MONICA POV
THREE DAYS LATER
The days flew by in a blur of preparations for the charity gala. My nerves were constantly on edge as I rehearsed every possible scenario in my head. The mansion, with its vast rooms and elegant decor, felt like a gilded cage. I knew this event would be a turning point, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead kept me awake at night.
After much thought on what happened in the office some days ago, I knew that I had lots of work to do. Being engaged to a billionaire wasn't something anyone would just believe especially when I'm someone no one knew of and I perfectly understood why those directors felt Nicholas was stupid.
The night of the gala arrived sooner than I had hoped. As I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room, adjusting the shimmering gown Nicholas had provided, I couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt. Could I pull this off? Pretending to be the loving fiancée and soon-to-be fake wife of a man who saw me as nothing more than a business arrangement?
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to find Nicholas standing there, looking impossibly handsome in his tailored suit. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something softer in his gaze. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice neutral.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, trying to mask my anxiety with a smile as we both took the stairs and made our way to the car.
★★★★★
The drive to the gala was silent, the tension between us solid. As we arrived and stepped out of the car, the flash of cameras and the murmur of the crowd engulfed us. Nicholas's hand found the small of my back, guiding me with a firm but gentle touch. The warmth of his hand was oddly reassuring.
"Remember what we discussed, if anyone asks you any sort of question that you know could get us in any form of trouble, all you have to do is speak harshly and walk out on them. Don't tell anyone anything" he instructed and I nodded my head in agreement.
Inside, the ballroom was a dazzling display of wealth and opulence. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, and the air was filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses. Nicholas introduced me to several key figures, each exchange a test of my ability to play my role convincingly.
But as the night progressed, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Something just didn't feel right and I had this strong gut feeling that this night wasn't going to be as smooth as we planned.
"Monica, are you all right?" Nicholas's voice pulled me back to the present. His concern seemed genuine, but I couldn't be sure.
"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just a bit overwhelmed."
Nicholas nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "Let's get some fresh air."
We stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. The city lights twinkled below us, a stark contrast to the dark thoughts swirling in my mind.
"Is everything okay?" Nicholas asked, his tone softer than I had ever heard it. For a split second, I tried to read his facial expression to see what he might be thinking about or if he was genuinely concerned but his serious gaze just made me brush my thoughts aside.
"I just... I feel like things might not go as planned," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Nicholas's expression grew serious. "Don't worry. You're safe with me."
Before I could respond, the balcony door opened, and Anthony stepped out, his usual mischievous grin replaced by a look of concern.
"Nicholas, we have a problem," he said, his eyes darting towards me. "Ethan is here."
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of my ex-husband's name. "What? How? Why?"
"We don't know," Anthony replied, his tone urgent. "But he's here, and he's looking for you Nicholas. We need to leave, now."
Nicholas's grip on my arm tightened, his jaw set in determination. "Stay close to me," he instructed, leading me back inside.
As we made our way through the crowded ballroom, I spotted Ethan across the room, his eyes locking onto mine with a look of surprise and anger. Panic surged through me, and I clutched Nicholas's arm tighter.
"Keep walking," Nicholas murmured, his pace quickening.
We reached the exit just as Ethan began making his way towards us, pushing through the crowd with a determined look on his face. My heart pounded in my chest as we stepped outside, the night air hitting my face like a splash of cold water.
"Get in the car," Nicholas ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Monica" Ethan's voice made me halt on my track and I stood frozen. "What're you doing here?" He asked and I could feel Nicholas cold glare at me.
"And who do you think you're to ask questions?"
"Excuse me but I wasn't talking to you. I'm talking to my good-for-nothing ex-wife" Ethan's words hurt me so much that tears began to gather in my eyes.
I could feel Nicholas' eyes on me but I was too weak to even look at him."Very well said. Your ex-wife but my future first lady. She is my fiancee you mother*****r"
"Your fiancée? This barren vessel is your fiancée? You've got to be kidding me," Ethan said, his disbelief evident as he stared at me in astonishment. "How did you do it, Monica? One day we're no longer together, and the next, you're engaged to an affluent man like Nicholas?"
"Monica get in now" Nicholas ordered coldly, glaring at me and I instantly went inside the car. I knew that this was the beginning of a new and dangerous chapter in my life but I wasn't sure if I was prepared for it.