THE COST OF LOVE AND PASSION

E'S

ed more like a castle than a house. Giant pillars, painted white and gold, giving it a gree

ssical music drifted through the air. This was my first official event as Ja

Hermes bag tightly, feeling

nspicuous ways to pick a girl in my neighborhood. He also provided a black velvet dress that, while stunning, felt foreig

myself, trying to quell the ner

perfection, lined with traces of radiant gold. He looked every bit the billionaire;

k in my whole appearance, like a mod

l," he said, his v

off guard. "Thank you. You c

t the corners of his m

" I replied, trying to mat

tion techniques with my intrusive

laced the other small of his hand over my hand which was looped in his. His touch was firm, st

r buzzing with conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses

g against my ear. "Relax. They'll believe what

ng my nerves. Play

rd was

rtless charm. I plastered on a polite smile, nodding when int

ep voice call

nt stride exuded power, the dark blue hand-sewn italian apparel was magnificent with

uation made me

ed greeted h

s voice had lost

've been hearing so much about," K

ent too long, making m

extending my hand, ju

t not overbearing. "Kevin Hall.

e," I said, my tone

is lips. "You've done well for yourself, Jared. Though I

on didn't falter

h something I couldn't quite place. "Well,

leaving me feeling like I'd just

d quietly once Kevi

s voice remained calm. "Stay away from him." he warned as he subtly tilted me in

urther. There was clearly a lot more to the

ents, laughed politely at jokes I didn't fully understand, and even managed to hold my o

s presence was a steady anchor for

t both protective and possessive. It was a strange mix, but I couldn't deny that it h

dare to come close to

nt. This was business so

or a moment of reprieve. The cool night air was a

he said, leaning agai

tried in futility to mask. The way he turned to me and gave m

el like I'm bar

st fine," he assured

to me with such easy and informal

The way the moonlight danced over the horizon, casting shadows across his

ng. Why go through all this trouble?" I sud

"Appearances can be deceiving, Kate. In my world, perception is everything.

hadn't expected, and for a moment, I saw p

ee why you picked

to me, his expression un

you," I said simply, though not s

e didn't respond. Instead, he pushed back fr

more person I want y

onsense demeanor. Her short, sleek black hair with grey highlights and tailored blue dress, with white sequin

te," Jared said, his

my PR Manager."

iancée," Margaret said, he

ou," I said, ex

a firm grip. "Let's hope you're

ite smile faltering

e shifting to Jared. "The media's already buzzin

trust myself to

sted she wasn't entirely convin

ening," she said before di

ling the weight of Ma

tense," I

ed. "And she's good at what she

that I was under a microscope, her perusal was more pi

xhaustion. The event had been a whirlwind, but I'd survived it, an

ned my head against the window, the city li

ell tonight," Jared sai

ured, my voice h

ng," he added, his tone b

y curiosity piqued.

flicker of something I couldn't quite place; something tha

ow the world exactly wh

, I stepped out, clutching my bag tightly. J

t, Kate,"

ied, watching as the car d

how much of myself I'd have to give to keep playing this par