Chapter 4 A Dangerous Game

Mia Carter had never walked a red carpet before.

She hadn't even walked past one. And now, here she was-Lucas Kane's arm linked with hers, flashes of paparazzi cameras exploding like fireworks around them, reporters shouting questions she couldn't hear over the roar of her heartbeat.

Her gown-an off-shoulder, midnight blue creation that Harper had insisted on-clung to her curves like it had been sewn onto her skin. Her heels felt like stilts. Her clutch was empty. She'd left her inhaler, her backup lipstick, and her sense of safety back at the penthouse.

Lucas, on the other hand, looked like he'd been born into this moment.

He moved with practiced ease, stopping only once to let a camera crew grab footage of them together. His hand stayed lightly against her lower back, possessive without being overt.

"Keep your chin high," he murmured. "Smile with your eyes, not your teeth."

"Is this a gala or a hostage situation?"

He smirked without looking at her. "For most people here? Same difference."

They reached the top of the carpeted steps and passed through tall glass doors into a ballroom flooded with white and gold light. Waiters in tuxedos circulated with trays of champagne and bite-sized promises of food that wouldn't fill anyone's stomach. Classical music floated from a string quartet near the fountain in the center.

It was breathtaking.

And exhausting.

Lucas's grip on her hand tightened slightly. She glanced at him, but his face remained impassive.

"Is this your version of a fun Friday night?" she asked under her breath.

He didn't respond right away. Then, "It's business. Wrapped in sequins and pretension."

A couple approached them-an older man with silver hair and a stunning younger woman in red silk. The man extended his hand toward Lucas.

"Lucas. Always good to see you. And this must be the wife."

Mia smiled and shook his hand, heart pounding. "It's lovely to meet you."

"I'm Charles Drexler," the man said. "This is my daughter, Celia."

Celia, who looked at Mia like she'd stepped in something sticky, offered the barest nod. "Congratulations," she said, though her tone suggested anything but.

"Thank you," Mia replied sweetly. "And congratulations to you. Your dress almost fits."

Lucas coughed to hide his laugh. Celia blinked, stunned. Charles laughed loudly and clapped Mia on the back before dragging his daughter away.

Lucas turned to Mia, amusement flickering in his usually unreadable eyes. "You're more dangerous than I thought."

"I'm a waitress from Nevada. We know how to handle snobs."

They drifted further into the crowd, and Lucas made polite conversation with a board member while Mia stood silently at his side, smiling, nodding, playing her part. But it felt different tonight.

It didn't feel like pretending anymore.

It felt like survival.

Like she was beginning to understand how this world worked-and how easily it could chew her up if she let it.

Later That Night - Kane Penthouse

They returned to Lucas's penthouse just after midnight. Mia kicked off her heels the moment they walked in, sighing in relief.

"I'm convinced those shoes were made by a sadist," she groaned.

Lucas loosened his tie, watching her from across the room. "You handled yourself well tonight."

"Better than Celia."

He actually laughed-a short, low sound that surprised her.

She crossed to the bar, poured herself a glass of water, and leaned against the counter. "So... how'd I do, boss?"

Lucas untied his bowtie and tossed it on the marble. "You impressed Charles. That's more than most real wives manage."

She tilted her head. "Do I get a raise?"

Lucas moved toward her slowly, stopping just a few feet away. "You get something better."

"Like what?"

He studied her face, and the energy in the room changed.

He was too close.

Or maybe she was too aware.

She could smell his cologne. Something dark and expensive. His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

"Lucas," she said, a warning in her voice.

He stepped back. "You're right. This is part of the contract. Nothing more."

She forced a smile. "Right."

But her heart didn't get the memo.

Next Morning - Trouble Brews

Mia woke to her phone buzzing against the nightstand.

She grabbed it, bleary-eyed, and squinted at the screen.

Unknown Number: They'll never accept you. Not in that dress. Not with that past.

Her blood went cold.

She sat up fast, her breath catching in her throat. Another message appeared.

Unknown Number: Six months? Try six days.

She stared at the screen, fingers trembling.

Lucas.

She had to tell Lucas.

He was already in his office when she knocked on the door. Harper was just leaving, tablet in hand. She gave Mia a polite nod before slipping away.

Lucas looked up as she entered. "You're up early."

She held out her phone. "Someone sent me this."

He took it, eyes narrowing as he read the messages. A muscle ticked in his jaw. "When did these come in?"

"Just now."

He stood, already dialing on his personal line. "Harper. I want security to trace a number. Now."

He ended the call and looked at Mia. "You're okay?"

She nodded slowly. "I'm not scared. Just... rattled."

His eyes locked on hers. "You should be scared."

She swallowed. "You think Margot-?"

"I think a lot of people want to see this fail. And someone clearly thinks scaring you will work."

Mia took a shaky breath. "It won't."

He crossed the room in two steps and took her face in his hands-surprising her.

"Mia," he said quietly. "If anything happens-if this gets too dangerous-this ends. I don't care about the will. I don't care about the inheritance."

She blinked. "You don't?"

He shook his head. "I can rebuild the company from ashes if I have to. But I can't undo damage to you."

Her chest twisted. "You're not supposed to care."

"I don't," he said quickly. "But you're under my protection. That's not optional."

She nodded slowly.

And that was the first time Mia wondered-

If he didn't care, why did it feel so real?

Afternoon - Kane Global Office

Later that day, she returned to the PR department like nothing had happened. The whispers were louder now. The stares longer. Someone had printed a screenshot of a gossip blog article and pinned it to the break room wall.

"Lucas Kane's New Wife: Trash in Silk?"

Mia stared at the headline, then calmly removed it and dropped it into the shredder.

As the paper disappeared into confetti, her decision was made.

She wasn't going to survive this by hiding.

She was going to rise.

Evening - A Subtle Shift

That night, Lucas invited her to dinner in the penthouse kitchen instead of another event. No guests. No press. Just the two of them, sitting across from each other with homemade pasta and glasses of red wine.

She twirled her fork. "You cook?"

He shrugged. "Only when I need to think."

"Or distract yourself?"

He met her eyes. "Sometimes they're the same thing."

They ate in silence for a moment. Comfortable. Intimate. Unplanned.

Then Lucas leaned back in his chair. "You're stronger than I gave you credit for."

She arched a brow. "You expected me to quit already?"

"I expected you to run."

She smiled. "I don't scare easy."

"I'm starting to believe that."

Another silence. Then he asked, "What's the one thing you miss the most?"

She didn't have to think. "Privacy."

"Privacy?" He looked amused.

"I used to go on walks. Sit at the park. No one noticed me. No cameras. No whispering."

"You hate the attention?"

She nodded. "It makes me feel like I'm being watched all the time."

Lucas leaned forward, hands steepled. "You are."

"But not by you."

He didn't answer.

And that, more than anything, told her everything she needed to know.

Later That Night - Private Thoughts

Mia lay awake in the dark, staring at the ceiling.

She thought about the texts. The fake smiles. The way Lucas had held her face like she mattered. The way her heart reacted to him now-not as a stranger, not even as a billionaire, but as him.

She was supposed to be pretending.

She wasn't supposed to be falling.

But it was too late to stop.

And maybe... too dangerous to keep going.