Chapter 3 LINES BLURRING

KATE'S POV

I stirred my coffee absentmindedly, staring at the swirl of cream dissolving into the dark liquid. It had been two days since the gala, and the whirlwind of that night still hadn't settled.

The internet had exploded with pictures of myself and Jared, hand in hand, smiling at each other, exchanging glances that, to the outside world, looked intimate and real.

The tabloids had already spun their narratives: THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT, THE WOMAN WHO TAMES THE UNTAMABLE JARED COLE, CINDERELLA STORY OF THE YEAR.

I myself scoffed at that last one. Cinderella had it easy. she was used as a maid in a mighty castle, big deal; I lived from trailers to shacks, the only rats I knew were the unrelenting pests, who had only one life mission, making our life worse.

A news section described me as alluring and daunting. On that, I could say they were right because I didn't know I was capable of looking that good too.

My phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, dragging me out of my thoughts.

I grabbed it, expecting another news alert, but instead, Jared's name flashed across the screen.

I hesitated before answering.

"Hello?"

"Morning, fiancée," he said smoothly. "Busy?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Drinking coffee and contemplating my life choices. You?"

Jared chuckled.

"About to throw us into another round of them." He said comically.

I sighed. "Great. What is it this time?"

"We need to do a sit-down interview," he said, his tone sounding all business-like.

I nearly choked on my coffee. "An interview? As in, public interview?"

"That's usually how those work, yes," Jared said dryly.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Why?"

"To make things more believable," he replied. "We played the part well at the gala, but the press will keep digging unless we give them a controlled narrative."

"Controlled narrative," I echoed. "Right. And what exactly am I supposed to say?"

Jared's voice softened, losing some of its calculated edge. "Just be yourself, Kate. The version of yourself that's hopelessly in love with me."

I snorted. "Oh I forgot, thanks for reminding me about that." I replied sarcastically.

"I'll send you the details. Be ready by six."

"Wait, what?" I blurted out. "That's tonight?"

"Yes."

I exhaled sharply. "Of course it is."

"See you soon," Jared said before the line went dead.

I stared at my phone, letting out another groan. What have I gotten myself into? This was more stressful than making scones. Ugh!

He had sent a car and a dress like the last time. This time when I opened the box I was surprised with an outfit-it was more corporate than I expected.

It was a silk suit, luxurious off white fabric, italian-made, getting a feel of the texture gave my goosebumps goosebumps, I mean-the suit was beautifully made, I hurriedly freshen up, delicately put it on, then ran to the mirror like a person who just got her eyesight and is about to see herself for the first time.

Oh my God! I looked like the image of affluence, I looked like the life goal of models.

I loved everything about it, from the steep collars to the perfect palazzo trousers.

Sophie would have been screaming with excitement if she saw me like this, but I had her spending the night at a friend's house.

A loud honk downstairs interrupted my daydream, that was the chauffeur's way of signaling that time doesn't give extra for a girl to admire her dress.

I finished up hastingly, locked up then I came down.

"Madame," the french chauffeur said as he gestured for me to enter the car.

By the time six o'clock rolled around, I found myself seated in a sleek, modern studio with bright overhead lights making my skin feel warm.

I kept staring around for the first few minutes after we arrived. I recognized this place somehow, that red velvet couch, that futuristic looking table, then it occurred to me; We are at the Channel 7 studio!

I was playing a part, so I couldn't freak out. Jared is always one to play things down, now I was getting an urge to query him, no one said anything about national TV.

No anxiety pills have been made for this level of anxiety, I'm sure.

Jared sat beside me, his posture relaxed yet commanding. Margaret was backstage.

Across from us, was an interviewer, a woman in her forties with calm maroon eyes and a sharp bob. Her poise was unmatched, such a sharp dressing, I guess Jared saved me from looking shabby on national tv afterall, because appearing next to this model worthy appearance, in the same frame would surely give off a contrast.

Thankfully I was looking sharp myself.

She smiled at us like a wolf eyeing its next meal.

"Welcome, Jared, Kate," the woman, Olivia Hall, greeted smoothly. "Thank you for sitting down with us at Billionaires Today."

Jared nodded. "Thank you for having us."

I forced a polite smile.

"Just breathe." I said internally to myself.

Olivia wasted no time.

"Your engagement caught the world by surprise. Jared, you've been notoriously private about your personal life. Why now?"

Jared didn't even blink. "When you meet the right person, you just know."

There was a very firm and professionally looking smile plastered on his face as he answered Olivia's questions. There was really a whole lot I had to get used to.

My heart skipped a beat at how effortlessly he delivered the line. His voice held just enough warmth to make it believable, and I had to remind herself that it was all part of the act.

Olivia turned to me.

"And you, Kate? Your life must have changed drastically since meeting Jared."

I stiffened for a brief moment and hoped she didn't quite catch that.

I nodded. "It has," I admitted, choosing my words carefully, "But at the core, he's still just- Jared. The world sees a billionaire, but I see the man who makes me laugh when I'm having a bad day. That's what really matters."

Jared glanced at me, and for a fleeting second, something that read ensnared flickered in his gaze.

The interview continued with the usual questions-how we met, our favorite things about each other, wedding plans. I fielded them as naturally as possible, following Jared's lead when needed.

Then Olivia leaned forward slightly, her sharp gaze locking onto me.

"Kate, I have to ask. There are rumors that this engagement isn't entirely-real."

I blinked rapidly for a few seconds, completely caught off guard by her question. I felt my stomach clenched, but even as I felt like I needed the ground to open up and swallow me whole, I kept my expression neutral mirroring the same professional smile Jared had, plastered on his face.

"If there weren't rumours then that means humans have stopped being humans, but rumours are just that-rumours." I replied, simply.

Olivia didn't back down. The determined look in her eyes to get something out of me flickered as she looked down at the parchment she was holding and opened her mouth to voice out the next question she had prepared.

"So you'd say this engagement isn't just for publicity or business reasons?"

Jared's hand suddenly covered mine, squeezing lightly. It was for show, but it steadied my erratically beating heart.

"I don't think love needs to be justified to anyone," Jared said smoothly, his voice edged with quiet authority. "Kate is amazing, ambitious and her immense beauty is undisputed. I-" he paused for a bit, "-value her a lot, and she and I know what we have. That's all that matters."

It wasn't too obvious, but I noticed how he reluctantly avoided the word "love,"

I turned to him, and for a moment, and in that brief moment, I forgot we were acting. The way he looked at me-calm, steady, as if I was the only person in the room-sent a strange warmth through me.

Olivia seemed to sense that she wasn't getting anything more out of us. She smiled, wrapping up the interview.

"Well, I appreciate you both taking the time to speak with us. We wish you the best in your future together."

Jared nodded, standing up first and offering me his hand. I took it, my skin still tingling from the last lingering look he had given me.

As soon as we were off-camera, I exhaled sharply.

"That was intense."

Jared smirked. "You did well."

I shook my head. "I don't know how you do this all the time."

He shrugged. "You get used to it."

I glanced up at him. "That thing you said- about love not needing to be justified."

"What about it?" he asked sharply

I hesitated. "It was convincing."

Jared's smirk faded slightly, his expression unreadable. "That's the point, isn't it?"

My chest tightened. Why did that bother me?

Later that night, Jared insisted on dropping me off. The car ride was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. The city lights blurred past us, the energy of the interview still buzzing between us.

When we pulled up in front of my apartment, I hesitated before opening the door.

"Jared," I said, turning to him.

He raised a brow. "Yes?"

I bit my lip, choosing my words carefully. "what if this starts to feel- real."

Jared studied me for a moment.

"Does that scare you?"

I hesitated. I hadn't thought of that yet.

"No. It just- confuses me." and I wasn't lying.

I had to remind myself every now and then that there was nothing going on between the both of us and that it was all just an act.

He exhaled softly. "Kate, this is a business arrangement. Nothing more."

I nodded, forcing a small smile. "Right. Of course."

But as I stepped out of the car and watched him drive away, I couldn't shake the feeling that, for both of us, the lines were already beginning to blur because why did I feel hurt that he didn't seem to want to see me in a different light?

Or perhaps, am I just being paranoid?