Chapter 6 NEMESIS

Kate's POV

The city shimmered like a thousand tiny diamonds scattered across velvet. From my apartment window, the lights of New York pulsed, some flickering softly, others burning in a fierce, steady glow. It was a city that never slept, a city that breathed ambition, secrets, and heartbreak. And tonight, it felt like the entire weight of it pressed against my chest.

Jared's visit still lingered in my mind. The way his grey-blue eyes had darkened when he mentioned Kevin. The quiet intensity in his voice. The way his fingers had ghosted against my skin when he brushed that stray lock of hair behind my ear.

I let out a breath and shut my eyes.

I should have been sleeping. But my mind was a tangled mess, caught somewhere between unease and something dangerously close to yearning.

The shock of abrupt realization had led me to push him away. I couldn't believe what was happening. Now instead of me feeling proud for having self control, I could almost feel regret. I wished I let it play out, I wanted it to play out.

What could this mean?

Is Jared falling for me truly, or worse- was it me who was falling for him?

I forced myself to move, to distract myself with small, meaningless motions-grabbing Sophie's sketchbook from the coffee table, flipping through half-finished pages of script notes and character sketches. But nothing settled the restless feeling inside me.

So, I did the only thing I knew would help. I grabbed my Airpods, put on a coat and slipped outside.

The cold air bit into my skin as I walked, but I welcomed it. The city smelled like rain-crisp and metallic, mixing with the scent of damp pavement and the lingering spices from a nearby food cart. Yellow taxi cabs streaked past in flashes of light, their reflections gliding over the wet asphalt. People rushed along the sidewalks, wrapped in scarves and thick coats, their voices blending into a dull hum.

I pulled my jacket tighter around me and kept moving.

A part of me hated that Jared's words had unsettled me so much. That one call from Kevin Hall was enough to remind me just how fragile this arrangement was.

Fake fiancée.

That's what I was.

But then why did it feel so real sometimes?

Even as it's a transactional relationship, a pseudo-fear of losing what we have looms still.

I bit my lip and exhaled. I needed to focus. I need to remind myself that this was temporary. I need to convince myself that whatever ensued between us yesterday was a momentary slip-Yes, a lapse in judgement.

I turned a corner, stepping into a quieter street, when my phone buzzed.

I didn't have to check the screen to know who it was, I simply tapped the hands free button on the Airpods.

"Jared," I answered, voice soft.

"Where are you?" His voice was smooth but edged with something else.

"Out for a walk."

"In this weather?"

I smiled faintly. "Since when do you care about the weather?"

He sighed, the sound crackling slightly through the speaker. "Since I found out Kevin Hall is watching us. You shouldn't be out alone, Kate."

I leaned against a lamp post, watching a street musician strum a slow tune on his guitar. His fingers glide effortlessly over the strings, the melody wrapping around the air like silk.

"I can take care of myself," I said.

"That's not the point."

There was something in his voice. Something quiet but heavy.

I hesitated. "Jared- what aren't you telling me?"

A beat of silence.

Then, "I had a meeting today. Someone on my board mentioned that Kevin's been asking about you."

A chill ran down my spine.

"He's digging," Jared continued. "Looking for anything he can use. Is there anything in your past I should know, so Margaret can get the 'scrubbing' team on it"

I closed my eyes. "There isn't," I replied, my voice fading as my vocal chords produced the answer with a stutter-of course he noticed.

"Kate-" Jared pressed on

"I said there isn't" My voice was sharper than I intended, and I exhaled quickly, softening my tone. "I'm clean. I've been careful."

It was all beginning to get very overwhelming, the entire arrangement. Now, he also had to get the 'scrubbing' team, or whatever he called them, in my case.

Sigh.

Jared was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was lower, more controlled. "Be even more careful."

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.

I swallowed. "Okay."

I heard him exhale, like he'd been holding his breath.

"Go home, Kate," he said. "Please."

I sighed but turned back toward my apartment unable to actually protest and go against his words. "Fine. But only because I don't feel like freezing to death tonight."

My only unreasonable excuse for actually doing what he asked me to.

"Good." He responded.

"Jared?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Another pause.

Then, "Good night, Kate."

The next day, I woke up to three missed calls from an unknown number.

My stomach twisted. I stared at the screen for a long moment, debating whether or not to call back.

But then, my phone rang again.

I answered on instinct. "Hello?"

A slow, familiar chuckle slithered through the speaker.

"Hello, Katherine."

My entire body went cold.

Richard.

I gripped the edge of my bed frame, a lump rapidly formed in my throat- I swallowed "What do you want?"

Another chuckle, this one laced with something dark. "Now, is that any way to greet your husband of four years?"

I shut my eyes, my fingers tightening around the phone. "As long as I'm concerned we are not married."

"You sure about that?" His voice was taunting, playful.

My pulse pounded.

"You don't get to call me," I snapped. "You don't get to be part of my life anymore."

"That's where you're wrong, darling." His tone dropped, voice turning razor-sharp. "See, some very interesting people have been asking about you. Offering a lot of money for certain- information and of course my unsolicited willingness to cooperate."

My breath caught.

Kevin.

"Tell me, Kate," Richard mused. "Does Jared Cole know about me yet?" The question sent shivers down my spine, my legs went numb, it was getting harder to remain balanced standing.

I forced myself to stay calm. "I swear to God, Richard, if you-"

"Relax, sweetheart," he interrupted. "I haven't said anything. Yet."

"But look," he continued, "I've been thinking- maybe it's time we had a little reunion."

"No." I said irritatingly, the thought of such abomination had my glands producing saliva that filled up my mouth so fast.

"You don't really have a choice." he proclaimed with his grunt-like voice.

"I am not coming back to you," I said through gritted teeth.

Richard hummed. "Well, that's a shame. Because if you don't-I might have to tell your billionaire fiancé all about us."

The world tilted slightly.

I pressed my fingers to my temple, inhaling sharply. "What do you want?"

Silence.

Then, "Meet me. Tonight. Ten o'clock. The old bar in Lexington."

"I can't."

"Oh I know you can, and you will." His voice hardened. "Or Jared finds out everything."

The line went dead.

I stood there, the phone still pressed to my ear, my heart hammering.

The air felt too thick, the walls too close.

I wanted to scream. To throw something.

Instead, I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.

I had a decision to make.

And either way, I was going to lose.

Sophie was at a sleepover, I was glad no one witnessed the horror I just went through.

Later that evening, I stood outside King's bar in Lexington, my fingers curled tightly around the strap of my black purse. I was dressed like a typical fugitive, a big hoodie covering my face, I didn't want anyone recognizing me.

The neon sign flickered, casting an eerie red glow against the wet pavement.

I hated this place.

Hated the memories that lurked in its shadows.

I took a breath and stepped inside.

The air was thick with cigarette smoke and cheap whiskey. Low laughter rippled through the dimly lit space, the scent of sweat and stale beer clinging to the walls.

And then I saw him.

Richard sat at the far end of the bar, a smug grin on his face displaying his goat-like dentition.

He looked the same-same slicked-back dark hair, same sharp jawline. But there was something wilder in his eyes now. Something unhinged.

"You came," he said, lifting his glass.

I sat down across from him, every muscle in my body coiled tight. "What do you want?"

He grinned. "Let's talk business."

And just like that, I felt my world start to crack.