38. （SHOW）er
VERENA
38
Things with Jae were…normal. Or at least as normal as a new couple about to get married could be. We weren’t fake dating anymore, but things were now moving impossibly fast for two people who had just accepted their feelings for one another. I didn’t even have time to process it, because all the preparations were taking up so much time.
Today was the bridal shower, and Jae had invited all the female coworkers. Auntie was having a bad health day, and Mom had stayed behind to be with her, so I’d be facing the wolves by myself. I just prayed Laura could come.
Stepping into the Crown Jewels Luxury Hotel felt like walking into a palace. The grand chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting a golden glow over the marble floors. Every corner was adorned with fresh flowers, their fragrance mingling with the rich aroma of expensive perfume.
As I approached the front desk, I was greeted by a woman named Danny. She was beautiful, with sleek blonde hair that fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated her slim figure. Her smile was warm and genuine, immediately putting me at ease.
“Welcome to the Crown Jewels Luxury Hotel,” she said, her voice smooth and professional. “How can I assist you today?”
“I’m here for a bridal shower,” I replied, trying to keep my nerves in check. “The Verena and Jae party.”
Danny’s eyes lit up with recognition. “Of course, Miss Williams. The event is in the Grand Ballroom. Let me show you the way.”
I followed her through the grand hallways, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor. Danny led me to a set of double doors, opening them to reveal the stunning ballroom. It was beautiful. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light reflecting off the mirrored walls. Elegant tables were set with fine china and sparkling glassware, each one adorned with elaborate floral centerpieces.
“This place is amazing.”
“Thank you! We strive to make every event special,” she said, her tone professional yet friendly. “It’s exciting to work on your wedding,” Danny said, glancing at me with a smile. “You’re the first bride I’ve had who wanted a wedding in a week but didn’t want to plan it.”
I blushed, feeling a bit self-conscious. “I’m not that picky.”
Danny laughed softly. “I wish more of my clients were like you. Most brides have a very specific vision and can be…well, demanding.”
We both laughed, easing some of the tension I felt. “I just want it to be special for Auntie,” I admitted.
Danny nodded, her expression softening. “She’s a lovely woman. It’s clear how much she means to you.”
As we walked through the lavish corridors, a sudden commotion ahead caught our attention. A tall, stern-looking man in a suit was berating Danny, his voice loud and sharp. “Danny, I told you the floral arrangements were supposed to be in the ballroom, not here! How many times do I have to repeat myself?”
Danny’s smile faltered slightly, but she maintained her composure. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Collins. I’ll get it sorted right away.”
As Mr. Collins walked away, muttering to himself, Danny let out a small sigh. “Sometimes, things don’t go as planned,” she said with a wry smile.
I laughed softly. “Trust me, I know the feeling. I used to be an assistant, and my boss drove me nuts.”
“What happened?” she asked, her interest piqued.
“I’m going to marry him,” I said with a chuckle.
Danny’s eyes widened, and she grinned. “Godspeed.”
“Will you be in the event hall with us today?” I asked, hoping Danny could be my emotional support human for the day.
“Normally, I just come in if I’m needed,” she replied.
“What if the client needs emotional support? Or bodyguards?”
“Bodyguards?” Danny raised an eyebrow. “Are you in danger?”
“No, maybe…kind of, possibly,” I rambled. “I’m about to enter a room full of ex-coworkers. Coworkers who I used to complain to about my current fiancé. A fiancé who is their boss. And my old boss.”
Danny cringed, then laughed. “Ouch.”
“Yeah, you seem nice. I need a buffer.”
She grinned. “I can totally be there as a buffer.”
We both laughed, the tension easing a bit as I realized she’d be around to help smooth things over.
As I walked further into the room, the awkward tension from my former coworkers hit me. These were the same people who had freely shared their Jae-related office gossip with me, never imagining I was dating him. The surprise and curiosity in their eyes were obvious.
“Hey, everyone,” I said, forcing a smile and trying to ignore the heavy silence that followed.
Mina, Jae’s assistant, was already there, dressed head to toe in white. She looked like she was trying to upstage the bride, which, in this case, was me. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she saw me, but she quickly replaced her glare with a saccharine smile.
Danny reappeared, now in a new pair of heels. She leaned in and whispered, “Want me to kick her out?”
I chuckled softly. “Nah, it’s okay. I can handle her.”
“Verena! Congratulations!” one of my former colleagues, Anaya from marketing, said. She had a friendly smile, but her eyes were tinged with disbelief. Anaya was known for her impeccable presentations and her uncanny ability to sniff out office gossip.
“Thank you, Anaya,” I replied, trying to keep my smile genuine. My cheeks were starting to ache from all the forced cheer. Anaya and I had spent many a lunch break in the cafeteria, swapping horror stories about Jae’s ridiculous demands.
Another colleague, Sofia from HR, approached. Sofia was the queen of passive-aggressive emails and knew everyone’s business. “I have to admit, we were all shocked when we heard. We never saw it coming.”
I laughed awkwardly, glancing around the room. “Yeah, it surprised me too. One minute I’m filing TPS reports, the next…boom, engaged.” I tried to laugh it off, but it came out more like a nervous giggle. Sofia had once caught Jae in a lie about attending a corporate wellness seminar and had shared the gossip with me over drinks.
The room filled with uncomfortable chuckles, my words hanging in the air like a bad joke.
Sofia leaned in, her eyes narrowing slightly. “So, how did this happen? You and Jae?”
I shifted my weight, feeling the heat rise to my face. “You know how it is with office romances, right?”
Danny, sensing the awkwardness, stepped in with a bright smile. “Ladies, why don’t we start with some champagne? Let’s celebrate Verena and Jae properly!”
As she handed out flutes of champagne, I mouthed a silent “thank you” to her. She winked in response, clearly enjoying her role as my unofficial bodyguard.
Another colleague, Kiara from accounting, sidled up to me. Kiara was infamous for her ability to find mistakes in any expense report and for her penchant for bringing homemade cookies to the office. “So, what’s it like being engaged to the boss? Does he make you do overtime at home too?”
I forced a laugh, my mind racing for a witty comeback. “Well, let’s just say the benefits package is a lot more interesting.”
Kiara laughed, a bit too loudly, and I could feel the eyes of my former coworkers boring into me. This was going to be a long afternoon.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Danny standing there. “You okay?” she asked quietly.
I nodded, though my smile was starting to feel like a grimace. “Yeah, just…navigating the awkwardness.”
She patted my arm reassuringly. “You’re doing great. Just breathe.”
Just then, Mina sauntered over, her gaze icy. “Verena,” she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “I must say, I never expected this. Jae just never seemed interested in you.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Thanks, Mina. Life is full of surprises.”
As everyone gravitated towards the refreshment table, I felt Mina’s gaze boring into me. “That dress is…an interesting choice,” she remarked.
I forced a smile. “I like it.”
Mina’s eyes flicked over me, her lips curling into a smirk. “I suppose Jae has a…unique taste in women. It’s surprising he chose someone like you.”
I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my cool. “Well, he did.”
She laughed, the sound grating. “You must feel incredibly lucky to have caught his eye.”
“Lucky?” I echoed, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “Sure, if that’s what you want to call it.”
Danny stepped in smoothly. “Verena, how about we get you some champagne?”
“Great idea,” I said, grateful for the escape.
Just as we reached the refreshment table, the door burst open, and Laura came rushing in. “Sorry I’m late!” she exclaimed, her voice bright and cheerful. She was a whirlwind of energy, her long hair flying as she hurried over to me. “Traffic was a nightmare.”
Laura’s arrival was like a breath of fresh air, immediately lifting the mood. She wrapped me in a tight hug. “Hey, Vee! Miss me?”
I laughed, hugging her back. “Always.”
She pulled back, her eyes sparkling. “You look amazing! This place is incredible.”
Danny handed Laura a glass of champagne, and Laura took it gratefully. “Thanks. You must be Danny, the amazing event planner I’ve heard so much about from Auntie. I’m the maid of honor.”
Danny smiled warmly. “Guilty as charged. Nice to meet you.”
Laura turned to the room, her voice loud enough to draw everyone’s attention. “Alright, ladies, let’s get this party started! Who’s ready for some fun?”
The awkwardness dissolved as everyone turned their attention to Laura, who had a natural talent for bringing people together. She chatted animatedly with my former coworkers, effortlessly deflecting any lingering tension.
Mina’s expression soured as she realized she’d lost her audience. She stalked off to the corner of the room, clearly annoyed.
The atmosphere in the room had significantly lightened, thanks to Laura’s infectious energy and Danny’s seamless event planning. But as the event started to wind down, I felt a twinge of anxiety nibbling at me. Laura was deep in conversation with a group of my former coworkers, her laughter ringing out above the chatter.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I whispered to her. She nodded, waving me off as she continued her animated story.
I made my way through the crowd, aiming for the door, when Mina intercepted me, her smile a venomous curl.
“You know, Verena,” she began, “I have full access to all of Jae’s contracts. It’s so interesting that I came across one recently that caught my eye.”
I stiffened, trying to keep my expression neutral. “What are you talking about, Mina?”
She leaned in, her eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. “You’re not fooling anyone. This is all fake. He doesn’t really like you. He just wants to give his auntie a good memory before she passes away. He’s a dutiful nephew, nothing more.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and I struggled to keep my composure. “You’re wrong,” I whispered, my voice shaking.
She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound that sent chills down my spine. “Am I? Jae cares about work. He lives for it. Someone like you could never measure up. You’re just a distraction, a means to an end.”
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away, refusing to let her see how much she was getting to me. “You’re wrong,” I repeated, though my voice was less certain this time.
“We’ll see once it’s all said and done, hmm?” Mina’s smile widened, the cruelty in her gaze cutting me. “You’ll make a beautiful fake bride, Verena. I took your job, and I’ll take Jae too. And if you say a word to him about this little conversation, I’ll tell Auntie all about the sham of a marriage. You wouldn’t want to break a dying woman’s heart, would you?”
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to breathe. “You’re a monster,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Mina shrugged, her smile never faltering. “Maybe. But I’m a monster who knows how to play the game. And you? You’re just a pawn. Jae puts work first, Verena. Always has, always will. You were convenient as his assistant, but now you don’t even have that in common. I mean, honestly. Think about the last ten years you worked there. We all saw how he treated you. Do you really think anyone in that room believes you had some whirlwind romance?”
I opened my mouth to argue. “That’s not true, Mina. You don’t know what we have. Jae cares about me. He?—”
She cut me off with a dismissive wave, her smile turning even more condescending. “Oh, please. Just give it a week, maybe a month. He’ll go back to the office and eventually forget you, like he always does. Work is his priority. He’s just feeling sentimental right now.”
“No, you’re wrong,” I insisted, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and desperation. “Jae and I…it’s different this time. He’s changed. We’ve changed.”
Mina laughed, a cold, mocking sound that sent chills down my spine. “You really believe that, don’t you? You think he’s changed because he’s with you now? Wake up, Verena. The only thing that man cares about is his career and his aunt. And before, you were tied to both. But then you quit. Now his aunt is dying. Does he really care about you?”
The tears threatened to spill over, but I quickly wiped them away, not wanting anyone to see me break down.
“Just wait and see,” Mina continued. “He’ll go back to his old ways. Work will consume him again, and you’ll be left behind. You’re just a temporary distraction, Verena. Nothing more.”
I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let her see how deeply her words had cut. “You don’t know anything about us, Mina,” I said, my voice firm despite the quiver I couldn’t completely hide. “Jae isn’t like that.”
Mina’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Keep telling yourself that. But deep down, you know I’m right. You’ll see.”
She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding and my mind racing. Her words echoed in my head, each one a dagger to my already fragile confidence. How could I face Jae now, knowing what Mina had said? How could I pretend everything was okay when my heart felt like it was shattering into pieces?
As I stood there, trying to collect myself, I felt a surge of determination. I wouldn’t let Mina’s words destroy what Jae and I had. I wouldn’t let her doubts become my reality. But the fear lingered, a shadow over my heart, making me question everything I thought I knew about us.