Vivienne tightened her grip on the leather strap of her bag as she waited outside the grand ballroom of the Crescent Hotel. The chandelier light spilled out through the open doors, a soft golden glow that seemed to grow sharper, brighter with each nerve-wracking second. She had walked into many high-stakes meetings with Damon Sutherland before, but tonight was different. Tonight, she wasn't his assistant. She was his wife. And for the first time, she was painfully aware that she had no idea how to play her new role.
The diamond ring on her left hand felt cold and foreign, like it belonged to someone else. Someone who actually wanted this marriage. Vivienne inhaled, steadying herself, reminding herself of the reasons she'd agreed to this absurd arrangement. It was only for a few months. She'd get through it, just like everything else.
A familiar, low voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Ready?"
Vivienne looked up to find Damon standing beside her, his gaze steady but sharp, assessing. He wore a black tuxedo, tailored to perfection, every line and detail immaculate. He looked every bit the powerful CEO he was, exuding the kind of confidence that made others shrink in his presence. Yet tonight, there was something else in his gaze—an intensity, a challenge, as if testing her.
Vivienne lifted her chin. "As ready as I'll ever be."
A corner of his mouth quirked up, just barely, and he extended his arm. "Good. Then let's go in and convince them."
She slipped her hand around his arm, feeling the solid strength beneath the fabric, and allowed him to lead her into the ballroom. The crowd of guests, dressed in luxurious gowns and tailored suits, fell silent as they entered, all eyes turning their way. Damon kept his gaze straight ahead, his expression unreadable, but Vivienne felt the weight of every glance, every murmur.
"There he is," someone whispered. "And… is that his wife?"
A small group of board members approached, and Vivienne felt Damon's hand subtly press against her back, a reminder to stay close. She smiled, meeting the gaze of a particularly skeptical board member, Gerald Tanner, who had been Damon's rival for years.
"Damon," Gerald greeted, his tone thinly veiled with suspicion. His eyes flickered over to her, sizing her up. "And this must be Mrs. Sutherland."
"Yes," Damon replied smoothly, his arm slipping around Vivienne's waist in a show of possessiveness. "Vivienne, this is Gerald Tanner. He's one of the board's… senior members."
Vivienne held out her hand, her smile polite but guarded. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Tanner."
Gerald's eyes narrowed as he took her hand, his gaze flickering between her and Damon. "The pleasure's all mine, Mrs. Sutherland. You know, I was beginning to think Damon would never settle down."
"Oh, it was a surprise to both of us," Vivienne replied, her voice light but with a hint of challenge. She felt Damon's grip tighten slightly on her waist, a silent warning to tread carefully. "Sometimes life throws unexpected things our way."
"Indeed," Gerald replied, his tone skeptical, and Vivienne could feel the tension building in the air. Damon's reputation had always been his armor, but this sudden, unexpected marriage? That was a chink the board wouldn't hesitate to exploit if they sensed weakness.
"Well," Gerald continued, his voice low and pointed, "I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of each other. The board will want to know all about the new Mrs. Sutherland. After all, you're a very… unexpected addition to Damon's life."
Vivienne kept her expression calm, refusing to let him see her nerves. "I look forward to getting to know the board as well. It seems we'll all be working closely together for a while."
Gerald's smile tightened, but he said nothing more. As he drifted away, Vivienne exhaled, aware of Damon's gaze on her. She looked up at him, his expression unreadable but approving.
"You handled that well," he murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
"Didn't think I would?" she replied, lifting a brow.
"Let's just say I'm… pleasantly surprised."
He guided her toward a group of clients, his hand remaining at her waist, the touch warm but a reminder of the position she now occupied. She was his wife in name only, but tonight, she was expected to be everything he needed—a devoted partner, an unshakeable presence. And for the next few hours, she found herself swept into a whirlwind of introductions, whispered remarks, and pointed questions. Each time she felt her confidence waver, Damon's steady grip at her side reminded her of why she was here. She was playing her role, holding up her end of the deal.
But as the evening wore on, Vivienne found herself drawn to the glances Damon cast her way. Small, fleeting, but each one was enough to make her pulse race, to make her wonder if this was just a performance or something that neither of them had bargained for.
As the night came to a close, Damon led her to a quieter corner of the ballroom, his gaze unreadable. He leaned in, his voice low and close to her ear. "You've done well tonight, Vivienne. Almost made me believe it myself."
Vivienne's breath caught, her heart skipping a beat as she met his intense gaze. There was a hint of something behind those cold, calculating eyes—something she couldn't quite place. But just as quickly, the moment passed, and he straightened, his mask back in place.
"Remember," he continued, his tone cool once more, "this is just business. Don't get too comfortable in this role."
Vivienne's lips pressed together, a flash of defiance sparking in her eyes. "Trust me, Mr. Sutherland," she replied evenly. "Comfortable is the last thing I feel around you."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, leaving him staring after her, his expression unreadable. But as she moved through the crowd, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd left a piece of herself behind in that quiet corner of the ballroom… and that Damon had taken it with him.