“Because you asked.” He kissed my forehead. “And because I’ve never seen you look at Alex the way you looked at Christian. And I’ve never seen Alex look at you the way Christian did.”
That night, lying in bed, I couldn’t sleep. My father’s words echoed in my mind, mingling with my memories of Christian.
It was all part of the arrangement, I told myself over and over. Christian was an excellent actor. He’d played the role to perfection, all the way to the end.
But then why did my heart ache at the thought of his eyes welling up when he spoke to my dad? Why did the idea that he truly cared make my chest tighten?
And more importantly: if it had all been just an arrangement, why did I still feel this persistent longing, this sense of loss no new job or apartment could fill?
The small velvet box on my nightstand seemed to glow in the dark, as if reminding me of a promise left unfulfilled.
Soon I would leave for Highridge Valley. For an important event. To prove my professional worth.
And maybe, just maybe, to find out if there was any truth in my father’s words.
The company car wound along the twisting roads of Highridge Valley, each curve revealing landscapes that made my stomach tighten. Not because of the beauty-though the sunlit vineyards were breathtaking-but because of the memories every green hillside awakened.
Three months ago, I had traveled these same roads in Christian’s Porsche, anxious and nervous for completely different reasons. The memory of his hands on the wheel, his focused profile while driving, the light conversation punctuated by comfortable silences… it all felt like another lifetime.
“The view is amazing,” Lisa commented from the back seat, snapping photos nonstop with her phone. As my assistant, she was far more excited about the trip than was appropriate for a professional. “I’ve never been to Highridge before!”
“Wait until you see the event complex,” I replied, forcing an enthusiastic tone. “Crestview Complex is one of the best convention centers in the region.”
“And they say the Kensington winery is just twenty minutes from here, right?” she went on, completely oblivious to my discomfort. “We could stop by after?”
I pressed my lips together, turning to the window to hide my expression.
“We’re here for work, Lisa. Not sightseeing.”
She must have picked up on something in my tone, because she fell silent for the rest of the ride.
Crestview appeared ahead of us, a sleek modern structure perfectly integrated into the mountainous landscape. Large glass panels reflected the blue sky, and the outdoor area was being decorated with white tents and elaborate floral arrangements.
We had barely parked before I was bombarded with messages and calls from the Sunvale team. Problems with the delivery of samples, questions about exhibitor layouts, doubts about the schedule. Exactly the kind of chaos I needed to keep my mind busy-away from thoughts of Christian, of what my father had revealed, of what might have been.
Soon I was in full command, delegating tasks, solving emergencies, negotiating with suppliers. This was where I excelled. This was where I felt safe, competent. Zoey Bennett, PR professional-not the fake ex-fiancée of Christian Kensington.
“The booth is looking amazing,” Roger, Sunvale’s designer, commented as we watched the structure being assembled. “It’s going to grab a lot of attention.”
“As long as it’s the right kind of attention,” I replied, checking the placement of the interactive displays. “We want people talking about our wines, not flashing lights or loud colors.”
“Zoey Bennett?”
The unfamiliar voice made me turn. A middle-aged man wearing a badge from the Wine Association was watching me curiously.
“Yes?”
“Henry Sawyer, Wine & Art Magazine.” He extended his hand. “A pleasure to finally meet the famous fiancée of Kensington-who’s now revolutionizing Sunvale.”
My smile froze. Of course. No matter how much time passed, no matter how hard I worked professionally, to some people I would always just be ‘Kensington’s fiancée.’
“Ex-fiancée,” I corrected politely, shaking his hand. “And I appreciate the interest, but the spotlight here should be on Sunvale’s exceptional wines, not my personal life.”
Henry looked mildly embarrassed but recovered quickly.
“Of course, of course. Actually, I’m interested in your innovative approach to the winery’s marketing. The influencer event was brilliant.”
We spent the next few minutes discussing digital marketing strategies and how Sunvale was trying to attract a younger audience. It was a professional conversation-exactly what I wanted. But I couldn’t help noticing how his eyes occasionally flicked to my ring finger (bare, of course) and how he seemed to be probing for openings to slip in more personal questions.
It was a relief when our coffee break was cut short by the arrival of more boxes of promotional materials that needed organizing.
For the following hours, I lost myself in preparing for the event set to officially begin the next morning. Checklist after checklist, team instructions, product verification, rehearsing the main presentation… each task completed was a small victory, another step toward proving myself as the professional I knew I could be.
“Zoey! Finally found you.” Edward’s voice reached me just as I finished adjusting the booth lighting. He hurried over, slightly flushed. “How are we doing? Everything in order?”
“Almost. We still need a few tweaks to the multimedia presentation, but we’ll be ready by tomorrow’s opening.”
“Excellent!” He looked around, clearly impressed by what we’d managed in so little time. “I knew I could count on you. By the way…” His tone shifted subtly, becoming more casual. “I just saw the Kensington team arrive. Christian’s with them.”
I kept my expression neutral, though my heart sped up.
“As expected. It’s the most important event of the semester.’
“Yes, yes.” Edward adjusted his tie, a gesture I’d come to recognize as a sign of nerves. “I thought you’d want to know, considering your… history.”
“Thank you for the consideration, but I’m here as Sunvale’s PR coordinator. My personal history has nothing to do with it.”
Edward nodded, though his eyes said something else. That same calculating look that had unsettled me ever since Christian warned me of his true intentions.
“Of course, of course. I just thought-“
“Edward!” A female voice cut him off. “It’s been ages!”
I froze at the sound. A voice that had once belonged to my best friend. A voice I now associated with betrayal and humiliation.
Elise approached, stunning in a navy ensemble that screamed successful executive. Her professional smile faltered slightly when she noticed me standing beside Edward.
“Zoey. What… a surprise to see you here.”
“I work here,” I replied simply.
“Elise is leading the Elite PR team for this event,” Edward explained-as if I needed clarification. “They’re coordinating several wineries, including Kensington.”
“How interesting,” I said, keeping my tone as neutral as I could. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check the sound system.”
I tried to step past, but Elise moved deliberately to partially block my way.
“Actually, we need to talk about tomorrow’s schedule. Kensington and Sunvale’s presentations overlap.” Her smile was pure poison. “Perhaps we could align that? As representatives of our respective companies.”
I glanced at Edward, expecting him to step in, but he looked oddly pleased with the situation.
“Perfect!” he exclaimed. “You two can sort it out while I take care of some matters with the organizers.” He gave my shoulder a light squeeze. “I’m counting on you, Zoey.”
And then he walked off, leaving me alone with the last person I wanted to be around. A quick glance across the hall confirmed my fear: several meters away, near the main entrance, Christian was talking with other exhibitors, still unaware of me.
Elise followed my gaze, a satisfied smile curving her lips.
“He looks good, doesn’t he? Recovered from… the breakup.”
I drew a deep breath, knowing there was no avoiding it now. The confrontation I’d been dreading since stepping foot in Highridge Valley was about to happen.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.