uncomfortable in the same arms that brought me so much warmth, I finally faced him again. This time, I had worn my indifferent facade once more, and I wouldn't remove it ever.

"Can I go home now? I'm exhausted," I whispered for him to hear.

He stood there puzzled, still twirling us around. After a beat, he nodded. "Come with me."

Amongst all the chatter and the sound of the orchestra, nobody really noticed when we disappeared. Taking the elevator for the basement, we stood in absolute silence. My heart was still beating really fast, and I was scared he would know if I said something.

The elevator opened to reveal a basement floor, where André's driver had supposedly parked the car. Since the reporters weren't allowed to enter the hotel, they wouldn't be able to mob us anymore. André lead me through rows filled with dozens of cars before we came to a halt in front of a red car. This car was unfamiliar to me, and I wondered why we had stopped here.

When I looked at André, he simply replied, "The reporters are still outside, and they recognize my car."

Nodding, I quietly sat in the backseat. This man was more puzzling than I'd thought. How did he know all the ways to avoid the media and protect himself, yet still be the talk of the town and be known as the most problematic bachelor? Was he really an impulsive and idiotic man, or was he pretending to be one?

No way, he just knew all of this because he must have gone through this many times before.

Having to sit in the same car as him was another nightmare, but I held myself. I had to endure this, if I wanted to go home. At least, I was finally away from all those pretentious strangers. One more hour, and I too would become one of them.

Shaking my head slightly, I faced the window, reveling in the scenic beauty of New York. Watching the glowing lights of the city had a similar calming effect on me as sitting in a garden had. Watching the lights pass by me for a while made me sleepy, but I resisted sleeping in the car. I wasn't here alone, and I couldn't afford losing self control in front of André.

The tension I'd felt in the ballroom had returned, making it harder for me to even breathe in his presence. I just wished I could roll down the windows and let in the fresh air from outside. Minutes later, I noticed the car running on a familiar road, and sighed happily. At long last, we were home.

As the car parked in front of the house, I literally jumped to get away from André. Opening the car door, I quickly stepped out and rushed up the stairs as fast as I could in my tulle dress. As soon as I stepped in, I saw that all the lights were turned off. Finding the switch, I turned it on, only to find that there was indeed, nobody around. All the maids must have taken off for the night and Florian and Jolene weren't going to come home anytime soon, which meant André and I were all alone.

Feeling slightly nervous about it, my pace slowed. I consoled myself saying once I went inside my room, I wouldn't have to face him anymore. But my happiness was short lived when I heard a deep voice behind me.

"Are you in such a rush to run away from me?"

I turned around at the question, seeing him leaning on the door. André had now removed his coat jacket, and his tie was not proper anymore. He had even freed his hair from the constraints of the rubber band. My heartbeat quickened at the sight of him standing like that, with his eyes trained solely on me.

He had asked me so directly, how was I supposed to answer?

"I'm not running from you. I'm just tired and happy to be home," I replied, hoping my flat tone had kept my emotions at bay.

"Is that it?" André mused, and stepped inside the house. "Why do I feel like you're running away from me?"

Was this also one of his games? To soften every girl's heart with such words? I stood a little straighter, ready to fight him. "Why should I have to run from you? You don't scare me."

Nodding solemnly, he proceeded to shut the door behind him and lock it. I even heard the driver driving the car off, and it worried me even more. Why did he lock the door?

"When I challenged you, you readily accepted it, saying you could do a perfect job of fooling those people. And I'll admit it, you really did a great job. I never expected it from you, when I've only ever seen you glaring or frowning."

He came closer to me, and I struggled to stand my ground. I said, "I should be the one saying that. You didn't really strike as the type to smile and greet people graciously. It was quite a surprise for me."

"I had to because I was acting. Just like you. So, the whole thing, it was just an act. Is that what you're trying to tell me?" He asked, and I tilted my head in confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

He took a step closer. "How did you learn to act like that? Whoever taught you must be a genius," he spoke in a low tone, making no sense.

I sighed, unable to get the drift. "What are you–"

I started to say, when he interrupted me. "The talking to the guests and smiling with them? I get that. But after that, was that an act too? The dance, was that an act too?"

He stepped even closer to me. And this time, I was intimidated. Not because I had no answer to his question, but because I couldn't answer his question. I was afraid of the outcome that would follow if I answered him. I was absolutely terrified.

As he took a step closer to me, I took one back until I couldn't. Feeling the cold wall on my back, I shivered. André took one last step, caging me in. He was close, too close, and we didn't even have an audience. We didn't have to do this, and I was afraid what he would do now that we were in private.

He spoke again, this time in a whisper. "Tell me, Miss Fontaine. Were you acting when we were dancing?"

I blinked rapidly, desperately searching for ways to get out of his grasp. But I found out only one way. Steeling myself, I finally said, "Yes. It was all just an act."

My subconscious pricked at me to tell the truth, but I didn't dare to. I couldn't, not when I was so close to dying.

But my words didn’t satisfy him. He asked me once again, "So, I don't phase you at all? Even when I'm so close to you?"

My breath hitched as he said that, and I gulped. What had I gotten myself into? "N-no. I... I don't care if you–" 

I was interrupted again, but not with words. My eyes went wide and my eyebrows flew to the roof, as I realized what had happened. André Beaumont had just kissed me.

While the rest of him looked rough and tough, his lips were like a soft pillow as they crushed mine. This man didn't just do that, just how impulsive was he? Or, was it what he wanted from the start?

Panicking, I tried to push him away, but to no avail. He was relentless, only getting braver. His right hand settled on my cheek, gently caressing it. The soft strokes of his warm hand helped calm me down. Once I overcame the initial shock, another set of shivers ran down my spine.

Both bitter and sweet at the same time, his lips molded into mine, making me feel like I was in heaven. I welcomed the taste, although hesitantly, and reciprocated his movements. Soft and slow, I sucked on his upper lip, then the lower one. It was how I'd observed people kissed in the movies, and not having any experience at such a crucial moment made me curse my own life.

Slowly, I cupped his face with my right hand, my other hand resting firmly on his chest. I felt the small stubble on his jaw which pricked my soft skin, making this an even real experience. André then picked up pace, driving his hand into my hair and messing up my gorgeous updo.

Strands of my hair fell down my face, but I was too long gone to care. My heart was beating at an unbelievable rate, and it mirrored the beats I felt from André's chest. I felt something wet on my lips, and realized it was his tongue. He licked my lower lip, and then thrust his tongue inside. Gasping from the sudden sensation, I felt my knees go weak, but I never fell.

He held me in place, holding me by the waist. I was sure my body was a mess, but my mind was an even bigger mess. All rationality was thrown out the window, and all I needed in that moment was him.

What I didn't know, was that I'd just had the first kiss of my life, which would also be my biggest mistake.

Because if I thought I could have a happily ever after with a man I was bound to with a contract, I was one insane bitch.

♣︎ ♣︎ ♣︎