Chapter 4- The Gala

Anna clutched the hem of her dress, her fingers trembling as the limousine pulled up to the grand Blackwell Estate. The mansion was a sprawling masterpiece of glass and marble, glowing against the night sky. A red carpet stretched to the front doors, lined with photographers and reporters shouting questions at every arriving guest.

“You ready?” Jaden asked, his voice calm but firm.

No, she wasn’t ready—not for this. But she nodded anyway. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good,” he said, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. He looked immaculate in a tailored black tuxedo, every detail perfect. “Remember, stick to my side. Speak as little as possible. Smile when necessary. And don’t forget—you’re madly in love with me.”

She managed a small laugh despite her nerves. “I’ll try not to let the world know I’m faking it.”

Jaden’s lips twitched into what might have been the faintest hint of a smirk. Then, without another word, he stepped out of the car and extended a hand to her.

The moment Anna took his hand, the cameras exploded in a frenzy of flashes. She forced herself to keep her head high, her steps steady as they walked toward the mansion.

“Who’s the mystery woman, Mister Blackwell?”

“Is this your fiancée?”

“How long have you been together?”

The questions came like rapid-fire, but Jaden didn’t falter. His grip on Anna’s hand was firm, guiding her with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times.

“Stay calm,” he murmured as they reached the doors. “The worst part is over.”

Anna wasn’t so sure.

*******

Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was even more overwhelming. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the opulent ballroom, where elegantly dressed guests mingled with champagne glasses in hand. The air buzzed with laughter and conversation, a world away from the quiet, modest life Anna was used to.

“Ah, Jaden.”

A tall, imposing man approached them, his silver hair and sharp features a mirror of Jaden’s. This had to be Richard Blackwell, Jaden’s father.

“Father,” Jaden said, his tone respectful but distant. “This is Anna.”

Richard’s gaze shifted to her, and for a moment, Anna felt as though he could see right through her. His eyes were calculating, searching for cracks in the façade.

“So,” Richard said, extending a hand. “You’re the woman who’s tamed my son.”

Anna took his hand, her grip as firm as she could manage. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mister Blackwell.”

“Please, call me Richard,” he said, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “And welcome to the family. I hope you’re ready for what that entails.”

“I’ll do my best,” Anna replied, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach.

Richard’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned to Jaden. “We’ll talk later.”

As he walked away, Anna let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“Don’t let him intimidate you,” Jaden said, his voice low. “He thrives on making people uncomfortable.”

“Good to know,” Anna muttered.

The night wore on, a blur of introductions, polite smiles, and stilted conversations. Jaden was a master at navigating the crowd, effortlessly charming everyone he spoke to. Anna did her best to keep up, but every word felt like walking a tightrope.

“So, Anna,” one of the guests, a sharp-eyed woman in a glittering gown, said, “how did you and Jaden meet?”

Anna’s heart skipped a beat. This was one of the scenarios Jaden had drilled her on in the car.

“We met through a mutual friend,” she said, her smile never wavering. “It was unexpected, but sometimes the best things in life are.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but Jaden stepped in smoothly.

“It was fate,” he said, wrapping an arm around Anna’s waist. The gesture startled her, but she leaned into it, playing the part. “The moment I saw her, I knew she was different.”

His tone was so convincing that even Anna almost believed him.

As the evening progressed, Anna found herself growing more confident. She managed to navigate the conversations without slipping up, and Jaden’s occasional reassurances helped steady her nerves.

But just as she began to think she could survive the night, everything changed.

“Jaden!”

A voice rang out from across the room, sharp and unfamiliar. Anna turned to see a woman striding toward them, her red dress clinging to her curves like a second skin. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, and her eyes were locked onto Jaden with an intensity that made Anna’s stomach churn.

“Danielle,” Jaden said, his tone colder than Anna had ever heard it.

Danielle stopped in front of them, her lips curving into a predatory smile. “So, it’s true. You’re engaged.”

Anna glanced at Jaden, noting the tension in his jaw. Whoever this woman was, she wasn’t here to celebrate their supposed love story.

“This is Anna,” Jaden said, his voice clipped. “My fiancée.”

Danielle’s gaze shifted to Anna, her smile widening. “Fiancée, huh? Well, aren’t you full of surprises, Jaden. Tell me, Anna, how does it feel to tame the untamable?”

Anna forced a smile, even as her pulse raced. “It feels unexpected. But wonderful.”

Danielle laughed, a sharp, grating sound. “I’m sure it does.” She turned back to Jaden, her expression hardening. “We’ll talk later.”

As she walked away, Anna turned to Jaden, her voice low. “Who was that?”

“No one important,” he said, but the look in his eyes told a different story.

By the time the gala ended, Anna felt like she’d run a marathon. Her feet ached, her head throbbed, and her nerves were shot.

In the car ride back to her apartment, the silence between her and Jaden was heavy. She wanted to ask about Danielle, but the sharpness in his expression warned her not to.

“Thank you,” she said finally, breaking the silence.

Jaden glanced at her, his eyebrows furrowing. “For what?”

“For helping me get through tonight,” she said. “I don’t think I could have done it without you.”

His expression softened for a brief moment before the mask slipped back into place. “Get some rest,” he said. “Tomorrow, we start preparing for the next phase.”

“The next phase?”

Jaden’s smirk returned, but it was laced with something darker. “You didn’t think this would be easy, did you?”

As the car pulled up to her building, Anna stepped out, her mind spinning. She had survived the first test, but something told her this was only the beginning.

And as she watched the limousine disappear into the night, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Danielle was more than just a passing shadow in Jaden’s world.