CHAPTER FOUR : Into The Lion's Den

KATE

Mrs Romano’s eyes met mine.

And just like that, I knew I wasn’t welcome.

The verdict didn’t need words.

It was in the way her gaze lingered a second too long. In the slight tightening of her lips. In the silence that followed.

I lowered my eyes and took my seat.

The dining table was too long. Too polished. Too perfect.

Everything about this place reminded me of what I wasn’t.

Dinner was served. No one spoke.

The silence wasn’t empty, It was heavy.

Mrs Romano sat at the head of the table, composed and elegant.

Mr Romano looked… tired. Like he didn’t want to be here at all.

My father, on the other hand, was thriving.

Laughing too loudly, talking too much, trying too hard to belong.

Mum sat at a far end, quiet and awkward. She hadn’t looked at me since I arrived. Not like I wasn't used to that.

I swallowed and forced myself to eat even though every bite felt like sand in my mouth.

Leon hadn’t said a word. But I could feel him.

Every now and then, his gaze brushed against me.

Not soft nor curious but measured. Like he was watching something unfold exactly the way he expected it to.

I hated it.

“You’ll have to adjust quickly,” Mrs Romano said suddenly.

Her voice sliced through the silence.

I looked up. She was looking directly at me.

“This family does not tolerate embarrassment.”

My fingers tightened slightly around my fork.

“I understand,” I said quietly.

She studied me for a moment longer then looked away.

Conversation resumed. But not really. Because everything had already been said.

                 ***********

The next morning was worse.

The entire mansion had transformed overnight.

Lights, cameras, people everywhere.

“Stand still.”

A stylist adjusted the neckline of my dress for the third time.

Another fixed my hair.

Another my makeup.

I stared at my reflection. The girl in the mirror didn’t look like me, she looked like someone who belonged here.

That was the problem.

The door opened. I didn’t need to turn to know it was him.

“Everyone out.”

The room cleared instantly.

Silence settled.

I met his gaze through the mirror.

Leon Romano.

Standing behind me like this was exactly where I was meant to be.

For some reason I could feel my pulse race.

“What’s with the hair?” he asked.

I was tying up my hair, the stylist had left it falling in curls but I didn't like my hair down.

“None of your business.”

A faint smirk touched his lips.

“It is, actually.”

He stepped closer.

“My reputation depends on this marriage.”

Before I could react, his hands reached up, pulled my hands from my head and my hair came tumbling down, falling over my shoulders.

He smiled at the result. I froze.

His eyes stayed on mine through the mirror.

Then he reached into his pocket, produced a necklace.

It was made of diamonds and rubies. It looked really expensive.

Of course it was.

He stepped closer. Closer than necessary.

My breath caught as his fingers brushed against my neck, slowly.

Deliberate.

He moved my hair aside, exposing my bare neck. 

His gaze returned to me in the mirror. I looked away. He had never been this close before, it was disturbing.

The room suddenly felt smaller. Warmer.

His fingers lingered longer than they needed to.

Then they didn’t stop.

A light trace along my skin. My stomach tightened. 

I turned sharply, too fast. I almost lost my balance.

His hand caught me instantly and we were face to face, noses almost touching.

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips, then back to my eyes.

“You look good in diamonds,” he said quietly.

I stepped back immediately.

“Ever heard of personal space?” I shot at him.

“We’re getting married, Katie,” he replied, unfazed.

A pause.

“Personal space is dead.”

And just like that, he walked out. Like nothing had happened.

I turned back to the mirror. The necklace sat perfectly against my skin, like it was made exactly for me.

I hated that it looked right.

                    ***********

The cameras didn’t stop flashing.

“Closer.”

“Smile.”

“Look at him.”

I did none of those things willingly.

Leon’s hand rested lightly on my waist, firm enough to control, soft enough to look natural.

To everyone else we looked perfect. Like we belonged together. Like this was real.

It wasn’t.

I could feel it in the stiffness of my shoulders, in the way my jaw tightened every time he pulled me closer.

“Relax,” he murmured under his breath.

I couldn't.

“If you keep looking like that,” he continued, “people might start thinking this isn’t real.”

I let out a quiet scoff.

“Maybe it isn’t.”

His grip tightened slightly.

“Smile.”

The cameras flashed again.

And I did. Because I had to. Because this wasn’t just a lie anymore, It was a performance.

And I was stuck in the lead role.

From across the room, I spotted Allison. Her eyes were locked on me, concern written all over her face.

Bryan stood beside her, talking, smiling. From his body language, he was obviously trying to charm her or something.

She didn't seem interested at all.

Until he said something that made her snap.

I could see her lips moving, spewing out her thoughts.

Bryan's smile leaned into her angry words.

A movement by the door caught my attention. I turned slightly.

There he was, a lone figure staring at Leon and I as we kept posing for the never-ending clicks.

Oliver.

He wasn’t supposed to come. But he did.

And the look on his face, It wasn’t just anger.

It was something darker. Something that made my chest tighten.

Leon noticed him too.

Of course he did.

A slow smirk spread across his lips. Then he pulled me closer.

My breath caught.

I looked up at him instinctively.

The cameras went wild.

It was a perfect shot. A perfect moment. A perfect lie.

The wedding was only two days away, tensions were mounted high.

With everything that was at stake, I knew this wasn’t going to end well.