Chapter 17:Lines in the Sand

The words on the screen blurred before Lena’s eyes.

“ETHAN MONTGOMERY'S SECRET LOVER? SOURCES CLAIM SHE’S NOT JUST A REPORTER—SHE’S A GOLD DIGGER.”

The room felt stifling, the walls closing in on her. Every nerve in her body screamed in protest, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Gold digger? They were painting her as some kind of manipulative schemer, a woman who had deliberately set her sights on Ethan for his wealth and power.

She wanted to scream.

Instead, she swallowed hard and forced herself to breathe.

Trina’s voice sliced through the thick silence. “What the actual hell?” She snatched the phone from Ethan’s grip and scrolled furiously. “They’re dragging your name through the mud, Lena. Who the hell is feeding them this garbage?”

Lena’s fingers curled into fists. “I think I know.”

Ethan’s gaze snapped to hers. “Victoria.”

She nodded, her throat tightening. “She’s the only one with enough motive to try and ruin me like this. She sees me as a threat, and she’s making sure the world sees me as one too.”

Trina let out a scoff. “Well, congratulations, Ethan. Your fiancée is officially out for blood.”

Ethan ignored the jab. His focus remained on Lena, his expression unreadable. “Do you have proof?”

Lena exhaled sharply. “No. But I don’t need it. The timing is too perfect. First, my past is being dug up, and now this? She’s trying to turn the media against me before I can expose her.”

Trina muttered a curse under her breath. “This is bad.”

Lena folded her arms, forcing herself to stay steady. “I can handle it.”

Ethan’s eyes darkened. “Can you?”

The way he said it—low, restrained—set her on edge.

Her chin lifted. “I’m not some damsel in distress, Ethan. I’ve dealt with worse.”

His gaze flickered with something she couldn’t quite name. “This isn’t just about you.”

Lena tensed. “What?”

Ethan exhaled sharply. “It’s about both of us, Lena. Whether you like it or not, you’re tangled in my world now. And in my world, scandals like this don’t just disappear.”

The weight of his words settled over her.

He was right. This wasn’t just a smear campaign. It was a power play. And if she didn’t fight back, Victoria would win.

Lena straightened her shoulders. “Then I’ll fight.”

Trina let out a low whistle. “Damn right you will.”

Ethan studied her, his expression unreadable. “What exactly do you plan to do?”

Lena met his gaze head-on. “I’m going to expose the truth.”

A flicker of something—admiration? Worry?—crossed his face. “That’s dangerous.”

Lena’s jaw tightened. “So is letting Victoria destroy my life,my whole career.”

A muscle ticked in Ethan’s jaw. “And if she comes after you harder?”

Lena’s heart pounded, but she didn’t back down. “Then I’ll be ready.”

Trina grinned. “Now that’s the Lena I know.”

Ethan exhaled through his nose, his gaze lingering on Lena for a long moment before he finally spoke.

“I’ll make some calls.”

Lena frowned. “Calls?”

“To my legal team. And Graham.” His voice was firm, no room for argument. “If Victoria is behind this, we need to be two steps ahead of her.”

Lena’s chest tightened. “I don’t need your protection.”

Ethan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Maybe not. But you have it anyway.”

The unspoken words hung between them.

Ethan to his leave.

Lena tapped her fingers restlessly against the café table, watching as Trina scrolled through her phone with laser focus.

“This is insane,” Trina muttered, her dark eyes scanning the screen. “Victoria’s got connections everywhere. PR teams, stylists, socialites. If we’re going to get close, we need an in.”

Lena leaned forward. “Which is why you’re going to be our way in.”

Trina smirked. “You really think she’s dumb enough to let a total stranger into her inner circle?”

“She’s vain,” Lena countered. “And obsessed with appearances. If you offer her something she can’t resist—an exclusive designer who can elevate her image—she won’t turn you down.”

Trina tapped her manicured nail against the table. “Alright. Let’s say she bites. What then?”

Lena exhaled. “Then you dig. Find out who she’s working with, what she’s hiding. If she really is the one feeding these stories to the press, we need proof.”

Trina sighed dramatically. “So let me get this straight. You want me, a bartender with a talent for bluffing, to pose as a high-end fashion designer and charm my way into a woman’s life just to expose her dirty secrets?”

Lena met her gaze evenly. “Yes.”

Trina grinned. “God, I love this plan.”

Trina had spent the past few days at Lena's,studying Victoria’s tastes, her favorite brands, even the stylists she frequented. The plan was simple: Trina would pose as a luxury designer, offering Victoria an exclusive collection. If Victoria bit, they’d have their way in.

Within hours, Trina was transformed. Gone were her usual ripped jeans and leather jackets. Instead, she wore a sleek, tailored dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, paired with elegant heels that clicked against the pavement as she walked. Her hair, normally wild and untamed, was now pinned into a sophisticated updo.

She looked the part. Now, she just had to sell it.

But the risks were undeniable.

Lena sat across from Trina in the dimly lit café, her fingers gripping the edge of her coffee cup. “Are you sure you can do this?”

Trina smirked. “Girl, please. You’re looking at the best damn fashion designer they’ve ever seen.”

Lena exhaled, relieved. “Victoria has a thing for high-end designers. If we’re going to get close to her, this is our way in.”

“You know she’s dangerous,” Lena said, lowering her voice. “If she finds out you’re not who you say you are—”

“She won’t,” Trina interrupted. “I’ve got this.”

Lena nodded, but a tight knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach.

Trina leaned closer. “You’re really into this guy, huh?”

Lena froze. “What? No. I mean… it’s not about that. It’s about exposing the truth.”

“Right. And the fact that he’s drop-dead gorgeous and keeps looking at you like he wants to devour you.”Trina said with a broad smile.

Paying to heed to what she said,Lena handed her a phone. “Everything you need to know about your ‘brand’ is here. You’re now Katrina Devereaux, an up-and-coming designer who just relocated from Paris.”

Trina arched her brow. “Paris? Bold choice.”

“You lived there for three years studying under a legendary designer before deciding to break into the American market.”

Trina smirked. “I like it. Gives me a certain… mystique.”

Lena crossed her arms. “Just don’t slip up.”

Trina winked. “Babe, deception is my second language.”

The charity gala was buzzing with Manhattan’s elite. Trina sipped her champagne, effortlessly weaving through the crowd as she studied her target.

Victoria Caldwell was draped in designer silk, laughing with a group of socialites, her perfectly manicured fingers twirling the stem of her wine glass. She exuded wealth, power, and the kind of arrogance that made Trina’s skin itch.

Trina took a slow breath. Show time.

She approached with the confidence of someone who belonged. “Victoria Caldwell?”

Victoria turned, her eyes cool and assessing. “Yes?”

Trina smiled, extending a hand. “Katrina Devereaux. I’ve been dying to meet you.”

Victoria’s lips curved into a practiced smile, but her eyes flickered with intrigue. “Have you now?”

Trina leaned in conspiratorially. “You have the most exquisite sense of style. My designs have been featured in Vogue Paris, but I’ve been searching for the perfect American muse.” She tilted her head. “And I think I just found her.”

Victoria’s eyes gleamed with interest.

Hook. Line. Sinker.