Chapter 1 A STRANGER'S DEAL

KATE'S POV

The clinking of glasses and hum of muted conversation echoed through the dimly lit interior of King's Bar. The scent of cheap whiskey and fried food clung to the air, mingling with the faint notes of a jazz tune struggling to compete with the rowdy chatter. Kate Grey, that is me, balancing a tray of drinks on my arm, as I weaved through the crowd like a thread through a needle, my movements quick and precise. The worn-out sneakers I wore squeaked against the sticky floor as I approached table four, forcing a tired smile onto my face.

"Here you go. Two whiskey sours and a beer," I announced, setting the drinks down with practiced efficiency.

"Finally," one of the men muttered, his tone laced with irritation. I bit back a sharp retort, opting instead for a polite nod before retreating toward the bar.

The night was dragging on, as it always did. The hours blurred together, punctuated only by the occasional barked orders from my manager, Carl, and the never-ending demands of impatient customers. At least my shift was almost over.

"Grey!" Carl's voice thundered across the bar, drawing the attention of several patrons. I winced and turned to face him.

"Yes, Carl?" I replied, forcing my tone to remain neutral.

"We've got a VIP in booth seven. Make sure he's taken care of," Carl barked, his meaty finger pointing toward the far corner of the bar.

My gaze followed his gesture, landing on a lone figure seated in the booth. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored navy suit that screamed wealth, his posture relaxed but commanding. Shadows played across his sharp features, accentuating the icy blue grey eyes that surveyed the room with quiet intensity.

Great. Just what I needed; a rich patron to cap off my night. I plastered on my best customer service smile and made my way over.

"Good evening, sir. Welcome to King's Bar. Can I get you something to drink?" I asked, my voice polite, almost pitchy.

The man looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. For a moment, I felt as though he could see straight through me, unraveling my carefully guarded composure.

"Whiskey. Neat," he said, his voice low and smooth, carrying a hint of authority.

"Coming right up," I replied, retreating to the bar to fetch his drink. I couldn't shake the feeling that his eyes lingered on me as I walked away.

When I returned, the man accepted the glass with a nod of thanks. "What's your name?"

I hesitated. "Kate," I answered cautiously.

"Kate," he repeated, as if testing the weight of my name on his tongue. "I'm Jared Cole."

The name struck a faint chord of recognition in my head. I'd heard of him before; a tech billionaire whose name often graced the headlines, though not always for the right reasons.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Cole," I said politely, unsure of where this conversation was headed.

"I've been watching you," he said, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

I stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"Your work ethic." He quickly added, graciously, "You're efficient, professional. It's rare to see someone with that kind of drive in a place like this," Jared explained, his gaze steady.

"Thanks, I guess," I replied, unsure how to respond. Compliments weren't exactly common in my line of work.

"Why is that?" he asked just as I was about to head back, I stopped, smiled then looked back.

"Why is what?" I replied

Jared smiles, then he rephrased, "be sincere, if you weren't working here, where would you rather work, Miss Kate?"

This was a no brainer, the answer was always at the top of my brain, but somehow his poise and eloquence makes me forget even my name! I've never spoken with someone so refined, especially not in this shit hole.

Took me some seconds to interpret the question then I blurted out, "hollywood!"

"what?", he was confused

"sorry, acting. If I wasn't working here, I'd rather be acting. I've always wanted to be an actress, but life acted up instead and I find myself working here" I added with a nervous chuckle.

Why I was opening up to this total stranger is still a mystery to me, something about getting lost in his eyes, I guess.

"I'm not thinking straight", I muttered to myself

Jared leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. "I have a proposition for you."

I raised an eyebrow. "A proposition?"

"Yes. But not here," he said, pulling a sleek business card from his pocket and sliding it across the table. "Meet me tomorrow at this address. Noon. It's an opportunity you won't want to miss."

I stared at the card, my instincts screaming caution. Deals that seemed too good to be true usually were.

"I'll think about it," I said, tucking the card into my apron.

Jared nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I hope you do."

As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't yet comprehend.

The next day, I stood outside a sleek glass skyscraper, the business card Jared had given me clutched in my hand. I'd spent the night debating whether to come, weighing my skepticism against my curiosity. Ultimately, my dwindling bank account and unfulfilled dreams had tipped the scale.

The lobby was as opulent as the building's exterior, all marble floors and shimmering chandeliers. A receptionist directed me to the top floor, where Jared was waiting in a sprawling office that boasted floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.

"Kate!" Jared greeted me, rising from behind a massive oak desk. "Thank you for coming."

"I'm not sure why I'm here," I admitted, my voice steady despite the nerves twisting in my stomach.

Jared gestured for me to sit. "I'll get straight to the point. I need someone to accompany me to a series of high-profile events over the next three months. Someone who can play the role of my fiancée."

I blinked, caught off guard by the audacity of his request. "You want me to pretend to be your fiancée?"

"Yes," Jared confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact. "In exchange, I'll provide financial backing for your acting career-classes, auditions, even living expenses. Whatever you need to succeed."

I stared at him, my mind racing. It was an outrageous proposition, one that sounded more like the plot of a movie than real life.

"Why me?" I asked finally.

"You're not part of my world," Jared said simply. "You're grounded, authentic. People will believe us because you're nothing like the women I usually date."

I hesitated. "And what's in it for you?"

"Redemption," Jared admitted, his voice quieter. "My reputation has taken a hit, and I need someone like you to help rebuild it."

The honesty in his tone caught me off guard. Despite my reservations, there was something about Jared that made me want to trust him.

"And if I say no?" I asked, testing his reaction.

"Then you walk away, no strings attached," Jared said, leaning back in his chair. "But I think you'll say yes."

I bit my lip, my mind a whirlwind of doubt and possibility. The deal was risky, but so was the alternative, continuing to scrape by with no end in sight.

"Three months?" I asked.

Jared nodded. "Three months."

"And you'll fund my acting career?"

"Every step of the way," he promised.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. "Alright. I'm in."

Jared's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Welcome to the team, K." Just like that I had gotten a nickname, I smiled nervously as I proceeded to the door.

As I left his office, I couldn't help but feel that I'd just made a deal with the devil- a rather handsome devil. But if it meant chasing my dreams, wasn't it worth the risk?