Chapter 2 A GLIMPSE OF HIS WORLD

KATE'S POV

I adjusted the hem of my simple black dress as I stood in front of a grand estate that looked more like a castle than a house. Giant pillars, painted white and gold, giving it a greek ambience, if I didn't know any better I'd say the residents dressed in loins and sandals.

The sprawling driveway was lined with sleek cars, and the faint sound of classical music drifted through the air. This was my first official event as Jared Cole's "showbiz" fiancée, and the reality of it all was sinking in fast.

I clutched my matching black Hermes bag tightly, feeling the weight of my decision.

Jared had sent one of his cars, a black Porsche with tinted windows, to pick me up; well, that was in the top ten most conspicuous ways to pick a girl in my neighborhood. He also provided a black velvet dress that, while stunning, felt foreign on me. It wasn't the kind of thing I'd ever dreamed of wearing; elegant, pristine and ridiculously expensive, I'm sure.

"Breathe, Kate," I muttered to myself, trying to quell the nervous energy buzzing through me.

The grand obsidian doors opened, and Jared stepped out, his emerald suit tailored to perfection, lined with traces of radiant gold. He looked every bit the billionaire; composed, confident, almost like royalty if the "Forbes" had coronation ceremonies.

His gaze softened slightly as he took in my whole appearance, like a modiste looking at a fashion masterpiece.

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice low and warm.

I flushed, momentarily caught off guard. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, trying to match his composed demeanor.

I'd been practicing my sophistication techniques with my intrusive teen sis, Sophie, all night long.

Jared extended his arm, and I hesitated for only a moment before looping mine through it. He placed the other small of his hand over my hand which was looped in his. His touch was firm, steadying, and I found myself grateful for the small comfort as we stepped into the lavish event.

The room was a sea of glittering gowns and tailored suits, the air buzzing with conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses. I felt like an imposter, acutely aware of every movement I made.

Jared leaned down slightly, his breath brushing against my ear. "Relax. They'll believe what we show them. You just have to play the part."

I nodded, swallowing my nerves. Play the part. Got it.

How hard was that?

As we moved through the crowd, Jared greeted guests with effortless charm. I plastered on a polite smile, nodding when introduced and trying not to stumble over my words when spoken to.

"Jared," a deep voice called from behind.

We turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man approaching. His sharp suit and confident stride exuded power, the dark blue hand-sewn italian apparel was magnificent with flawless stitches, but there was something in his dark eyes that made me quite uneasy.

The entire situation made me quite uneasy.

"Kevin," Jared greeted hesitatingly.

I noticed that his voice had lost some of its warmth.

"This must be the lovely fiancée I've been hearing so much about," Kevin said, his gaze flicking to me.

It lingered just a moment too long, making me shift uncomfortably.

"Kate Grey," I said, extending my hand, just as I had practiced.

Kevin took it, his grip firm but not overbearing. "Kevin Hall. A pleasure to meet you, Kate."

"The pleasure's mine," I said, my tone polite but guarded.

Kevin's gaze returned to Jared, a sly smile playing on his lips. "You've done well for yourself, Jared. Though I must admit, I didn't think settling down was your style."

Jared's expression didn't falter. "People change."

"Do they?" Kevin mused, his tone laced with something I couldn't quite place. "Well, I look forward to seeing how this unfolds."

With that, Kevin excused himself, leaving me feeling like I'd just stood through a tense chess match.

"Who is he?" I asked quietly once Kevin was out of earshot.

"An old... business partner," Jared replied, his jaw tightening slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Stay away from him." he warned as he subtly tilted me in Kevin's opposite direction, to create further distance, in a protective manner.

I frowned surreptitiously but didn't press further. There was clearly a lot more to the story, but now wasn't the time to dig into it.

As the evening went on, I began to find my footing. I smiled and nodded at the right moments, laughed politely at jokes I didn't fully understand, and even managed to hold my own in a brief conversation about art with an older woman who seemed determined to quiz me.

Jared stayed close, like he knew his presence was a steady anchor for me in this whirlwind of socializing.

Occasionally, his hand would rest lightly on the small of my back, a gesture that felt both protective and possessive. It was a strange mix, but I couldn't deny that it helped ease my nerves. Although, the proximity between us was a bit alarming sometimes.

I wouldn't let any man dare to come close to me- again. Not after-

Anyways, this was different. This was business so I had no problem with it.

At one point, Jared led me out onto the balcony for a moment of reprieve. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stuffy atmosphere inside.

"You're doing well," he said, leaning against the steel railing.

"Thanks," I replied, my voice tinged with exhaustion which I tried in futility to mask. The way he turned to me and gave me a small smile gave me a hint that he caught on to my façade.

I sighed, "I feel like I'm barely keeping up."

"You're keeping up just fine," he assured me, his gaze softening.

It was a bit awkward that he spoke to me with such easy and informality but then again, it was soothing.

I turned to look at him and from his side view I studied him for a moment. The way the moonlight danced over the horizon, casting shadows across his sharp features made him look ruggedly handsome but in a very polished way.

"You don't seem like someone who needs saving. Why go through all this trouble?" I suddenly blurted, a bit caught up in the moment.

Jared's expression darkened slightly, and he looked out at the city lights. "Appearances can be deceiving, Kate. In my world, perception is everything. One crack in the façade, and everything you've built can come crashing down."

His words were laced with a vulnerability I hadn't expected, and for a moment, I saw past the polished exterior to the man beneath.

"I'm starting to see why you picked me," I said softly.

Jared's gaze flicked back to me, his expression unreadable. "And why's that?"

"Because you think I won't judge you," I said simply, though not sure I was making any sense at all.

A faint smile ghosted across his lips, but he didn't respond. Instead, he pushed back from the railing and offered me his arm again.

"Come on. There's one more person I want you to meet," he said.

We re-entered the party, weaving through the crowd until we reached a woman in her forties with a sharp, no-nonsense demeanor. Her short, sleek black hair with grey highlights and tailored blue dress, with white sequins laced in a most artistic pattern, she exuded professionalism, and my eyes narrowed slightly as I took her in.

"Margaret, this is Kate," Jared said, his tone carefully neutral.

"Kate, Margaret, my PR Manager." he complimented.

"So this is the infamous fiancée," Margaret said, her voice cool and assessing.

"Nice to meet you," I said, extending my hand.

Margaret shook it briefly, such a firm grip. "Let's hope you're as convincing as he says you are."

I stiffened, my polite smile faltering. "I'll do my best."

"You'll need to," Margaret said bluntly, her gaze shifting to Jared. "The media's already buzzing about tonight. You'll want to tread carefully."

Jared nodded. "I trust myself to handle myself."

Margaret's raised eyebrow suggested she wasn't entirely convinced, but she let the matter drop.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening," she said before disappearing into the crowd.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of Margaret's scrutiny lift.

"She's intense," I muttered.

"She's thorough," Jared corrected. "And she's good at what she does. Don't take it personally."

"I'll try," I said, though I couldn't shake the feeling that I was under a microscope, her perusal was more piercing than that of a detective in an interrogation room.

As the night drew to a close, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhaustion. The event had been a whirlwind, but I'd survived it, and even learned a few things about Jared and his world along the way.

In the car ride back to my apartment, I leaned my head against the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold and white.

"You handled yourself well tonight," Jared said, breaking the silence.

"Thanks," I murmured, my voice heavy with fatigue.

"This is just the beginning," he added, his tone both reassuring and ominous.

I glanced at him, my curiosity piqued. "What happens next?"

Jared's lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes held a flicker of something I couldn't quite place; something that made my stomach tighten with both anticipation and unease.

"Next," he said, "we show the world exactly what we want them to see."

As the car pulled up in front of my building, I stepped out, clutching my bag tightly. Jared rolled down the window, his gaze steady.

"Goodnight, Kate," he said.

"Goodnight, Jared," I replied, watching as the car disappeared into the night.

Standing on the quiet street, I couldn't help but wonder just how much of myself I'd have to give to keep playing this part, and whether I'd still recognize myself when it was all over.