Forbidden Alliances

"I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of the premise."

"You're not supposed to be."

"I don't want to be someone's fuck buddy for a year. It's demeaning."

"You don't have to be his fuck buddy."

"No? Then what? I'm just supposed to date him?"

"You don't have to date him either."

"If we can't fuck and we can't date, what am I supposed to do with him?"

"Whatever you want."

"That's a terrible idea. All that time together and I wouldn't get any money out of it?"

"No, you would. If you like him enough, you can marry him at the end of a year and he'll pay you half a billion dollars."

"He will?"

"A quarter billion actually. He has three other girlfriends he's paying a hundred million apiece to until they marry him. And if he marries one of them, she gets all his money instead of half."

"So he'll want me to marry him?"

"Yup."

"And what about when the year is over? Will I still get paid if we break up then?"

"No. You told me you didn't like that idea either though."

"I don't," she said. "I thought there was no way I'd ever agree to this ridiculous plan of yours. But now that I've thought about it more, I think it might be worth it. Especially if he's really half a billion dollars rich. How old is he anyway?"

"Forty-eight," Shiv said without hesitation, "twenty years older than you." She had gone through the same process yesterday when her mother interviewed her for the first time about the plan. Her mother had wanted to know how she felt about being with someone twenty years older than her and why she liked this man so much after knowing him for only two months. Shiv had been unable to answer either question except that it seemed absurd that anyone could ask them in the first place. It wasn't like she was marrying the man or even having sex with him; they were just going to live together as pretend boyfriend and girlfriend until their contract ended in a year. As long as they didn't make each other too miserable during that time, it should work out fine. The whole thing seemed farcical but Shiv did like Karolina Novotney quite a bit and couldn't imagine spending six months alone in Londinium while Shiv was back home on Elion IV, where she lived and worked most of her time. Three months would have been unbearable but six months seemed unbearable too and Shiv wasn't sure he could go through with it alone. If living with Karolina for those six months would make things easier, then he was willing to endure whatever indignities might come with the deal and trust that Karolina felt similarly about it all. Not wanting either one of them to feel too awkward about the arrangement, Shiv hadn't brought up any terms beyond the basic ones outlined by their lawyers: They would move into an apartment building together in Londinium and live there as pretend lovers for six months; at the end of that period, if both parties were happy with how things went, they would renew their contract for another year; at the end of second year (or third), whichever came first, they would marry each other; immediately thereafter they would file divorce papers; Shanice Royco would transfer one hundred million credits directly into Karolina's bank account; Karolina would transfer fifty million credits directly into Shiv's bank account; they may continue their relationship indefinitely after splitting the money or they may not see each other again after splitting it; whichever came first. The terms seemed fair enough on paper and neither party had disputed them before signing their contracts last week. Now they just needed to start planning how best to spend their first six months together before moving in together next week as planned. Once they got used to living together and decided whether or not they wanted to keep going for another year or two years or even longer, things could get more complicated but for now everything seemed simple enough. Karolina wanted three things from her new fake boyfriend: Fun, excitement and lots of good sex - all without strings attached; Shiv wanted three things from his new fake girlfriend: Companionship, companionship and companionship - all without strings attached as well

The first few weeks of their arrangement passed by in a blur of anticipation and hesitation. Shiv and Karolina navigated the uncharted waters of their fake relationship, learning how to tread the fine line between acting like a couple and maintaining the proper boundaries. They went on dates, holding hands as they strolled through the vibrant streets of Londinium. They kissed, their lips meeting with a practiced ease that didn't quite conceal the absence of genuine desire. They laughed, their laughter carrying a touch of forced joy that only they were privy to.

As the days turned into weeks, Shiv and Karolina found themselves growing more comfortable with each other's presence. They traded stories and secrets, baring their souls while still keeping a sliver of themselves hidden away. Late nights were filled with whispered confessions and shared dreams. Karolina reveled in the attentiveness Shiv showed her, his genuine interest in her life and the way he made her feel seen.

One evening, as they sat on their shared couch watching a movie, Karolina spoke up. "Shiv, can I ask you something?"

He turned towards her, his gaze filled with curiosity. "Of course, what is it?"

She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I know our arrangement is just for show, but I can't ignore the connection we've formed. We have six months together, and I want to make the most of it. Do you think... that we could try to make our time together real?"

Shiv's face softened, his eyes searching hers. "You mean, actually be more than just pretend?"

Karolina nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes. I know it goes against the terms we agreed upon, but I can't shake this feeling. I want to see if there's something deeper between us, something worth exploring."

For a moment, Shiv remained silent, his thoughts churning. He had never expected this turn of events, this possibility of something genuine blossoming from the artificiality they had built. But as he looked at Karolina, he saw a glimpse of vulnerability in her eyes, a desire for authenticity that matched his own.

"I feel the same way," he finally admitted, his voice filled with a rare sincerity. "I never planned on falling for you, but I can't deny that there's something special between us. Let's take a chance, Karolina. Let's make our time together real."

A smile spread across Karolina's face, her eyes sparkling with hope. "I would love that, Shiv."

With their agreement to embrace their feelings, Shiv and Karolina embarked on an unexpected journey of exploration and discovery. They leaned into the emotions that had developed naturally, allowing themselves to become vulnerable with each other. There were moments of doubt and fear, but their determination to make their relationship real pushed them forward.

As the months went by, Shiv and Karolina's connection deepened. They experienced the ups and downs of a genuine relationship, weathering arguments and misunderstandings with a newfound commitment to communication. They explored their physical desires, finding pleasure in the intimate moments they shared. But more than anything, they reveled in the comfort of companionship, discovering the joy of having someone by their side who genuinely cared for them.

When the year they had initially agreed upon drew to a close, Shiv and Karolina found themselves faced with a decision. The terms of their arrangement dictated that they either marry or part ways, but their hearts yearned for a different path. They gathered the courage to approach Shanice Royco, their benefactor, and laid out their proposal.

"We would like to continue our relationship," Shiv began, his voice steady. "We've discovered a love that we never anticipated, and we believe we have something worth fighting for."

Karolina nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "We understand that this goes against the original terms, but we're willing to forfeit any monetary compensation to be with each other."

Shanice Royco listened to their plea, her sharp gaze analyzing their sincerity. After a long moment, she sighed and nodded. "You two are an anomaly, you know that? But love is a powerful force, and you have my blessing."

Relief flooded through Shiv and Karolina, knowing that they could build a future together free from the constraints of their initial arrangement. They celebrated their victory with a quiet dinner for two, toasting to the unforeseen turn their lives had taken.

In the years that followed, Shiv and Karolina's love deepened and flourished. They faced the challenges of life together, supporting each other through thick and thin. The passing of time only served to strengthen their bond, proving that their initial arrangement had been nothing more than a catalyst for something extraordinary.

And as they looked back on their journey, Shiv and Karolina knew that it was the courage to take a chance on love that had set them on this incredible path. Life was full of surprises, and sometimes the most unexpected beginnings could lead to the most beautiful endings.