10. Amara
Chapter ten
Amara
“ H oly shit.” Jade’s eyebrows shoot up.
I watch her closely, pressing my lips together as she processes the news.
A second later, her eyes widen even more. “Holy shit,” she repeats, making me breathe out a laugh.
“You’ve been saying that all day. I thought you’d have moved past the shock by now.”
Jade shakes her head, her hands thrown up. “You honestly can’t expect me to move on so quickly from this. This is huge!”
I knew this would be a shock—hell, it shocked the hell out of me, too—but I didn’t expect her to lose it like this. I guess I didn’t expect to break her either.
She shakes her head, flopping down onto my bed. “You can’t expect me to not react.” She rubs her forehead as if trying to clear her thoughts. “The other day you were telling me about your breakup with Liam, and now you’re… engaged to our boss?”
“It’s not real,” I remind her, with a shrug. “Just a little white lie until we both get what we want.”
There’s no clause in the contract that says I can’t tell someone, but I know if news got out about this, it would be detrimental, for both Nicholas and me. I’ve been avoiding my grandma and sister, knowing they’ll have a million questions when they catch wind of all this, starting with why the hell I didn’t tell them about Nicholas, and what happened with Liam. But I needed to tell someone, and telling Jade feels like the safest choice.
Plus, she caught me in a store earlier today using Nicholas’s black credit card, so I had no choice but to tell her.
I’m not an actress, I never claimed to be one, so when she asked, I froze, panicked, and blurted it all out.
A scoff escapes her. “It’s more than a little white lie. Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two?” Jade asks, her voice laced with suspicion, as she waves her hand in the air. “I mean, are you making up this whole… business deal to cover it up? Because if there is, I wouldn’t judge you, you know that.”
“I know you wouldn’t,” I say with a smile. “And that’s one of the reasons I love you. But no, it’s not real.” I shake my head. “I just happened to walk in when he was meeting with the board. He would have picked anyone for the job. I’m just a pawn in his game, helping him win. Nothing more.”
And that’s the truth.
I might imagine lingering glances, even the occasional warm touch, but when it comes down to it, this is just a coincidence. If Jade had been the one in the room that day, she would have gotten the job. They’d be engaged right now, and they’d be a much better match.
I push the thought aside as Jade scoffs, clearly not buying it.
“I’d say you’re playing your pieces too.” She grins, holding up the black card Nicholas gave me. Before I can stop her, she’s waving it in front of me, and I quickly snatch it back, narrowing my eyes at her.
I know Nicholas made it clear that my purchases won’t make a dent in his wealth, but I’m sure Jade would be more than happy to burn a hole in his pockets.
“He told me to buy a dress,” I explain, slipping the card back into my clutch. “I didn’t want to embarrass him by showing up to the gala wearing one of my old, raggedy dresses. That’s the only reason I took him up on the offer.”
Jade laughs, shaking her head as she eyes me. “Embarrassment is the last thing he’ll feel.” Her gaze scans me from head to toe. “You already know you’re stunning, but tonight…” She whistles, her eyes gleaming.
I tilt my head, amused. “Did you just whistle at me?”
“Hell yes.” She grins. “You look hot.”
“You’re just being nice,” I say, dismissing her compliment with a wave.
She shakes her head, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “Trust me,” she insists. “When Nicholas sees you in that dress, I don’t think he’s going to remember that you’re his assistant, or that this is just a business deal. Because honey…” She raises an eyebrow. “He might be your boss, but he’s also just a man.”
Warmth floods my face at her words, and I shoot her a playful glare. “You’re delusional.”
She hums, leaning back on my bed and crossing her legs. “I’m right,” she corrects.
I glance at the mirror, my eyes roaming over my reflection as I nervously tug at the fabric. The dress clings to places I’d rather not draw attention to. Finding something in such a short amount of time is difficult enough, but for a bigger body like mine? It feels impossible. The embarrassment of walking into store after store, feeling like I didn’t belong, hits me all over again. And sure, maybe I didn’t belong there, but this dress…
I smooth my hands over the soft silk material of the floor-length black dress Jade picked out. The huge slit running up the side shows off my thick thighs—one of my biggest insecurities.
I swallow the lump in my throat at the sight of the dress clinging to my body, wanting to tear my eyes away, and luckily, my phone rings and I grab it, seeing Nicholas’s name flashing on the screen.
“It’s him.”
“Answer it,” Jade urges, her voice teasing. “You can’t keep your fiancé on hold.”
I roll my eyes, shuddering at the word, especially when Nicholas says it with such intensity it makes me forget my own name. I definitely don’t need Jade reminding me of it.
Taking a deep breath, I accept the call and bring the phone to my ear. “Mr. Blackwood?”
“Amara,” Nicholas’s voice comes through, deep and thick. “What did I tell you about calling me that?”
“Sorry, Nicholas.” Saying his name shouldn’t make me blush, but the heat still creeps up my skin anyway.
“Much better,” he says, his low voice making my pulse race. “My driver informed me he’s outside your apartment. Are you almost done?”
I glance at the clock, eyes widening as I realize how little time I have left. I look over at Jade, who’s completely distracted, bopping Pumpkin on the nose.
“Yes, I’ll be right down.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I hang up the phone and grab my clutch, stuffing my phone and lip gloss inside. “Nicholas’s driver is downstairs,” I tell Jade, panic rising in my chest.
“Calm down. Everything’s going to go great.” She flashes me a reassuring smile. “You look amazing.”
For once, my appearance is the least of my concerns. I shake my head, the anxiety clawing at me. “What if I embarrass him, or slip up about the engagement or—”
“Okay.” Jade stands, walking over to me and placing her hands on my shoulders in an attempt to calm me. “Breathe, woman. You’re giving me a panic attack.”
I inhale deeply, my shoulders relaxing as I blow out slowly.
“Everything will be fine,” Jade assures me. “You’re going to do great, and the board will love you so much, they’ll offer Nicholas the deal on the spot.” Her grin makes me breathe out a laugh, the knot in my stomach starting to unravel.
“Awfully confident in my skills, aren’t you?”
“I’m confident in my skills,” she corrects, flopping back down onto the bed with a shrug. “And you look hot as hell because of me,” she adds, pointing at herself. I arch a brow, and she lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Okay, fine. You might have a little something to do with your hotness.” She narrows her eyes. “But I take full credit for the dress.”
I shake my head, laughing. “Credit’s all yours.”
Leaning down, I kiss my cat on the head, then take one last look at myself in the mirror, adjusting my dress. The smooth fabric slides over my body, and I flip one side of my hair over my shoulder before waving Jade goodbye. She blows me a kiss in return.
As much as I love that Sophie has a loving boyfriend, I’m thankful for Jade on nights like these, to help me build the confidence I need when I’m doubting myself.
I press the elevator button, the metal doors creaking closed. My stomach twists with familiar anxiety as it lurches downward. I hold my breath, praying I don’t end up stuck in this rickety thing.
After what feels like an eternity, the doors finally open, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Stepping out, I’m greeted by the sight of a sleek black Mustang parked outside. The tinted windows, which stick out like a sore thumb in this part of town, make it clear that this must be Nicholas’s driver.
The window rolls down, revealing an older man with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a sharp black suit.
“Amara?” the driver asks.
I nod, already feeling like I’ve stepped into some bizarre dream. Or maybe it’s a reality show. This doesn’t feel real, and I’m just waiting for it to be ripped out from under me.
The driver opens the door, and I slide inside, a little unnerved by how classy everything is. This isn’t my world, and every second spent in it only makes that more obvious.
A few moments later, the driver slides into the front seat, and the car starts moving. I watch the city pass by, the lights reflecting in the windows as we drive to the gala.
Eventually, the car slows to a stop, and I glance out the window, seeing the gala entrance ahead. I suck in a breath, reaching for the door handle, only for it to be opened before I have the chance. I look up to see Nicholas standing there, dressed in a sleek tuxedo, his hand extended toward me.
“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice a little shaky as I place my hand in his. He gives me a gentle tug, helping me out of the car. The moment my feet hit the ground, my nerves kick into high gear.
Especially when Nicholas’s gaze slides over me, his eyes scanning me slowly from head to toe. The silence stretches between us, and I notice the subtle clench of his jaw as his eyes linger on me for what feels like an eternity, until they finally meet mine again.
He doesn’t speak at first, just holds my gaze. “Glad you could make it,” he finally says.
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest, wondering what the hell he’s thinking. Does he like the dress? Does he not?
The silence stretches again before he adds, “I got you something.”
My eyebrows raise, surprised, but before I can ask what it is, he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a rectangle box. My breath catches as he opens it, revealing a beautiful silver necklace that sparkles, the diamonds catching the light.
“Wow,” I breathe out, completely stunned. “It’s beautiful.”
“Only fitting,” he says smoothly, “that my fiancée would wear the best.”
I absentmindedly reach up, tracing my bare décolletage, suddenly remembering I forgot to buy jewelry—which a billionaire’s fiancée definitely wouldn’t forget. A rush of warmth spreads across my face as I glance down at the luxurious piece nestled in the velvet box, realizing he expects me to wear it.
The thought of putting that necklace on makes my palms sweat, and I shake my head quickly. “It’s stunning, really, but I can’t wear that,” I tell him. “It’s way too expensive.”
Nicholas raises a brow. “You’re my fiancée, Amara,” he murmurs, pulling the necklace out of the box. “It’s my job to spoil you.”
I press my lips together, unsure how to argue with that. Before I can try, he steps closer, his sharp cologne filling the space between us.
“Turn around.”
I hesitate for half a second before doing what he asks, turning to face the night sky. The cool breeze brushes against my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the shiver I feel when Nicholas’s hands graze my neck. His touch is light but firm, and I’m hyper-aware of every little movement as he gathers my hair and gently drapes it over one shoulder.
My heart pounds as he places the necklace against my skin. The cold metal makes me shiver, or maybe it’s the way his fingertips skim my neck as he fastens the clasp. I hold my breath, staring out at the city lights, trying to ignore how intimate this all feels.
“Look at me.”
I let out a slow exhale and turn around to face him. His eyes immediately find mine, lingering for a moment before they drop to the necklace resting against my collarbone.
“Beautiful.” A small smile tugs at his lips.
For a minute I let myself think he’s talking about me, but I know he means the necklace. I lift my hand, tracing the small diamonds decorating my neck.
He keeps his eyes on me for a while before his hand reaches out. “Shall we?”
I glance at his hand, before sliding mine into his as we walk toward the entrance.
This might not be my world—might not even be real—but for the next three months, I think I could get used to this.