Behind closed doors

I woke up the next morning feeling better after a good night’s sleep. I tried my best not to think about the previous day—it’s a new day, and I need to think positive, I had said to myself.

The sunlight streaming through the curtains brought a sense of clarity, even if only temporary.

After taking a quick shower and dressing in casual clothes, I headed downstairs, expecting silence. Instead, I was greeted by the sound of muffled voices coming from the kitchen. My curiosity got the best of me, and I peeked in to find Jake talking on the phone, his back to me, his tone sharp and clipped.

“Make sure the arrangements for the dinner are flawless. No mistakes,do you understand?” His voice was cold, commanding.

He turned slightly, catching sight of me standing awkwardly in the doorway. His expression softened for a split second before returning to his usual self.

“I’ll call you back,” he said into the phone, hanging up before the person on the other end could respond.

“Good morning,” I said cautiously .

He looked straight at me . “Morning. There’s a lot to do today, so don’t make any plans.”

I nodded, swallowing my irritation. “Got it.”

“We’re going shopping this afternoon,” he continued, his tone brisk. “You’ll need a dress for the company dinner.”

“Shopping?” I echoed, caught off guard.

“Yes. Consider it part of the arrangement,” he said without looking up. “Be ready by two.”

And just like that, the conversation was over. Jake stood, placed his empty cup in the sink, and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. I busied myself with some works in my room, trying not to dwell on the mounting pressure of the dinner or the strange tension between Jake and me. By the time two o’clock rolled around, I was dressed and waiting by the front door, my heart pounding in anticipation.

Jake arrived right on time, his usual cold expression in place as he led me to the car. The drive to the boutique was quiet, the air between us heavy with unspoken words.

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The boutique Jake took me to was the kind of place I’d only ever seen in magazines—luxurious, exclusive, and far beyond anything I could have imagined for myself. The sales assistants practically fawned over Jake the moment we walked in, their smiles widening when he mentioned I needed something for a formal event.

I tried on dress after dress, each one more extravagant than the last. The assistants offered compliments and suggestions, but their words blurred together as my anxiety grew. This wasn’t just about picking a dress; it was about becoming someone I wasn’t, someone who could fit into Jake’s world.

Finally, I stepped out of the fitting room in a sleek black gown that hugged my body in all the right places. The assistant’s face lit up, and even Jake looked up from his phone, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than usual.

“Well?” I asked, my voice tinged with self-consciousness.

Jake stood, his expression neutral as he approached. “It’ll work,” he said simply, though his tone softened slightly.

I frowned. “That’s it? It’ll work?”

His lips twitched, almost forming a smile. “You look good, Sophy. Don’t overthink it.”

I know I look good,what’s so bad in telling me the fact straight up without saying “Don’t overthink it” I had to said to myself forming a smile on my face..

The assistant clapped her hands together, eager to finalize the selection. As she took the gown away to be packed, I turned to Jake, my anxiety creeping out.

“What happens if I mess up at the dinner?” I asked quietly.

Jake’s expression hardened, his gaze locking onto mine. “You won’t mess up. Just follow my lead, and everything will be fine.”

I nodded, though his reassurance did little to ease my nerves. Deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in over my head.

---

And yet, as Jake opened the car door for me and I climbed inside, I realized that for the next six months, this world was mine. Whether I liked it or not, I had to survive it.

By the time we got back to Jake’s house, the sun was beginning to set. I stepped out of the car, clutching the garment bag that held the dress, and followed Jake inside. He seemed preoccupied, his jaw tight and his movements brisk as he headed straight to his office.

I went up to my room, wanting nothing more than to collapse on the bed and shut out the world. But as I unpacked the dress and hung it up, a strange unease settled over me. Something about Jake’s behavior today felt… different. Off, even.

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. Maybe I was just imagining things. Or maybe this whole situation was starting to get to me.

As I sat down on the edge of the bed, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I picked it up, expecting a message from Lia or a reminder from Jake about the dinner.

But the message wasn’t from anyone I recognized.

An unknown number had sent me a message saying “Be careful who you trust,Not everything is as it seems”.

My heart skipped a beat, the mysterious message sending a chill down my spine.

I stared at the screen, my mind racing. Who sent this? And what did they mean?

Before I could process it, there was a knock at the door. I jumped, clutching the phone tightly in my hand.

“Sophy,” Jake’s voice called from the other side, calm yet firm. “We need to talk.”

I hesitated, my pulse quickening. The timing was too strange to be a coincidence.

Taking a deep breath, I slipped the phone into my pocket and stood. As I opened the door and met Jake’s unreadable gaze, a single thought echoed in my mind:

*What have I gotten myself into?

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