Chapter 4 DANGEROUS TERRITORY

Jared's POV

Since the Icecon scandal a month ago, I had faced a series of hostile board meetings, encountered attacks from cutthroat business rivals, and the relentless scrutiny of the media, but none of those had ever unsettled me the way Kate Grey did.

I leaned back in the leather seat of my car, staring at the spot where she had disappeared into her apartment building. My fingers drummed lightly against the wooden armrest, a rare sign of uncertainty.

"What if it starts to feel-real?" Her words replayed in my head, and I hated how they made something shift inside me.

"Of course, it wasn't real. It couldn't be, right?"

Kate was a business arrangement, a necessary piece of Margaret's carefully laid-out strategy to rebuild my reputation.

But when she looked at me with those wide, searching eyes, some part of myself almost forgot that.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"This is a mistake," I muttered to myself before signaling Nico, the driver to leave.

But as the city blurred past, I wasn't entirely sure who I was trying to convince; the media or myself.

The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual. The walls of my penthouse-level workspace were made of glass, giving a panoramic view of the city, but today, I barely noticed it.

I sat at my desk, flipping through the latest financial reports, but my focus wavered.

A knock at the door snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Come in," I called.

Margaret Thatcher, my PR manager, stepped inside, her sharp heels clicking against the marble floor. With her immaculate bob and crisp navy suit, she looked every bit the powerhouse she was.

"Margaret!" I called out in an unusually high pitch as I stood to approach her with a natural smile in an attempt to look like a person who hasn't been pondering for almost half an hour.

"You looked good in the interview," she said without preamble, taking a seat across from me.

I smirked. "I always do."

She ignored my cocky remark. "Kate handled herself well."

I nodded. "She did."

Margaret studied me for a moment, then leaned forward slightly. "You like her."

My jaw tightened.

"That's not relevant."

"It is if it clouds your judgment," she countered.

"You're good at keeping people at arm's length, Jared, but I've been in this business long enough to recognize when someone is getting under your skin."

I exhaled sharply. "Kate is part of the plan. Nothing more."

Margaret didn't look convinced. "For your sake, I hope that's true. Because the moment this becomes personal, you lose control."

I didn't respond. Instead, I glanced at my phone that had just set off a notification chime, where a message from Kate sat unread.

Kate: Sophia wants to meet you. She's grilling me about you. Says she won't believe a word until she meets my 'fiancé' in person.

Of course Sophia thinks our relationship is real, Margaret had made Kate sign a Non Disclosure Agreement which does not exclude family.

I let out a small chuckle.

Margaret raised an eyebrow. "Something amusing?"

I shook my head. "Nothing I can't handle."

By the evening, I found myself outside Kate's apartment, an unexpected sense of anticipation settling in my chest.

I knocked once, and the door swung open almost immediately.

Kate stood there, barefoot, dressed in black leggings, designed with dazzle stones all over, and an oversized NYU sweater. Her long hair was pulled into a messy bun, and for a second, I forgot why I was there.

"You're late," she teased, stepping aside to let me in.

"Pardon me, Your Grace." I replied sarcastically.

Kate led me inside, where her younger sister, Sophia, sat cross-legged on the couch, arms folded.

Kate's apartment was bigger on the inside, I had assumed it was a single room, but there was a sitting room, a kitchen, bathroom and a bedroom.

The sitting room was well kept, tidy and not stuffy.

Though there was no TV on the wall it was "homey" in its own way.

The walls were covered with flower patterned carpet, sunflowers against a light green background, the couches were beige and fluffy, I loved the fact that Kate was a clean and tidy person, outdoors and especially indoors.

I took one look at Kate's sister's skeptical expression and smirked. "You must be Sophia."

Sophia narrowed her eyes. "You must be Jared."

I chuckled. "I see you don't trust me yet."

"I don't trust rich men in expensive suits who suddenly claim to be engaged to my sister," she said bluntly.

Kate groaned. "Sophia, please."

I, however, looked amused. "Fair enough. I'd be suspicious too."

"How old are you?" I asked as I moved to sit on the couch across from Sophie's.

"Fourteen-and a half," she replied melodiously.

Through these series of awkward minutes, Kate had rescinded to the kitchen to fix up something for me.

Sophia studied me for a long moment.

"Tell me one thing about Kate that isn't common knowledge."

I glanced at Kate, who just arrived with a plate of homemade cookies and a glass of chilled yogurt, she looked just as intrigued by my answer.

I leaned against the throw pillow, my fingers intertwined as I looked at her with keen observation.

"She hums when she's nervous. Just a little. Almost like she doesn't realize she's doing it."

Kate's eyes widened slightly. "How did you-?"

"I notice things," I said simply.

I turned back to Sophia, who looked slightly impressed.

"Okay, that was good. But I'm still watching you." she said, and she actually gestured by using her two fingers to poke her eyes before pointing them at my face.

That was rather childish and hilarious to me however, I maintained my cool.

I smirked. "I'd expect nothing less."

Kate exhaled dramatically. "Well, now that my sister has finished interrogating you, can you attend to my five hours of cook-a-thon result"

"Alright, let's have it," I said through a wide smile, I didn't even know I had plastered on my face.

"You had better say it's nice, the ladle can also be a murder weapon." Kate said jokingly.

I chuckled, as she watched me with raised brows as I took a bite of the chocolate chip cookies.

"Hmm, very nice, I'm being totally honest, they taste like a feeling, like-Christmas!" I fed back, the bewilderment in my voice was really obvious.

"In what universe does a waitress stroke an aspiring actress, bake this good?"

"Really? This one I guess," she said in elation.

The excited glint in her eyes was rather enthralling.

"I take a few online classes and practice when I can"

"Well, good for me then, I guess." I remarked.

As I took a sip of the yoghurt, I realized something unsettling.

This felt-nice. Comfortable.

And that was dangerous.

An hour later, I found myself helping Kate clean up while Sophia occupied herself with a sketchbook in the corner of the living room.

"You didn't have to come," Kate said softly, rinsing a plate.

I dried it and set it aside. "You asked. I came."

Kate glanced up at me. "Why?"

I met her gaze. "Because this needs to look real. And that includes winning over your sister."

She studied me for a long moment before nodding.

"Right. Of course."

I noticed the way she turned away quickly, as if hiding something.

Before I could think about it too much, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I pulled it out, my expression hardening instantly at the name flashing on the screen.

Kevin Hall.

Kate must have noticed my sudden shift because she frowned.

"What is it?"

I clenched my jaw. "Nothing important."

But as I stared at the name on my phone, I knew it wasn't true.

Kevin wasn't the type to reach out without a reason. And whatever that reason was, I had a feeling it wouldn't be good.

"I have to go, K", I tell her, "It's been a delight being invited over, and thanks for the cookies"

Before she could inquire about my rapid departure I was at the door already,

I looked back. "I'll call you."

I waited until I was back in my car before returning the call.

"Jared," Kevin's deep smooth voice came through the line. "Long time."

I exhaled sharply. "What do you want, Kevin?"

"A little direct, aren't we?" His voice came from the other side of the phone.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel. "I'm not in the mood for games, Kevin."

Kevin chuckled. "Shame. Because I love games."

I remained silent, waiting.

Kevin finally sighed.

"I saw your little interview. Cute. But we both know the truth, don't we?"

My stomach hardened, but I shook it off in an attempt to mask any faltering in my tone. The last thing I need is a snake like Kevin being on to me.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, come on, Jared. This engagement? Please. I can smell a business deal from a mile away. And I wonder what the world would think if they knew."

My voice dropped to a dangerous level. "Are you-threatening me?"

"Threatening?" Kevin laughed. "Not at all. Just- reminding you that I always have an ace up my sleeve."

My jaw clenched. "Stay out of my business, Kevin."

"Or what?" Kevin's voice was mocking. "You'll ruin me? Like you tried before?"

I didn't answer.

Kevin sighed. "Anyway, enjoy your fiancée while you can. I have a feeling this fairy tale won't last long." He said and the line went dead afterwards.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. To calm my racing thoughts and my rapidly beating heart.

Kevin knew something. And if there was one thing I had learned over the years, it was that Kevin never bluffed.

My mind immediately went to Kate.

Is she in danger?

My fists clenched tightly at the thought.

If Kevin thought he could use Kate as leverage, he was about to learn just how dangerous I could be.