Faye’s POV

The next day, Neil had sent a black car to pick me up, or at least, that was what I thought until I saw him inside of the car as well. He had a tablet in one hand and his phone in the other. He looked up when I came in, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe? Approval?

“Nice of you to show.” He said, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

“You didn’t have to show up yourself you know? I could have just made my way to wherever we were going.” I said as I got in and looked out the window, catching sights of my parents peeking through the curtains.

They had been bombarding me with questions ever since the announcement was out and I only let them know what they needed to know.

“Nonsense.” He waved me off. “Let’s go, Richard.”

The driver moved.

Our first stop was a dinner with board members. His world was all suits, deals, and power hidden behind polite words. I said little. Smiled just enough. Watched everything. After dinner, back in the car, he looked at me.

“You handled them well.”

“They weren’t talking to me. Just at me.”

“That’s how they test people.”

“Well.” I said, “then I passed. Barely.”

He glanced over, something like amusement in his eyes. “You’ll do more than pass.”

I looked out the window, hiding the way that made my stomach flutter.

***

The next night was the gala.

Neil had someone deliver a dress earlier that morning. I almost didn’t open the box. It felt like another step toward losing control. But when I finally pulled back the tissue paper, I gasped.

The dress was... a weapon. Dark red silk. Off-shoulder. Smooth as sin. It hugged my body like it knew every curve and flowed around my legs like smoke. I stood in front of the mirror and hardly recognized myself and when I stepped out of my house, Neil, who had come along with the driver to pick me up personally this time, went still.

I noticed how his jaw tightened and the way his eyes dropped from my eyes to my waist, then slowly back up. A smirk fought its way to my lips.

“You look—” He cleared his throat. “Perfect.”

I tilted my head. “Was that hard to say?”

“No. Hard not to say more.”

“Right, just be sure to not fall for me.” I said in a sing- song manner.

Obviously, he ignored me all the way. The gala was held at a glass-walled event center overlooking the city. Lights twinkled like stars below us. The air smelled like expensive perfume and champagne.

I linked my hand with Neil as per his instruction and we made our way into the hall where everyone was gathered.

“Just play it cool like this last time and we will be pulling through this soon.” Neil whispered in my ear.

I nodded while looking around, not like I could recognize anyone. However, I felt my breath choke up in my throat as my eyes actually fell on someone whom I recognized and never thought I would ever see again after

Dean Matthews, my ex-husband.

He hadn’t seen me yet, but my eyes shifted to the hands connected to his. I didn’t recognize the woman he was with but for some reason, she seemed real familiar. Her arms were hanging off Dean’s arms like some polished ornament. She wore a silver dress so tight it looked sprayed on.

Her eyes met mine before Dean’s and I noticed they flicked to Neil’s before looking me up and down and narrowing her eyes. Just then, Dean’s eyes widened a little when he saw me. They both drew closer and I stopped walking, bringing Neil with me to a stop.

“What’s wrong?” Neil asked.

“Faye?” Dean’s voice overshadowed Neil’s question. His voice was laced with surprise.

“Dean.” I replied coolly. “Long time.”

“You look... different.” Dean voiced out, looking at me.

“Thanks.” I said, smiling sweetly. “Divorce tends to strip off the weight of lies.”

Neil stepped beside me, placing a gentle hand on my lower back as he chuckled. “Everything alright here?”

“Neil, is this who you’re with now after dumping me?” Clarisse questioned, her eyes not leaving me and not bothering to hide the disgust on her face anyway.

“Neil.” Dean looked him up and down with a frown on his face. “You’re dating her?”

“Is there a problem with that?” Neil drew me closer. “Or do I need your permission to be with her?”

“Also, I guess you two are together as well.” I smiled as I ensured to focus my gaze on their linked hands.

“Of course we are.” He said, holding on to her hand even more.

Clarisse’s eyes sparkled with something cruel. “How long do you think this one will last, Neil? Another month? Maybe two?”

“Long enough to make an impression.” He replied with a tight smile.

The tension was thick. Their voices were polite, but sharp underneath. I tried to hold it together. Then Clarisse leaned in, whispering close to my ear.

“You’ll never be more than a temporary PR stunt just like I was.”

I scoffed and looked at her with a small smile on my lips. “You’d be surprised at just how much more I can be.”

She flipped her hair back in a nonchalant way. “So we always say at first, but soon you’d see what I’m talking about in full tears.” She glared at Neil before pulling Dean and walking away.

I blew out a tense breath. “Well, that went well.”

“I guess it did.” Neil agreed.

I immediately looked in his direction. “You didn’t tell me you had a lot of ex girlfriends.”

“Did I forget to mention that?” He blinked about three times before looking away. “I guess I did forget.”

“And none has ever been past one or two months?” I scoffed lightly. “Hopefully they won’t try to pull my hair out when they find out about the engagement or marriage because that girl sure did sound bitter about the breakup.” I teased.

“Hopefully they don’t.” He nodded, looking ahead.

I widened my eyes slightly as though trying to look at him properly. “What did you just say?”

“Come, we have much to do.” He began pulling me along.

“You have to answer me first.” I said, but he paid me no attention as he just kept walking.

The night wore on and I was finally outside, tired of dealing with individuals who I did not know. Releasing a huge quantity of air out of my system, I stayed outside on the balcony and held on to the railing as I gazed out at the open sky. Just remembering that I saw Dean earlier, made me want to scream from anger.

“Ms. Martin.” Neil’s voice came from behind me, low and rough.

“Faye please, it’s weird to be called Ms. Martin all the time.” I said, still staring at the sky.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I said, not turning around.

“You’re not.” He said. “He got under your skin, didn’t he?”

I swallowed hard. “It’s not him. It’s me. I shouldn’t have come here. I don’t belong in your world.”

He stepped closer. “Don’t say that, you’ve been doing a really great job.”

“It’s true.” I said, facing him now. “You’re the real deal. I’m the woman people whisper about when I walk past.”

“I don’t care what they whisper.” He said. “They’ll shut up soon enough.”

“I thought I could handle this. But I’m not built for this kind of attention anymore.”

He was close now. Close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body even in the night air.

“Maybe you were never given the chance to handle it on your own terms.” He said.

I looked up at him. His eyes searched mine. No smugness. No challenge. Just... something softer. He leaned up and gently brushed a strand of hair out of my cheek and for some reason, I could hear my heart thumping in my ears as he leaned in closer by a fraction.

Like…like he was going to kiss me…

And then—his hand dropped. His entire demeanor shifted and he stiffened.

“What is it?” I asked.

Neil’s jaw clenched as he subtly turned his head, scanning the far end of the balcony.

“Don’t move.” He said lowly, almost too quietly in a way that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“Neil, what do you me—?”

His hand slid to my wrist in a firm but gentle manner that cut me off mid-sentence.

“We’re being watched.” He muttered.