Chapter 5: Public Appearance

Harper stood in front of her full-length mirror, smoothing down the elegant navy-blue dress Nathan’s assistant had delivered earlier that morning. The fabric hugged her curves in a way that was undeniably flattering, but it also made her feel… exposed. Vulnerable.

She was about to step into a world she had no business being in, standing beside a man who, despite their contract, remained a complete enigma.

Tonight was their first official public appearance as an engaged couple.

Nathan had informed her—rather smugly—that they would be attending a high-profile fundraising gala for one of Blackwood Enterprises’ charities. There would be press, photographers, and a sea of billionaires watching their every move.

Harper inhaled deeply, adjusting the diamond engagement ring on her finger. It still felt heavy, unnatural, but she had no choice except to wear it.

A knock on her apartment door pulled her from her thoughts.

She opened it to find Nathan standing there, looking infuriatingly handsome in a tailored black tuxedo. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his piercing blue eyes skimmed over her from head to toe.

For the first time since their arrangement started, he looked… speechless.

Harper arched a brow. “Something wrong?”

Nathan’s lips curled slightly. “Not at all. You clean up nicely.”

She rolled her eyes. “How charming.”

His smirk deepened. “Come on, fiancée. Time to sell the fantasy.”

Harper grabbed her clutch, exhaling slowly before following him out.

---

Under the Spotlight

By the time they arrived at the venue, the night was in full swing. The grand ballroom shimmered with golden lights, and the red carpet leading to the entrance was swarming with photographers.

Harper’s stomach twisted.

The second their car pulled up, cameras flashed wildly, reporters calling out Nathan’s name. She stiffened, but before she could react, Nathan’s hand was on hers.

His fingers intertwined with hers effortlessly, sending a jolt of warmth up her arm.

“Relax,” he murmured. “We’ve got this.”

Harper barely had time to respond before the driver opened the door. Nathan stepped out first, standing tall, composed—every bit the billionaire CEO.

Then, with a confidence she didn’t feel, Harper placed her hand in his and let him help her out of the car.

The moment her feet touched the ground, the frenzy began.

“Mr. Blackwood! Over here!”

“Nathan, tell us about the engagement!”

“Miss Hayes, how does it feel to be engaged to one of the most eligible bachelors in the city?”

Harper forced a smile, keeping her grip on Nathan’s hand as they posed for the cameras.

Nathan, of course, looked completely at ease, his arm wrapping around her waist as he pulled her close. The heat of his touch was distracting—too natural for something that was supposed to be fake.

“Smile,” he murmured against her ear.

She did.

The reporters continued shouting questions, but Nathan ignored them, guiding her gracefully toward the entrance. The second they stepped inside, the chaos outside faded.

Harper exhaled shakily. “That was intense.”

Nathan chuckled. “You’ll get used to it.”

She shot him a glare. “You say that like I want to get used to it.”

“You signed up for this, sweetheart.” His smirk was infuriating. “No backing out now.”

Harper groaned, but before she could respond, a group of elegantly dressed guests approached.

“Nathan, there you are!” A silver-haired man clapped him on the back. “And this must be the woman who finally tamed you.”

Nathan chuckled. “Harper, meet Richard Whitmore. He’s an old family friend and one of our biggest investors.”

Harper extended her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. Whitmore.”

Whitmore grinned. “Please, call me Richard. And let me just say, you’re a breath of fresh air. I never thought I’d see the day Nathan Blackwood settled down.”

Harper forced a laugh. “Neither did I.”

Nathan’s fingers tightened slightly around her waist, a subtle warning.

Whitmore didn’t seem to notice. “So, tell me, how did he propose?”

Harper’s mind blanked.

She hadn’t prepared for this.

Nathan, of course, remained unruffled. “It was spontaneous,” he said smoothly. “We were on a weekend trip, and I knew I didn’t want to wait any longer.”

Harper turned to him, playing along. “It was… romantic,” she added, forcing a dreamy tone into her voice.

Whitmore chuckled. “Romantic, huh? That’s a first for you, Nathan.”

Nathan smirked. “Even I have my moments.”

Whitmore laughed, but before he could probe further, another couple approached, offering their congratulations.

Harper barely had a moment to breathe before more people came over, eager to meet the woman who had captured Nathan Blackwood’s heart.

She smiled, nodded, played the role she had signed up for. But with every passing minute, the weight of the lie grew heavier.

Then, just as she thought she was getting through the night unscathed, a familiar voice sent ice down her spine.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the happy couple.”

Harper turned to find Charlotte Kensington standing before them, her emerald-green gown shimmering under the chandeliers.

Harper’s heart clenched.

Nathan’s ex.

The woman he had once loved.

Charlotte’s gaze flickered between them, her lips curving in amusement. “I must admit, Nathan, I never thought you would be the type to settle down.”

Nathan’s expression remained neutral. “Things change.”

Charlotte’s sharp eyes landed on Harper. “And you, Harper… you must be extraordinary to have captured his heart so quickly.”

Harper kept her smile intact. “I’d like to think so.”

Charlotte tilted her head. “I do wonder, though… why the sudden engagement? It seems a bit… rushed.”

Harper’s pulse spiked, but Nathan was faster.

“When you know, you know,” he said smoothly.

Charlotte’s smile didn’t falter. “Of course. But tell me, Harper, what’s it like being engaged to a man like Nathan?”

Harper knew what she was doing.

Testing her.

Looking for cracks in their story.

So, with all the confidence she could muster, Harper turned to Nathan and smiled.

“It’s… exhilarating,” she said softly. “He challenges me. Keeps me on my toes. But most of all… he makes me feel safe.”

She wasn’t sure where the words came from.

But for the first time that night, Nathan’s gaze flickered with something unreadable.

Something real.

Charlotte’s smirk twitched. “How lovely.”

Before she could say anything else, Nathan’s arm tightened around Harper’s waist.

“If you’ll excuse us,” he said smoothly, “I’d like a dance with my fiancée.”

Harper barely had time to process before Nathan was leading her toward the dance floor.

He pulled her into his arms, his grip firm, steady.

“You handled that well,” he murmured, his breath brushing against her ear.

Harper exhaled, letting herself relax slightly in his hold. “I had to.”

Nathan’s lips curved. “You almost sounded convincing.”

She arched a brow. “Almost?”

His smirk deepened. “Don’t worry. You’ll get better.”

As they moved across the dance floor, Harper couldn’t shake the feeling that, despite everything…

She already was.