ed around the sleek glass coffee table. Three people, all dressed

, back straight, arms cro

Allison. I'm Dana Marks, head of PR for Wilson Global. Congratulat

said, unsure if it

pped out your social media presence, and scheduled your first official photo shoo

Allison asked, settling

u're the grounded girl-next-door who captured the heart of Manhattan

icked toward h

nod. "And if I

Then the tabloids writ

lear: play the pa

ded air. She slipped into the study, shut the door, and pulled

e tappe

on the first r

voice cracked

ews. Everyone has. I-" Rose hesitated. "Y

by the desk. "They've already built a

said gently. "No matter how much money is invol

d hard. "I'm not

silence fo

onger than I ever was. Just don't lose

t, willing away the

Rose whispered. "Just be real. E

in silence for a long moment, sta

e

eal-even in a

the only thing that c

e staircase in a gown that shimmered like moonlig

ans, CEOs, celebrities. Waiters weaved through the crowd w

say?" Kyle murmured

e steady. "Smile. Laugh s

s scanning her face. "

wer. They bega

ey entered. Whispers ros

e she

t's

u see t

geous-but no wa

smile di

duced her to old-money families and sharp-eyed investors. He was

sculpture on display-admired, inspected,

cam

apped in red sati

d evenly. "Didn't t

lly, ignoring Allison for a beat too lo

rrected, offering a h

that never reached her eyes.

d sweetly. "He needed so

itched, but he

y, Allison muttered, "

, but his silen

ions, and staged photos, they finally escaped to the ter

e railing, her voice

t w

l this. It's easier to

then-really loo

didn't

said softly. "I need hone

owly. "Then we'll ke

gile thread of

, they stood as two people pretendi

g, the headline

w Flame: Strategi

ircus? Socialites Wei

Kyle's Surprise Engagement-S

et, still in her robe, cof

ng on the terrace, heads tilted just close enough to h

ée-Who Is This Myster

ed the ta

in running gear, pouring a protei

he asked, more t

d

that'

her eyes. "It's noise.

want to,"

g his shake on the counter.

yed a

yed it bette

ftened. Almost l

-validation, truth, anything unscripted. "Do

ated. "S

an thing he'd said

ed, heavy but not uncomfortable.

tucked a strand of

said quietly. "But I see

the space between them

lowed hard.

tracts or cameras. Just two people on oppo

d. Another meeting.

e moment was gone-

still reeling from the headlines w

black marble desk, scrolling through

aid without

. "You sound like a

imes I forget ther

ear

s sharp but unreadable. "

blinked.

t we

rtain she'd misheard.

"Saturday. My parents alr

. "You already-?

The longer we wait, the more stories they invent. A sud

in disbelief. "Do you hear yourself? T

he reminded her. "Term

"but I didn't agre

y. "I didn't do this to hurt yo

ying to gather her thoughts.

eady on it. Designers, florists, every

not th

his is happening. The world's watching.

ground beneath her felt

ispered that maybe the faster it all happened, th

week, Kyle. You better be sure. Because

ed once

lse, her heart a storm of nerves, disbelief-a