The business event day came up faster than I had expected, and I was unable to release the knot of stress in my gut. For the preceding week, Amelia and I had been quite deliberate about how we would promote ourselves as a couple. We needed to make sure everything was flawless because even a small mistake could reveal our trick to her peers and the business community as a whole.
I stood in the mirror, trying to relax while I adjusted my tie for what seemed like the hundredth time. Throughout my military career, I attended a lot of formal functions, but this one was unique. This was not a goal I could do by trusting my experience or gut feeling. My ability to function in a world of riches, power, and manipulation, a world I had never been a part of, was being put to the test.
I sighed to myself, "Lucas, you're overthinking it," and inhaled deeply. I had to concentrate, I knew. It wasn't just about me; it was also about defending Amelia's CEO role. Error was not an option since the stakes were so high.
A gentle tap on the door caught my attention, and when I turned around I saw Amelia standing there in her tasteful black gown, which accentuated all the correct contours. Her immaculate makeup and flowing waves-styled hair accentuated her inherent attractiveness. For an instant, I was amazed at how naturally she held people's attention, all without uttering a word.
I tried to keep my voice steady as I said, "You look... stunning." I had to force myself to remember that this was all a performance when I saw her.
She smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, Lucas. "I think you clean up pretty good yourself."
With a laugh, I tried to defuse the tension that existed between us. "I attempt."
With a solemn attitude, she entered the room. "Ready for this, are you? Tonight, a lot of people will be watching us closely.
With renewed confidence, I nodded. "I am prepared. I promise not to disappoint you, we've practiced this enough.
She gave me a quick look as if she was looking for any hint of uncertainty, and then she nodded. Well done. Just keep in mind to never let anyone corner you and to always be close to me. Simply follow my example if you're unsure of anything.
I appreciated her candor and responded, "I Got it." She did a good job of hiding her nervousness, but I could still tell. We both understood the significance of this evening and were committed to making it work.
I couldn't help but notice Amelia's tense posture as we made our way from the house to the car. Even though she was normally so calm and in charge, there was something vulnerable about her tonight that made me want to shield her even more. Threats of any kind were unknown to me going into this event, but I was prepared for anything.
We were all engrossed in our thoughts during the largely silent trip to the location. As soon as we got there, I realized how grand the occasion was. Some of the biggest names in the business were present in the opulent ballroom that served as the venue. The area was filled with the sound of soft conversation and classical music, while crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling provided a cozy radiance.
I held out my arm to Amelia and she grabbed it as we got out of the car. Although I wanted to act naturally, I couldn't help but get excited at the touch. Together, we ascended the stairs into the ballroom, and as we did so, I could feel the visitors' gazes on us.
As we stepped in, the hum of chatter subsided a little, and I could feel the looks we received being met with interest, and occasionally mistrust. Amelia's standing as a strong and unwavering CEO had always kept her apart from her colleagues, so there were sure to be some raised eyebrows when she showed up with her "fiancé."
Amelia murmured to me, "Remember to smile and be courteous," as we started to mingle with the people. "People will ask questions, but we don't have to respond to them with anything more than what we've practiced."
I greeted the first few people who came over, nodding and maintaining a casual expression. Eager to impress Amelia, the majority of them were investors and business professionals. They gave me a skeptical and curious look, but I was able to sidestep their inquiries with ease.
"So, Lucas," a graying-haired man wearing a fine suit asked, looking at another executive beside us, "how did you two meet?" Amelia has kept a lot of information about her personal life to herself, I must admit.
I grinned, thinking of the backstory we had written. I said with ease, "We met through mutual friends." "We just clicked, which was unexpected."
Amelia gave me a glance as a tiny smile played on her lips. Warming up, she said, "Lucas is very modest." However, the connection was made right away. From then on, we have been indivisible.
The executive arched an eyebrow, indicating that he was curious but not quite convinced. He gave us a sly glance and remarked, "Well, you certainly make a striking couple." "I do not doubt that we will see you more often in the future."
Before introducing ourselves to the following set of visitors, we said a few more hellos. As the evening wore on, I noticed that Amelia's anxiety was starting to subside a little bit, which gave me hope. We were able to keep our cover, and our story grew more credible the more we talked to others.
Nevertheless, there were times when the charade's weight felt particularly heavy on me. Maintaining the appearance of being Amelia's fiancé required continual attention to detail—every action and every word had to be carefully considered. I could not afford, even for a moment, to drop my guard.
We stood close to the ballroom's edge one evening when we were alone for a little while. I could see the weariness in Amelia's countenance as she took a sip of champagne and looked around the room.
"Are you doing okay?" I moved toward her and asked gently.
She gave a nod, her smile falling just short of her eyes. "I'm doing good. Simply put, it's a lot.
I got what she was trying to say. It was draining to be under such scrutiny and performance pressure. However, I was also aware of the significance of this incident for the company's future as well as for her reputation.
In an attempt to soothe her, I said, "We're doing well." "Nothing is suspicious."
She glanced at me, letting her guard down for a bit. She whispered, "Thank you, Lucas." I understand it's not simple, but Thank you for being here for me.
I was unprepared for her remarks and experienced an odd mixture of feelings. Though I had agreed to assist her because I thought it was the proper thing to do, hearing her express her thanks gave the situation a more genuine and intimate sense.
Naturally, I said in a similarly hushed voice. Amelia, I'm available to you. Anything you require.
After a short, intense stillness between us, she returned to the room, her professional mask slowly sliding back into place. "It's time for us to resume our socializing," she stated in a serious tone.
Knowing that the moment was over, I nodded. However, when we reentered the throng, I couldn't get rid of the sensation that something had changed between us. I was unsure of how to proceed when the distinctions between our jobs and between actuality and pretense began to blend.
A few visitors looked especially interested in us as the evening went on, and I noticed this by their slightly too-lengthy stares and somewhat too in-depth questioning. Not wanting to wake Amelia up, I mentally noted to watch them. We'd come too far to have a few curious guests ruin our secret.
I couldn't have been more eager to go when the event eventually started to wind down. When we walked to the exit, Amelia appeared relieved as well, nodding and grinning at the guests who wished us a good night. I could feel the stress leave my body as we made our way to the car and went outside into the crisp night air.
Amelia took a deep breath and sank back into the seat after we were inside and the door shut behind us. Her voice was worn out yet relieved as she continued, "That was... intense."
I nodded and undid my necktie. However, we managed to survive.
With a sincere smile on her face, she turned to face me. Yes, we did. Lucas, I'm grateful.
With the weight of the evening gradually fading, we sat there for a moment as the city lights flickered outside the windows. I was aware that this was just the start and that there would be more incidents and difficulties to come. However, I was happy to let the moment last for the time being and relish the little triumph we had just made.
Thoughts of what was ahead for us crossed my mind as the vehicle left the location. Though we had come to this agreement out of necessity, the longer I got to know Amelia, the more I understood that this wasn't simply about preserving her career or preserving her reputation. Deeper considerations were involved, which neither of us had quite realized at the time.
I knew that the distinction between our performance and reality would only get more hazy, despite my best efforts to ignore those thoughts. How long could we continue to live a lie before reality caught up with us? Was the query.