Three: Façade.

CHAPTER THREE:

At 3:11 p.m., Rose was running late. 

The fashion designer had taken most of her time and she had less than thirty minutes to get stuff from the mall and get back home just in time. 

Which was no longer possible as she’d caused an accident, leaving scratches and a dent on the expensive-looking, black, sleek car, and in turn ruining her bumper.

Rose immediately hopped out of her car as the driver in the black car stepped out, looking pissed.

She hurried over to the man dressed in a dark suit. “I’m so sorry,” she said quickly. “I’m really sorry, I didn't mean to.”

“Ma'am, you were driving recklessly, you could have killed people.”

“You’re right,” she admitted earnestly, hoping the man would accept cash and keep insurance out of it. The last thing she needed was a claim on record—or, God forbid, the cops. 

Her family—especially her father-in-law—wouldn't let her live it down. 

She was just about to politely offer some cash when the back door suddenly opened and the man who’d been talking to her stepped aside. 

Her eyes fell on the figure stepping out of the car, tall and imposing. His features were striking and carved, almost too perfectly—strong jaw, defined cheekbones. But his green eyes were cold and assessing as they fell on her. 

Rose recognized him instantly. 

“Kai?” She gasped, eyebrows almost kissing her hairline. 

Jasper’s cousin. 

Kaiser Montclair. 

The CEO of Charlville Group. The company was worth at least five times more than A&T Holdings Group even though it was only eight years old. 

Kai frowned deeply. “Roseanne?”

She grimaced. 

Only her late parents and Kai called her that. 

“Are you hurt?” He asked, his voice flat. 

“I’m okay,” she assured. “I was just speaking to your driver here, I’m willing to pay for the damages I caused.”

Of course, she knew it was silly to ask that now given that Kai definitely didn't need her money, but it was the polite thing to do. 

Kai stared at her in silence for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. His eyes fell on her car. 

“Yours has a lot more damage than mine,” he stated. “Use the money to fix it.”

Rose gave an awkward laugh. “Thank you, really. But are you sure you don't need me to cover your repairs?” 

“It’s not a big deal,” he replied. “If you don’t mind, Steve could call someone to fix your car while I take you home.” 

She shook her head. “No, no, please. It was my fault. I can't let you do that and I can find my way home. Thank you.”

Kai said nothing, he only stared with an intensity that made Rose feel a bit shy. 

“You haven’t changed much. Still as beautiful as I remember,” he said suddenly, like he was announcing the weather.

She flushed at his praise.  “I, uh… Thank you.”

He gave her a curt nod, digging his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a dark blue card. “Here’s my card.”

Rose was momentarily shocked, she hadn't expected it but she took the card anyway. “I’ll do well to keep in touch,” she promised.

“Contact me if you need anything at all,” he said and then he turned around to his car with his driver close on his tail.

“It’s good to see you again,” She called out but he had already shut his door. 

She’d last seen him in her freshman year. His name was a sore topic for the Thompsons, they hated him and almost never spoke about him. This was mostly because Kai was their biggest competition, and he kicked A&T Group out of the number one spot. But Rose suspected there was more to their hatred of him. 

In her earlier memories, Kai used to live with the Thompsons when she and Jasper were about eight years old, and then one day, he was nowhere to be found until they randomly met him as a senior in college where Jasper had been hostile to him and warned Rose never to interact with him. 

Taking a deep breath, Rose turned to look at her damaged car, thinking of excuses to give to her mother-in-law. And she came up with nothing. 

She was truly and utterly fucked. 

~  ~  ~ 

“You can't get anything right, can you?” Elaine thundered. “You couldn't even get the ingredients I needed for baking! Have you always been this useless?”

Rose’s heart pounded hard in her ears—not out of fear but humiliation. She could feel every pair of eyes on her, she could hear the murmurs and whispers of every guest in the garden. 

“I admit, it is my fault,” she choked out, on the verge of tears. “But please don't make a scene, I’m begging you.” 

Elaine’s red painted lips curled in disgust. “How dare you tell me what to do in my own home? You, a woman who is as good as barren?”

The soft music playing in the garden paused. And the whispers grew louder. 

If the ground could open and swallow her up, Rose would wholeheartedly let it. Anything but this.

“I know for a certain you arrived late on purpose!” Elaine continued, her voice somehow managed to keep going higher every time she spoke. 

“Elaine… please,” Rose begged, her voice small. “I—”

“What’s going on here?” Jasper walked up to both women and of course, he had one arm looped with Lillian’s.

“Ask your wife,” His mother scoffed. “She’s so jealous of Lillian that she tried to sabotage her perfect day!” 

While Elaine rambled on, Rose noticed two things. 

One, her husband, and her best friend looked like the picture-perfect couple.

And two, Lillian wasn't wearing the white, beaded dress Rose had struggled to get picked up. No. Instead, she was in a deep, maroon silk dress that matched Jasper’s necktie. It wasn't just the colors that were matching… The materials were the exact same.

That… that could only mean one thing; they already had this made for today. 

The realization hit her like a freight train. She’d been a damn fool, panicking over not getting home in time to give Lillian her dress. 

Was this Elaine’s doing? 

Lillian had to know about this because over five minutes ago, Rose had gone to give her the dress, apologizing profusely for the delay. 

“… I don’t know what’s going on with you, Rosy.” Lillian’s painfully sweet voice pulled Rose out of her head.

“You’ve grown so insecure these days, I’m beginning to feel uncomfortable and unsafe,” she continued with a pout, clinging tightly to Jasper who heaved a sigh. 

“She’s becoming more irritating with each passing day.” 

Rose ignored him, staring at her best friend, her chest tight. “Did you already have this dress planned out for today?” 

“Does that really matter now?” 

“Answer me!” Rose snapped. Her sudden outburst shocked all three of them. “Did you fucking let me go out there, make a fool of myself while you had a dress planned?”

Silence fell.

For a few beats, no one moved a muscle.

And finally, Lillian’s facade crumbled.

Her menacing gaze bore into Rose. “Yes, what about it?”