Fiancee for Show

Chapter 1 - Re Panic

Ginny Nakamura hated reunions.

The music was too loud, the lighting too flattering, and the people too eager to pretend their lives had turned out exactly how they’d imagined at eighteen.

She adjusted the sleeve of her sleek black dress, her reflection catching in the mirrored wall of the function hall.

She looked exactly how she always looked—effortlessly put together.

Sharp eyeliner accentuating her catlike eyes.

Hair falling in soft waves over one shoulder.

Lipstick just bold enough to look intentional but not desperate.

Perfect.

Controlled.

Untouchable.

“Ginny Nakamura?”

Ginny closed her eyes for a brief second before turning around, already forcing a smile.

“Hi,” she said smoothly.

A former classmate—she barely remembered the name—was grinning at her like she’d just found a rare artifact.

“Wow, you look amazing. As expected. You always did have that whole… main character aura.”

Ginny laughed politely. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

They made small talk. Jobs. Cities. Surface-level success stories.

“I heard you work in events now?” the girl asked.

“Event stylist and visual merchandiser,” Ginny corrected lightly. “I design experiences. Weddings, corporate launches, brand showcases.”

“Oh my god, that’s so cool. So you literally create perfect moments.”

Ginny smiled, the irony almost making her laugh.

Yes. She created perfect illusions for a living.

Too bad she was terrible at her own.

“And you?” Ginny asked.

The girl launched into a long explanation about her career, her fiancé, their condo, their future plans.

Ginny nodded along, sipping her drink, letting the conversation wash over her.

Fiancé.

The word kept echoing.

Before she could steer the conversation elsewhere, another voice chimed in behind her.

“Well, well… if it isn’t Ginny Nakamura.”

Ginny’s stomach dropped.

She turned slowly.

Of course.

Her ex.

Still handsome. Still confident. Still wearing that same smug expression that used to drive her insane.

“Hey,” Ginny said coolly.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” he said. “You always said reunions were… what was it? Socially exhausting?”

“I changed my mind,” she replied smoothly.

His gaze flicked over her, lingering just a second too long.

“You look good.”

“I know.”

He chuckled. “Still confident.”

“Still observant.”

There was a pause—tense, familiar, loaded with everything they used to be.

Then he said, casually:

“So… are you seeing anyone?”

Ginny’s grip tightened slightly around her glass.

There it was.

The question.

The one she hated most.

Before she could answer, someone else joined them—another classmate, then another, until suddenly there was a small circle around them, all smiling, all curious.

“Oh my god, Ginny, yes—are you dating someone?”

“Or are you still too busy being a boss?”

“Or are you secretly married already?”

Laughter.

Teasing.

Eyes watching.

Waiting.

Ginny felt it—that familiar prickle under her skin. The pressure. The expectation. The silent judgment.

Still single.

Still unattached.

Still “too much.”

She could already imagine the whispers.

Of course Ginny’s still single. She’s intimidating.

She probably can’t commit.

She’s probably still playing around.

Her ex tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely curious.

“Yeah, Gin. Anyone special?”

Something inside her snapped.

It was small.

Quiet.

But decisive.

Ginny Nakamura did not lose.

She lifted her chin, lips curving into a confident smile.

“I’m engaged.”

Silence.

Immediate.

Stunned.

“Oh my god—what?”

“Engaged?!”

“Since when?!”

Her ex blinked. “You’re… engaged?”

Ginny took a slow sip of her drink, buying herself a second.

Then someone asked the question she absolutely did not think through.

“To who?”

Ginny’s mind went completely blank.

For one horrifying second, she had nothing.

No name.

No plan.

No backup.

And then—

A name surfaced.

A face.

A memory of soft dimples and warm laughter.

A kiss that had tasted like tequila and bad decisions.

Ginny opened her mouth.

“…Jayna Stewart.”

The words were out before she could stop them.

The group erupted into delighted chaos.

“No way!”

“You’re engaged to Jayna Stewart?!”

“You two know each other?!”

“When did this happen?!”

Ginny forced a smile, her brain scrambling to catch up with the lie she had just created.

“Yes,” she said smoothly. “We’ve been… seeing each other for a while.”

Her heart was pounding.

Her palms were sweating.

Her brain was screaming:

What did you just do.

Her ex looked surprised—but then gave a slow nod.

“Wow. Didn’t see that coming. Good for you, Gin.”

“Thank you,” she said, voice steady.

Inside, she was dying.

She needed air.

She needed a plan.

She needed—

“Hey.”

The voice came from behind her.

Familiar.

Warm.

Dangerous.

Ginny froze.

Slowly, she turned.

And there she was.

Jayna Stewart.

Standing a few steps away.

Tall. Confident. Effortlessly beautiful. Hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. That easy smile on her lips—the one that revealed those stupidly charming dimples.

And those eyes.

Those knowing, amused eyes that looked directly at Ginny like she already knew something was wrong.

Jayna glanced between Ginny and the group.

“I think I just heard my name.”

The group immediately exploded into excitement.

“Jayna! Ginny just told us you’re engaged!”

“Congratulations!”

“You two are so unexpected but it makes sense!”

Ginny’s entire body went rigid.

Jayna’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Oh?” she said slowly.

Her gaze shifted to Ginny.

Sharp.

Curious.

Dangerously entertained.

Ginny swallowed.

There was a long, heavy pause.

The kind that stretched just enough for panic to start rising.

Say something.

Do something.

Fix this.

Ginny forced a smile and stepped closer to Jayna, her hand instinctively reaching out—resting lightly against Jayna’s arm.

Warm.

Solid.

Real.

“Surprise,” Ginny said softly, hoping her voice didn’t betray her.

Jayna looked down at Ginny’s hand on her arm.

Then back at her face.

And then—

She smiled.

Slow.

Playful.

Interested.

“Well,” Jayna said, dimples appearing, “that’s one way to announce it.”

The group laughed.

Ginny’s heart skipped.

Jayna’s hand came up—casually, easily—resting at Ginny’s waist like it had every right to be there.

Ginny nearly short-circuited.

Jayna leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping just enough for only Ginny to hear:

“Fiancée, huh?”

Ginny felt her pulse jump in her throat.

“Please,” she whispered back, barely moving her lips. “Just go with it.”

Jayna’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Oh,” she murmured, “this is going to be fun.”

Ginny did not like the sound of that.

Not at all.

But when Jayna turned back to the group, smiling like this was the most natural thing in the world, arm still wrapped around Ginny’s waist, she said brightly:

“Yeah. We’re engaged.”

The lie locked into place.

And just like that—

Ginny Nakamura’s life got a whole lot more complicated.