THE COST OF LOVE AND PASSION

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?

KATE'S POV

I adjusted the hem of my simple black dress as I stood in front of a grand estate that looked more like a castle than a house. Giant pillars, painted white and gold, giving it a greek ambience, if I didn't know any better I'd say the residents dressed in loins and sandals.

The sprawling driveway was lined with sleek cars, and the faint sound of classical music drifted through the air. This was my first official event as Jared Cole's "showbiz" fiancée, and the reality of it all was sinking in fast.

I clutched my matching black Hermes bag tightly, feeling the weight of my decision.

Jared had sent one of his cars, a black Porsche with tinted windows, to pick me up; well, that was in the top ten most conspicuous ways to pick a girl in my neighborhood. He also provided a black velvet dress that, while stunning, felt foreign on me. It wasn't the kind of thing I'd ever dreamed of wearing; elegant, pristine and ridiculously expensive, I'm sure.

"Breathe, Kate," I muttered to myself, trying to quell the nervous energy buzzing through me.

The grand obsidian doors opened, and Jared stepped out, his emerald suit tailored to perfection, lined with traces of radiant gold. He looked every bit the billionaire; composed, confident, almost like royalty if the "Forbes" had coronation ceremonies.

His gaze softened slightly as he took in my whole appearance, like a modiste looking at a fashion masterpiece.

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice low and warm.

I flushed, momentarily caught off guard. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, trying to match his composed demeanor.

I'd been practicing my sophistication techniques with my intrusive teen sis, Sophie, all night long.

Jared extended his arm, and I hesitated for only a moment before looping mine through it. He placed the other small of his hand over my hand which was looped in his. His touch was firm, steadying, and I found myself grateful for the small comfort as we stepped into the lavish event.

The room was a sea of glittering gowns and tailored suits, the air buzzing with conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses. I felt like an imposter, acutely aware of every movement I made.

Jared leaned down slightly, his breath brushing against my ear. "Relax. They'll believe what we show them. You just have to play the part."

I nodded, swallowing my nerves. Play the part. Got it.

How hard was that?

As we moved through the crowd, Jared greeted guests with effortless charm. I plastered on a polite smile, nodding when introduced and trying not to stumble over my words when spoken to.

"Jared," a deep voice called from behind.

We turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man approaching. His sharp suit and confident stride exuded power, the dark blue hand-sewn italian apparel was magnificent with flawless stitches, but there was something in his dark eyes that made me quite uneasy.

The entire situation made me quite uneasy.

"Kevin," Jared greeted hesitatingly.

I noticed that his voice had lost some of its warmth.

"This must be the lovely fiancée I've been hearing so much about," Kevin said, his gaze flicking to me.

It lingered just a moment too long, making me shift uncomfortably.

"Kate Grey," I said, extending my hand, just as I had practiced.

Kevin took it, his grip firm but not overbearing. "Kevin Hall. A pleasure to meet you, Kate."

"The pleasure's mine," I said, my tone polite but guarded.

Kevin's gaze returned to Jared, a sly smile playing on his lips. "You've done well for yourself, Jared. Though I must admit, I didn't think settling down was your style."

Jared's expression didn't falter. "People change."

"Do they?" Kevin mused, his tone laced with something I couldn't quite place. "Well, I look forward to seeing how this unfolds."

With that, Kevin excused himself, leaving me feeling like I'd just stood through a tense chess match.

"Who is he?" I asked quietly once Kevin was out of earshot.

"An old... business partner," Jared replied, his jaw tightening slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Stay away from him." he warned as he subtly tilted me in Kevin's opposite direction, to create further distance, in a protective manner.

I frowned surreptitiously but didn't press further. There was clearly a lot more to the story, but now wasn't the time to dig into it.

As the evening went on, I began to find my footing. I smiled and nodded at the right moments, laughed politely at jokes I didn't fully understand, and even managed to hold my own in a brief conversation about art with an older woman who seemed determined to quiz me.

Jared stayed close, like he knew his presence was a steady anchor for me in this whirlwind of socializing.

Occasionally, his hand would rest lightly on the small of my back, a gesture that felt both protective and possessive. It was a strange mix, but I couldn't deny that it helped ease my nerves. Although, the proximity between us was a bit alarming sometimes.

I wouldn't let any man dare to come close to me- again. Not after-

Anyways, this was different. This was business so I had no problem with it.

At one point, Jared led me out onto the balcony for a moment of reprieve. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stuffy atmosphere inside.

"You're doing well," he said, leaning against the steel railing.

"Thanks," I replied, my voice tinged with exhaustion which I tried in futility to mask. The way he turned to me and gave me a small smile gave me a hint that he caught on to my façade.

I sighed, "I feel like I'm barely keeping up."

"You're keeping up just fine," he assured me, his gaze softening.

It was a bit awkward that he spoke to me with such easy and informality but then again, it was soothing.

I turned to look at him and from his side view I studied him for a moment. The way the moonlight danced over the horizon, casting shadows across his sharp features made him look ruggedly handsome but in a very polished way.

"You don't seem like someone who needs saving. Why go through all this trouble?" I suddenly blurted, a bit caught up in the moment.

Jared's expression darkened slightly, and he looked out at the city lights. "Appearances can be deceiving, Kate. In my world, perception is everything. One crack in the façade, and everything you've built can come crashing down."

His words were laced with a vulnerability I hadn't expected, and for a moment, I saw past the polished exterior to the man beneath.

"I'm starting to see why you picked me," I said softly.

Jared's gaze flicked back to me, his expression unreadable. "And why's that?"

"Because you think I won't judge you," I said simply, though not sure I was making any sense at all.

A faint smile ghosted across his lips, but he didn't respond. Instead, he pushed back from the railing and offered me his arm again.

"Come on. There's one more person I want you to meet," he said.

We re-entered the party, weaving through the crowd until we reached a woman in her forties with a sharp, no-nonsense demeanor. Her short, sleek black hair with grey highlights and tailored blue dress, with white sequins laced in a most artistic pattern, she exuded professionalism, and my eyes narrowed slightly as I took her in.

"Margaret, this is Kate," Jared said, his tone carefully neutral.

"Kate, Margaret, my PR Manager." he complimented.

"So this is the infamous fiancée," Margaret said, her voice cool and assessing.

"Nice to meet you," I said, extending my hand.

Margaret shook it briefly, such a firm grip. "Let's hope you're as convincing as he says you are."

I stiffened, my polite smile faltering. "I'll do my best."

"You'll need to," Margaret said bluntly, her gaze shifting to Jared. "The media's already buzzing about tonight. You'll want to tread carefully."

Jared nodded. "I trust myself to handle myself."

Margaret's raised eyebrow suggested she wasn't entirely convinced, but she let the matter drop.

"Enjoy the rest of your evening," she said before disappearing into the crowd.

I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of Margaret's scrutiny lift.

"She's intense," I muttered.

"She's thorough," Jared corrected. "And she's good at what she does. Don't take it personally."

"I'll try," I said, though I couldn't shake the feeling that I was under a microscope, her perusal was more piercing than that of a detective in an interrogation room.

As the night drew to a close, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhaustion. The event had been a whirlwind, but I'd survived it, and even learned a few things about Jared and his world along the way.

In the car ride back to my apartment, I leaned my head against the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold and white.

"You handled yourself well tonight," Jared said, breaking the silence.

"Thanks," I murmured, my voice heavy with fatigue.

"This is just the beginning," he added, his tone both reassuring and ominous.

I glanced at him, my curiosity piqued. "What happens next?"

Jared's lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes held a flicker of something I couldn't quite place; something that made my stomach tighten with both anticipation and unease.

"Next," he said, "we show the world exactly what we want them to see."

As the car pulled up in front of my building, I stepped out, clutching my bag tightly. Jared rolled down the window, his gaze steady.

"Goodnight, Kate," he said.

"Goodnight, Jared," I replied, watching as the car disappeared into the night.

Standing on the quiet street, I couldn't help but wonder just how much of myself I'd have to give to keep playing this part, and whether I'd still recognize myself when it was all over.

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?