Chapter 5 Just For Show?
Zephyra sat in front of her mirror, leaning nearer as she implemented the final touches of her make-up. Her eyeliner turned sharp, and her lipstick was flawless. Her hair became styled to perfection, and it framed her face in tender waves. She was already completely dressed and waiting for Kairo. It became their first public appearance together after the news of their relationship came out.
Her phone buzzed.
Kairo: I’m at the door of your home. Come down.
She exhaled, putting the lipstick aside. She checked her mirrored image for the last time, and she rose to her toes.
She walked down the stairs, grabbed her purse from the couch, and stepped outdoors.
Kairo was there, leaning casually against his smooth black car. The tuxedo he wore suited him like it had been sewn on his frame. He appeared irritatingly handsome to Zephyra, and judging from the faint smirk tugging at his lips, he knew it.
His eyes swept over her the second she appeared. She was sporting a deep emerald silk dress, flawlessly draped to expose her curves. The design was unmistakably hers: formidable, fashionable, and impossible to ignore.
Kairo pushed far from the car and opened the door for her like a gentleman with a strangely heated smile plastered on his face.
Zephyra gave him a sideways appearance, suspicion in her eyes, but slid into the front seat anyway.
By the point he rounded the car and got back in beside her, she requested, “Why are you acting so nice?”
“Journalists were following me,” he said, starting the engine. “Figured I’d better play my part early.”
Ever since the fact that news of their supposed relationship had broken, the click had long past gone wild. Journalists had been calling them for affirmation, paparazzi parked outside their homes, and social media turned into disbelief. Kairo Draven and Zephyra Lione? It didn’t make sense to absolutely everyone. Even them.
Tonight became their chance to silence the noise. to show the sector the picture-ideal couple they have been pretending to be.
The journey to the venue didn’t take long. By the point they pulled up in front of Dravencorp’s headquarters, converted into a glittering occasion hall, cameras had already been flashing.
The instant they stepped out, the journalists ran closer to them, their voices overlapping in a storm of questions.
“Mr. Draven, is it actually you who’s dating Zephyra Lione?”
“Leave out Lione. When did this start?”
“Weren’t you seen arguing simply weeks ago?”
Kairo held her hand, squeezing it simply sufficiently to make it look real. “It’s proper,” he said, voice steady.
A reporter asked why they had fought before.
“That became my fault,” Kairo spoke back easily. “I was too busy with work and did not note my lady friend.” He smiled down at her like she had become the center of his globe, his arm settling around her waist possessively.
Zephyra nearly cringed at the contact. She ought to tell him he changed into forcing it too. Neither of them favored this, being this near, pretending to care; however, they’d gotten proper at faking it from all the exercise pressured on them with the aid of their secretaries.
Inside the event was in full swing. This night became a celebration of Dravencorp’s current charity fundraiser, which had raised and allotted funds to limitless humans in need. On the level, Dalia Draven, Kairo’s mother, added her speech with the equally poised authority she turned into and regarded for.
While she finished, she smiled and invited Kairo up to present information about the employer’s upcoming projects.
Zephyra stayed close to the degree; however, her eyes narrowed when Dalia descended and approached her.
She knew that face. Dalia had rejected her as a student when Dalia was a designer, and tore apart her designs, calling them a waste of material.
Zephyra muttered beneath her breath, “No wonder I hated Kairo from the beginning. We’re archenemies.”
“Miss Lione,” Dalia stated with a perfectly well-mannered smile. “Fancy meeting you right here. Expecially with my son.”
Zephyra turned to her, returning the smile with identical sweetness. “Right? You by no means recognize what life brings. I didn’t understand you were still within the Fashion industry … after trying so hard to keep me out of it. disgrace that you needed to close your style residence simply to sign up for Dravencorp. I was hoping to go up against you for designer of the year.”
Dalia’s smile didn’t waver. “Kairo could certainly do anything it takes to make things paintings. I can tell this dating is truly for display.”
“You don’t have to fear me and my boyfriend,” Zephyra said smoothly. “However, you have to probably get used to seeing me around. This is just the start.”
Dalia’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t move my boundary. Simply stay in your lane. I desired you better as an business partner, not as my son's wife . anything you’re planning, you must stop.”
With that, she turned and walked away.
Applause broke out as Kairo finished speaking on stage. While he stepped down, his gaze locked onto Zephyra. The lighting fixtures in the room abruptly dimmed, and attention turned onto her.
Kairo’s voice carried throughout the room. “And to the love of my life, who has been with me via every step of the way…”
He walked in the direction of her, each step planned.
“I want to use this opportunity to ask you to be my partner for life,” he said, presenting in front of her. “Will you do me the honor of being my spouse?”
The room gasped.
Zephyra froze. This wasn’t in the plan. She didn’t recognize the notion that changed into that day. They probably kept it from her to make her amazed expression real. His expression wasn’t playful…it became severe. Too critical for a person faking a courtship. She again and again called herself to attention. It turned into all just for show.
She permitted her lips to tremble simply enough, then whispered, “Sure, babe. sure!”
Applause thundered. Cameras flashed as Kairo slipped the hoop on her finger and pulled her into a hug. Murmurs rippled through the group.
“So it’s true,” someone whispered. “I didn’t consider it earlier.”
Then a voice called out, “Kiss! Kiss!” The chant stuck like wildfire.
Zephyra’s heart raced. She wasn’t kissing him. Definitely not now. But then she looked at his annoyingly perfect face and nearly gave in.
She gave a strained smile and commenced to lean lower back to avoid it; however, his hand got here up, cupping her cheek, fingers brushing her ear.
“People are watching,” he murmured. “I hope I’m not stealing your first kiss.”
Before she can reply, his lips are on hers.
It must have been brief. A quick kiss, however, Kairo didn’t stop. He continued kissing her, deeply, like he was anticipating that moment. Zephyra’s pulse spiked, and notwithstanding her delight and hate, she kissed him back.
After they in the end pulled apart, she didn’t meet his eyes. She couldn’t.
What just took place?
They were supposed to hate each other. It was just for show… wasn't it?