Chapter 5

The news of Kayden Russo's engagement spread like wildfire through the city of New York. It was the kind of jaw-dropping news that sent shockwaves through the elite circles, setting off whispers at business lunches, exclusive clubs, and even casual conversations in high-rise offices.

At Russo Enterprises, the reaction was no different.

In the boardroom, the atmosphere was thick with disbelief. The long mahogany table was surrounded by a dozen men and women in tailored suits, their faces a mix of shock, amusement, and—for some—suspicion.

Mr. Daniel, an older man in his late fifties with speckled grey hair and a calculating gaze, leaned forward, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. His voice carried the sharp edge of skepticism.

"Tell me this is a joke," he said, his eyes scanning the others in the room.

A younger board member, Ms. Elaine Carter, let out a low chuckle. "No joke. It's real. Kayden Russo is getting married. It's all over the news, social media… everywhere." She turned her laptop screen for everyone to see. The headline from a major business blog flashed across the screen:

Billionaire CEO Kayden Russo Announces Wedding To Miss Bianca–Countdown Begins!

The room buzzed with murmurs. Some shook their heads, others exchanged knowing glances.

"This makes no damn sense," Mr. Daniel scoffed. "Kayden has never been the type to settle down. And now, out of nowhere, he's getting married? Something isn't adding up."

One of the older board members, Mr. Whitmore, tapped his fingers against the table. "Maybe it's a strategic move? A marriage of convenience? You know how these things work in our circles."

Elaine smirked. "Or maybe he just fell in love?"

A few chuckles echoed in the room. Even she didn't believe that.

Mr. Daniel's lips pressed into a thin line. "Whatever this is, I don't buy it. And I don't trust it. 

A hush fell over the room at his words. They all knew he had been gunning for Kayden's downfall for years.

Just as someone opened their mouth to respond, the glass doors of the boardroom swung open. The idle chatter in the office beyond had already died down the moment Kayden Russo entered the building. From the security guards at the front desk to the receptionists and junior executives, everyone had turned to stare, their whispers cutting off as he passed.

"Congratulations, sir," a bold secretary managed to say, her voice almost nervous.

Kayden barely spared her a glance, offering only a curt nod before heading toward the boardroom. His sharp Italian suit was pristine, his presence commanding.

Nathan, his best friend and right-hand man, trailed beside him with an amused smirk. "I have to say, watching people freak out over your engagement has been the highlight of my week," he murmured.

Kayden exhaled. "They'll get over it."

Nathan chuckled. "You say that, but Daniel looks like he's about to have a heart attack."

As they reached the boardroom, every director rose to their feet. The tension in the room was obvious.

Kayden said nothing at first. Instead, he stepped forward and, with an almost deliberate slowness, placed a stack of invitations onto the table. The weight of his action hung in the air.

"I assume you've all heard," he said coolly.

A few nervous chuckles followed, but Mr. Daniel's expression remained unreadable. He picked up one of the invitations and flipped it open.

"You're invited to the engagement dinner of Kayden Russo & Bianca …"

"Bianca who?" Mr Daniel finally asked, tilting his head.

Kayden met his gaze without hesitation. "Bianca Bennett."

Silence.

The name carried weight. It wasn't just a name—it was a legacy. As the daughter of pastor Richard Bennett, one of New York's most respected religious leaders. Her father's influence stretched far beyond the church, earning him admiration from the powerful and wealthy.

Mr Daniel scoffed. "I see". 

Nathan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, barely hiding his amusement at the exchange.

 "Dinner is this Friday". He said looking at every member of the board. "Be there". Kayden commanded.

With that, he turned,and walked away, not waiting for their response. The message was clear. Discussion over.

As he and Nathan stepped out, Nathan let out a low whistle. "Well, that went well."

Kayden smirked. "Did it?"

Nathan shrugged. "Depends. If Daniel starts plotting your downfall again, I'd say it went spectacularly."

Kayden's jaw tightened slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. "Let him try."

And with that, they strode away, leaving the boardroom in stunned silence.

Bianca's phone had been buzzing non stop since the news broke. Calls. Messages. Voicemails.

Liam: "Bianca, please pick up."

 Liam: "What the hell is going on? You're engaged? To Kayden Russo?"

 Liam: "You can't do this. You love me. I know you do."

 Liam: " For our son's sake, call me back. Please."

Bianca stared at her phone, fingers trembling slightly over the screen.

She felt sick. Guilty.

But what could she do?

With a deep breath, she silenced the notifications and forced herself to focus. Tonight wasn't about feelings. It was about survival.

She adjusted the diamond bracelet around her wrist and stepped into the Grand Royale Hotel.

Inside the Engagement Dinner

The ballroom was a breathtaking display of power and luxury—golden chandeliers, expensive floral arrangements, and tables filled with New York's most influential figures. Yet despite the grandeur, the air was thick with suspicion.

Pastor Richard Beneeth's daughter, engaged to Kayden Russo?

It was a power move.

The whispers never stopped.

"Smart. With Pastor Beneeth's influence, Kayden is untouchable now."

 "But why her? She's not the type he usually goes for."

 "This doesn't make sense. Unless… it's an arrangement?"

Bianca held her head high, her grip tightening around Kayden's arm.

His touch was firm, a silent reminder for her to stay in character.

Across the room, her father stood tall, speaking with men whose wealth outweighed his, yet they still hung on his every word. A man of God, but also a man of power.

Kayden stepped forward.

He picked up his glass, tapping it gently, the sharp cling cling cling slicing through the murmurs.

Within seconds, the room fell silent.

"First, I want to thank everyone for being here tonight," Kayden began smoothly, his deep voice commanding attention. "It's no secret that my engagement has been the topic of every conversation. Some of you are surprised, some... skeptical."

A few exchanged glances.

Kayden smirked. "But let me assure you all—this union is exactly what it's meant to be."

Bianca swallowed. His words were carefully chosen, but the weight behind them was heavy.

From the side of the room, Mr. Daniel's gaze was sharp. Calculating. Watching.

Kayden met his stare without flinching.

"I've made many decisions in my life," Kayden continued, "some questioned, some praised. But this?" He turned slightly, his eyes locking with Bianca's. "This is the easiest one I've ever made." Kayden turned toward her, his sharp blue eyes locking onto hers like a predator.

Then, in one smooth motion, he reached for her hand, pulling her to her feet. Before she could process what was happening, he closed the space between them.

Then—

His lips crashed against hers.

Bianca's body went rigid, every nerve in her body on high alert. She told herself to resist, to pull away, but her body betrayed her. Heat coiled low in her stomach. The kiss was meant to be just for show, but Kayden… Kayden didn't hold back.

The guests gasped. A few even cheered. Camera flashes exploded around them.

Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palm. She had to stop this.

But then Kayden's hand slipped to the small of her back, pulling her closer. The scent of his cologne wrapped around her, rich and intoxicating. A familiar ache twisted in her chest—the same feeling she'd had the first time they met in the restaurant. 

She forced herself to snap out of it.

Bianca turned her head, breaking the kiss, but not before Kayden's lips brushed the corner of her mouth.

A knowing smirk played on his lips.

"Convincing enough?" he whispered for only her to hear. For a second, his eyes softened—just a flicker, there and gone. If she blinked, she would've missed it.

Bianca's breath hitched, but she masked it with a tight smile. "Perfectly."

She turned back to the guests, raising her champagne glass as if nothing had happened.

But inside, she was drowning.

The crowd responded with polite applause, but the energy in the room remained uneasy.

And then—a waiter stepped forward, setting down thick, gold-trimmed invitations in front of every guest.

Kayden let the moment hang before delivering the final blow.

"I expect to see all of you at the wedding."

The room shifted. The whispers returned. The tension deepened.

Bianca barely heard anything past the roaring in her ears.

She needed to get out.

As soon as the guests returned to their conversations, Bianca felt her chest tighten. She needed air.

With a forced smile, she whispered, "I need a moment."

She slipped out of the ballroom and found the restroom. Inside, she gripped the sink, staring at her reflection. Her lips were still tingling.

"It was just for show," she told herself. "Nothing more".

A phantom memory surfaced—tiny fingers clutching her mother's sleeve, hiding behind flowing skirts as voices rose in the background. Had that been a church event? A press gathering? She couldn't remember. Just the scent of jasmine and a hand pressing her head gently down.

"Smile, Bianca," the woman had whispered, and then she was gone.

She blinked the memory away, heart pounding. That part of her life—whatever it was—never stayed buried for long.

Then why did she feel so unsteady?

She turned on the faucet, she dabbed cold water on her skin, careful not to ruin her makeup. But as she took a deep breath, her phone vibrated again.

Liam. 

Her hand shook as she stared at the screen.

"Don't answer."

But her fingers betrayed her, and she pressed the green button.

"Bianca," Liam's voice was raw, desperate. "Please, don't do this. Tell me it's not real."

Her throat closed up. She wanted to tell him it wasn't, that she was trapped. But before she could speak—

A knock sounded on the door.

"Bianca?"

Kayden.

Her pulse spiked. Had he heard the call?

She quickly ended it, inhaling sharply before opening the door. Kayden's face was unreadable, but his eyes flickered with something–suspicion? Possessiveness?

"Everything okay?" he asked smoothly.

She forced a nod. "Of course".

Kayden held her gaze for a long moment before he stepped back, allowing her to pass.

But Bianca knew that was a lie.

Nothing about this night was okay.

Mr. Daniel sat still, watching Kayden with piercing hawk-like eyes, his fingers interlocked as if piecing together a puzzle. The air was thick with celebration—champagne glasses clinking, hushed murmurs of admiration at the power couple in the centre of the room.

But he wasn't fooled.

A marriage like this, so convenient, so sudden, reeked of something deeper. Kayden was always a calculating bastard, never making a move without ensuring it was a step towards domination. So why this girl? Why Bianca Beneett?

Of course, she wasn't a nobody. She was the daughter of the famed Pastor Richard Beneett, a respected yet polarizing figure. A smart choice. No one would dare question the moral integrity of a pastor's daughter. But Mr. Daniel had been in this game for too long. He had seen empires crumble over secrets, and he was certain—Kayden was hiding something.

His lips curled slightly, but it wasn't a smile.

It was an amusement.

The fool thought he had won.

His fingers tapped against the glass table. One… Two… Three. A slow, measured rhythm. His mind was already working ten steps ahead. The moment Kayden's lips touched Bianca's in that staged display of passion, the entire room erupted into cheers.

Mr. Daniel did not.

He leaned back, studying Kayden's body language, the slight tension in Bianca's shoulders, the way Kayden kept a firm hold on her waist, as if anchoring her to the role she had no choice but to play.

He exhaled through his nose, the sound barely audible over the lively chatter. Fascinating.

With ease, he pushed his chair back, the scraping of the polished wood against marble catching the attention of a few nearby guests. He adjusted his deep navy suit, smoothing out invisible creases as he rose to his full height.

Heads turned. He didn't care.

His strides were measured, controlled, exuding the quiet dominance of a man who owned the room, even when leaving it.

Once outside, the crisp night air greeted him. A slight chill, but nothing compared to the frost of his thoughts.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Unknown number.

Interesting.

He answered.

"Mr. Daniel," a voice rasped through the speaker. "You wouldn't believe what I just found out."

Silence.

Then—a slow, wicked smile.

"Perfect."