Beneath the Noise

Rules of The Deal

"Power is a dangerous game-once you claim it, you must be prepared to defend it, even if the greatest challenge comes from the one standing right beside you."

Raina's pov:

After agreeing to the absurd deal, I sat in my office, fingers idly tapping against the desk. The weight of what I'd just signed up for hung over me like a storm cloud. I had a hundred things to focus on-studio sessions, client meetings, track revisions-but all I could think about was this PR relationship.

It felt wrong, a lie I was being forced to live, and I couldn't stop my mind from running in circles around it. How could I fake something so... fake? Gabriel Mendoza. I had to go along with this for my career's sake, but something about it gnawed at me. It wasn't just the public eye. It was him. The cold, calculated man who made me feel like I was constantly treading on thin ice. This had disaster written all over it.

The door to my office creaked open, and Ava stepped inside, a tablet in her hand, her face betraying nothing.

"Raina, I've got everything on your schedule for tomorrow. I want you to take a look," she said, her voice light but knowing.

But I didn't hear her words. My mind was still trapped in the storm of uncertainty swirling around the deal.

Ava's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer. "Raina, what's on your mind?" Her tone shifted, concern edging in, her posture telling me she wasn't going to let me ignore it.

I blinked, realizing I'd been staring off into space for far too long. The anxiety of the situation clawed at my chest, and I let out a frustrated sigh. "Nothing. Just... you know, the whole Gabriel thing. I can't stop thinking about it."

She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "I get it. It's a lot to handle. But it's done, Raina. It's already set in motion, and there's no turning back now."

"I know." I dragged my hands over my face, feeling the heaviness of the situation bearing down on me. "But what if this ends up being the worst decision I've ever made? What if I can't pull this off? You know how hard it is for me to pretend, Ava. I hate lies. I've spent my entire life fighting against them, and now... here I am, lying to the whole world just to keep my career intact."

Ava's expression softened, her voice turning empathetic. "I understand. But this career-you've worked your whole life for it. All the sacrifices, everything you've built. Maybe this PR stunt will end up giving you something you didn't expect. Maybe it's not all bad."

I shook my head, the weight of uncertainty hanging around me like a shroud. "That's what's eating me alive. This could either work out in my favor, or it could backfire in the worst possible way. I can't afford to risk it, not now. Not when everything I've fought for is within reach."

Ava leaned in, her voice firm now. "Then set the boundaries. You've got the power here. Take control of this, Raina. Don't let anyone-Carter, Gabriel, or anyone else-ruin what you've worked so hard to build."

For a moment, her words hit me like a splash of cold water. She was right. I wasn't some passive player in this game. I was the one who had worked my ass off to get to this point. I had the power. And if I was going to survive this, I needed to call the shots.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "Set up a private meeting with Gabriel tomorrow. He wants to play this game, right? Fine. But I'll be the one making the rules."

Ava's eyes sparkled with something like mischief, but she nodded. "You got it. Let's see how this plays out."

As she left, I felt a flicker of something inside me-something that had been dormant for too long. A fire, small but growing. Maybe it was because I was finally taking control of my situation. Maybe it was because I wasn't going to let this PR stunt turn me into something I wasn't.