“Alex.” My voice was flat, clipped.
A silence hung, sharp and uncomfortable, until Christian squeezed my hand-steady, grounding.
“If you’ll excuse us, we have guests to greet,” he said, his tone smooth but absolute. “I’m sure we’ll see you later.”
“Of course,” Elise replied, her professional mask intact, though I caught the subtle stiffness in her posture. “We’ll be circulating to ensure everything runs as planned.”
Christian gave a curt nod, then guided me away, his hand at the small of my back as we headed toward the entrance.
“You alright?” he asked under his breath once we were out of earshot.
“I will be,” I said, forcing a deep breath.
“Don’t let them get to you.”
Inside the venue, I was instantly swallowed by understated luxury. The main hall gleamed with elegant floral arrangements, soft lighting casting a warm glow over the space. Tasting stations were set up strategically, each one manned by sommeliers in tailored uniforms pouring Kensington wines into crystal stemware.
The room was already filling with people who exuded wealth and refinement. Women draped in understated but obviously expensive jewelry. Men in suits so sharp they could cut glass. Their conversations buzzed in low, controlled tones, punctuated occasionally by polite, practiced laughter.
I didn’t belong here. The thought struck hard, no matter the designer dress hugging my body, no matter the carefully pinned hairstyle. These people had been born into this world, raised knowing its silent codes and unspoken rules.
“Come,” Christian said, his hand returning firmly to the small of my back, steady and possessive. “I want you to meet some people.”
The next minutes blurred together in a haze of names and faces. A French wine critic whose accent was so heavy I could barely catch his name. A pair of hotel-chain buyers who seemed to speak in nothing but numbers. The editor of a high-end gastronomy magazine whose handshake was soft but whose eyes were razor sharp.
Christian had introduced me to everyone as “my fiancée, Zoey,” and every single time those words left his mouth, something twisted in my stomach. The ease with which he lied was remarkable. Or maybe… it wasn’t entirely a lie? Technically, I was his fiancée. Just not for real.
“Zoey picked the ring,” he said when one of the women praised my diamond. “Her taste is impeccable.”
I forced a smile, trying to keep up with the flow of conversation. Christian, of course, seemed perfectly at ease, moving from one topic to another with the effortless charm of someone born into this world. Every so often, his eyes would find mine, as if checking that I was holding up.
After almost an hour of socializing, I felt like I needed air.
“I’ll grab a glass of wine,” I murmured to Christian while he was deep in conversation with a distributor.
He nodded absently, and I slipped away.
I drifted toward one of the quieter tasting stations and accepted a glass of white wine the sommelier described with terms that flew over my head.
Finding a relatively calm corner near one of the huge windows overlooking the vineyards, I stood there with my glass. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink that glowed in the golden liquid.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
Elise’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned sharply. She stood just a few steps away, holding her own glass with casual elegance.
“The sunset?” I asked, trying to sound composed.
“All of it.” She gestured gracefully. “Christian Kensington. The vineyard. The world he lives in.”
I sipped my wine, buying time.
“It’s beautiful.”
“And completely different from everything you know.” She stepped closer, her expensive perfume invading my space. “I’ll admit I was surprised when I saw you with him at the wedding. Even more surprised when news of your engagement started spreading.”
I kept my face neutral, though my pulse was racing.
“Why? You think I’m not good enough for him?”
Elise smiled, that sharp smile of hers that never quite reached her eyes.
“Let’s be honest, Zoey. Are you really with Christian Kensington? A man like him could have anyone.’
“And he chose me,” I shot back, my voice steadier than I felt.
She tilted her head, studying me with that analytical gaze I remembered all too well.
“That’s what it looks like. But there’s something… off about all this.”
“What exactly?” I challenged, lifting my chin.
“A common wedding dress salesgirl, suddenly engaged to the Kensington heir? Something doesn’t add up.”
I felt my face heat, the old insecurity coming back full force.
“You’re mistaken,” I replied, hating how my voice trembled just slightly. “We’re together. And we’re getting married.”
“You really seem to be.” She took a sip of wine, studying me. “We’ll see.”
Her smile turned predatory.
Before I could respond, I sensed a presence at my side. Christian appeared as if he had been summoned, his face a mask of professional politeness that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Miss Banks,” Christian interrupted, his voice perfectly controlled but carrying a clear warning beneath it. “I hope you’re not bothering my fiancée with matters of the past.”
The way he emphasized “past” made it obvious that he knew exactly the history between us.
“Just catching up,” Elise replied smoothly. “Zoey and I… are old friends.”
The way she said “friends” made my stomach twist.
Christian slid his arm around my waist, pulling me lightly against his side.
“I trust you’re enjoying the event. If you’ll excuse us, I need to steal Zoey for a moment.”
Elise nodded gracefully, though her eyes stayed sharp and calculating.
“Of course. It was a pleasure speaking with you, Zoey. We’ll continue our conversation later.”
She walked away, leaving me with a sense of dread that even Christian’s steady presence couldn’t fully erase.
“What did she want?” he asked once Elise was far enough away.
“To intimidate me. She said she’ll find out what we’re hiding.”
Christian’s hand squeezed lightly at my waist.
“She won’t discover anything.”
“How can you be so sure?”
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.