Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 5

POV: *Adelaide*

I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. My thoughts prevented me from getting a good night’s sleep, and I was groggy as I opened my eyes.

But work waited for no one.

I walked through my morning routine, feeling like it was just another day, but something had changed. Normally, I’d be texting Ashton, but my phone was silent this morning.

My gaze kept drifting to my new shiny ring as I thought about everything that happened yesterday. With a calmer head, I realized that something was wrong.

Damon, to be exact.

His whole demeanor was strange yesterday. Normally, he’d be instigating fights with me at every opportunity, but he was strangely restrained.

Completely calm in the face of his girlfriend’s engagement to his brother, going along with my panicked suggestion and even being willing to get the license straight away. The ring, too.

It all struck me as odd.

Normally, he’d come over to our house for dinner with Corinna. He’d always acted like he was in love with her, flirting with her every chance he got.

Their relationship wasn’t exactly a secret like mine and Ashton’s; it was painfully obvious as they flaunted it around. But yesterday, Damon didn’t even spare a glance at her.

I sighed, checking my emails as I rushed out the door.

Oh, well. Maybe he was just in shock, I thought as I input the address to set and drove off.

“Addie!”

As soon as I got out of my car, I was pulled into a hug by my friend, Jenna. A woman with short dark hair and a cheery disposition, I could always count on her.

“I heard about the engagement on the news! It’s everywhere. What on earth is going on?” Jenna rambled on, checking every inch of my body for injuries or marks.

“Good morning to you, too, Jenna,” I laughed as she pulled me into another hug.

She pulled back from me, and pouted her lips. “How dare you get married without telling me? To Darnon Steyn, of all people! I thought you two were mortal enemies and next thing I know you’re kissing on my TV screen!”

I winced, shrugging off her pointed stare.

“It’s a long story. I really don’t want to talk about it,” I sighed, as I pulled my hair into a ponytail. “Is Gabriel ready for his scene?”

The desert sun was just getting warmed up, and I knew it would get hotter. We were practically in the middle of nowhere with only cacti and lizards to keep us company.

The set had already been put up with the actors’ trailers ready and running. The entire area was fenced in, with one gate in and one gate out. We’d had problems with looters in the past.

Chapter 5

as she followed me to the camera setup. “And

Jenna, I promise,” I told her, “But I

grin as I

under the canopy. I looked at the monitor, tilting my

is.” Jenna snorted.

“By the way, I saw you making faces with that playboy in the tabloids

Lucas,” I

calling it as I see it,” he said as he

turn

I followed the screen with my eyes.

at the sound of a slamming door and spun in my

open as the makeup

chocolate cappuccino for Giselle, please,” Jenna ordered a

“Yes, ma’am.”

I asked, curiously as he stormed

he’s just getting into character?”

the staff with more

was pretty sure he was not just

works for the scene anyway,” I stood from my chair

in his dirt and ragged clothing looked like he’d been through a particularly bad day, and that was exactly what

in a quarter,” I told Lucas.

zoom was

right, rolling in five.” I counted down my fingers and watched the monitor as the scene played. out in real-time.

actual bad mood playing into the character as he and the hero fought it out.

to do a couple more takes due to the horses being uncooperative but eventually, we got the perfect scene just as the

job, guys! Break while we set up the

as he watched the final

“Add some special effects, some

Chapter 3

not all the actors.” I flashed him a grin. “We gotta make them look good.”

even a great director like you could make her look good.” Lucas

not an actress,” Jenna

my eyes. “She’s got a pretty face, and that’s

seat. Despite my getting into film school, despite becoming a director, my father only cared about Corinna’s modeling

money, and I didn’t. Not yet, anyway. Nothing else mattered to

I sighed.

does well, it’ll shoot us all to the big leagues,” Lucas said. “See what that father of yours says about that when we’re on a red carpet premiere.”

would be nice.”

of yours.” Jenna

on some other woman’s arm,” a gruff voice piped up. Gabriel stood at our directing area, covered in fake dirt and real dust.

cross as he eyed me.