The facade of love

Days turned into weeks, and Abigail's life as Alex's personal slave became a numbing routine. She moved through her tasks with mechanical precision, keeping her head down and her thoughts to herself. The mansion felt like a gilded cage, beautiful but suffocating, with Alex and Veronica looming over her like dark shadows.Yet beneath the surface, the dynamics in the house were more complicated than they seemed.Veronica had always been a presence in Alex's life, but not for the reasons everyone believed. The world saw them as a power couple, the perfect match—her beauty and his wealth creating an enviable image. But the truth was far from the public's perception.Alex never loved Veronica. In fact, he barely tolerated her. She was nothing more than a tool, a convenient cover for the rumors that had plagued him for years. Whispers about his sexuality had followed him ever since his teenage years, the speculation that he was gay damaging his reputation in certain circles. It was an accusation he neither confirmed nor denied, but the pressure to present a certain image had grown too strong to ignore.And so, Veronica entered the picture.She was beautiful, wealthy in her own right, and obsessed with him. Alex had noticed her fixation early on and decided to use it to his advantage. He made her his public girlfriend, allowing her to bask in the limelight as his arm candy, while she helped him maintain the facade of a straight, eligible bachelor.Veronica was all too happy to play the role. She adored the attention, the status that came with being Alex's girlfriend. But more than that, she was obsessed with the idea of possessing him, of making him hers completely. She didn't care if his affection was real or not; as long as she had his name attached to hers, she was content.But behind closed doors, their relationship was as hollow as a house of cards.One evening, after a long day of running Alex's errands, Abigail found herself summoned to his office once again. She entered cautiously, the tension in the room palpable. Veronica was there too, lounging on the sofa with a glass of wine in hand, her eyes narrowed as they fixed on Abigail."Abigail," Alex began, not bothering to look up from the documents spread across his desk. "Veronica has something she'd like you to do."Abigail stiffened, dread curling in her stomach. She had learned quickly that anything Veronica requested was bound to be unpleasant."I need you to prepare my dress for tonight's gala," Veronica said, her voice laced with the usual condescension. "It's a delicate fabric, and I expect it to be handled with the utmost care. If there's a single flaw, you'll regret it."Abigail nodded, her heart sinking. "Yes, ma'am."As she turned to leave, Veronica's voice stopped her. "And Abigail, remember your place. You're nothing more than a servant here. Don't forget that."The words stung, but Abigail swallowed her pride, keeping her head down. "I won't forget."As Abigail left the room, Veronica turned her attention back to Alex, who was still absorbed in his work. She watched him for a moment, a mixture of longing and frustration in her eyes."You're too soft on her," Veronica said finally, her tone sharp. "She needs to learn her place, and you're letting her get away with too much."Alex looked up, his expression unreadable. "She knows her place.""Does she? Because it seems to me that she's getting far too comfortable here," Veronica retorted, her voice rising with irritation. "You brought her into this house, Alex, but she's not one of us. She's a servant. You can't keep treating her like she's something more."Alex's gaze hardened, but he didn't respond to her accusations. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, studying Veronica with a cool detachment that made her bristle."I'm handling it," he said finally, his voice cold. "Don't concern yourself with her."Veronica's eyes narrowed, but she forced a smile, hiding the simmering anger beneath. "Of course, darling. I'm just looking out for you, as always."Alex didn't respond, his attention already shifting back to his work. Veronica watched him for a moment longer, frustration gnawing at her. She had everything she had ever wanted—a life of luxury, the status of being with one of the most powerful men in the country—but she knew, deep down, that she didn't have his heart.And that drove her mad.