Beyond The White Charade

seum chandeliers, and playing soft jazz in the background, with every little d

treatment of Ryan by the staff that he

the entire nervous experience take over me, coupled

ner's eye. This was supposed to be a casual dinner between friends, just a way to start th

ouldn't help but peek at the diners, wonder

ing as casual as I co

ttle sharper than I expected. "Nice?" he opined with a lif

e shiny marble floors, gilded accents,

d to this kind of place," I admitted, forcing

was more a knowing one. "I would have guessed you would," he sai

y well that I was out of place here, and that this world consisted of things I

I am going to act like I am dating

of something unreadable crossing his fa

the inflection in his voice as it shifted, just a little. B

ied to clarify, hoping I d

'm doing this for free," I said, trying to explain. "But

ned, but I wasn't sure if it was a trick o

ot exactly easy to... pretend to be with. But I need you to know, the whole 'fake relati

answer. A forced relationship. A game. A performa

d wine. I saw how the staff treated him: it was some effortless respect, almost as

ted in this world, how much I had to adjust

for it was not about enjoying the wine or the food, but fitting into the mold Ryan had set

What do you do for fun when you're not hosti

ll running a company 'fun,' but... when I actually get a moment to breathe, I try to

eyebrow. " You are

"What's wron

Just seems a little... old fashioned. Like something

with amusement. "And w

new places, keeping my head down and... event planning doesn't lea

nce he didn't look particularly miffed, I guess we could continue.

ped looked genuine. "Though sometimes, I feel li

that must have already settled here - how else could it? Here were two strangers preten

before all this became something more than just work for

t have to pretend?" I spoke

oss his eyes, possibly surprising, or maybe amusement, or some other deepe

elf for being too fra

I had crossed a line. The rules had been set: no personal stuff, no

something safe again. "Well, I will admit... It's definitely a

into a little tight smile. "I thin

e trying too hard to make it not be awkward. The whole dinner was theatrical, an

s were calculated, while words hung precariously in

ry presence commanding the whole table. I stood up and hefted my bag, carrying around me th

thing had occurred to me before - it wasn't all just for show for everyone else. I had to

palm as I slipped into the backseat. "You did well tonight," h

ide the quiet of the car, I wanted to know just how lo