Alex adjusted her blazer with the precision of a seasoned professional, her movements sharp and deliberate. Her cool, collected exterior was flawless, the same one she wore to courtroom battles and tense negotiations. But under the surface, a storm was brewing. She wasn’t thrilled about this ruse, but it was necessary - part of an elaborate strategy to deflect the mounting media pressure surrounding her latest high-profile case. She couldn’t afford distractions, but this particular distraction was the only way to keep her name out of the headlines for a while.

“Look, it’s just for appearances,” Alex said, her voice as controlled as always, but there was an edge to it today. “A couple of dinners, a few public outings, and we’re done. Then we can both go back to our lives - no strings attached.”

You stood across from her, arms crossed, trying to mask the flutter of nervous energy in your chest. You weren’t a stranger to complicated plans or dangerous situations, but pretending to be Alex Cabot’s partner in front of a public eye felt more like stepping into uncharted territory. You had worked with her before, shared conversations and cases, but this? This felt entirely different.

"Right. Just for appearances," you repeated, trying to sound confident, though it came out more like a question. You could feel the pressure building, and despite telling yourself this was a calculated move, nothing more, there was an undeniable tension simmering beneath your words.

Alex didn’t seem to notice the unease in your voice. She offered a faint smile, one that bordered on the edge of dismissive, as if she was already moving onto the next step in her mental checklist. She was the type who prided herself on keeping emotions locked away, never letting anyone see past the stoic facade.

“Don’t overthink it,” she said, her tone clipped but reassuring in its own way. “Let’s just... sell it.”