An Increasingly Popular Attraction

I awoke to the sound of gentle knocks on my bedroom door the morning following the odd night in the garden.

"Miss Aria?" One of the housekeepers, Sofia, called. Her tone was stern but compassionate.

"Yes?" I sat up in bed and gave a groggy response.

"Mr. Montgomery asked that you have breakfast with him in the dining room. It's important, he said.

Cole for breakfast? That wasn't very common. My stomach turned over. "Okay, I'll be down shortly."

I was unable to get rid of the uneasiness that had descended upon me following Cole's sudden departure the previous evening as I hurriedly got dressed. How could it have been so critical? And why did it feel like I was entering a more complex situation than I had anticipated?

---

Although the dining room was much too formal for my taste, it was made softer by the sunlight coming in through the big windows. Cole was drinking coffee while seated at the head of the table. The dark circles under his eyes revealed a restless night, even though his white shirt was nicely made.

He said, "Good morning," without raising his gaze.

"Good morning," I said as I slid into the chair across from him.

I hardly looked at the plate of bread and eggs that Sofia put in front of me. Cole had a stiff, reserved demeanor.

"So, what's so crucial?" I broke the silence by asking.

Leaning back in his chair, he put down his mug. "We're going to Le Bijou for dinner tonight."

Le Bijou. Just the word sounded pricey, and I had heard rumors that the elite went there to be noticed.

"All right, so why?"

In a controlled tone, he clarified, "It's not just dinner." "This appearance is contrived. The media will be present.

"Excellent," I said, already weighing the implications. “And I suppose Kaitlyn will be lurking around, too?”

He clenched his jaw. "She won't cause any problems."

I arched an eyebrow. "You seem self-assured for someone who abandoned me yesterday to deal with her claws."

His eyes grew piercing, yet he startled me rather than retaliated. "You're correct. It was unjust. I ought to have intervened.

I was surprised by the earnestness in his voice. "Well, as long as that's clear."

After nodding, he got up. Sofia will assist you with preparing. Don a sophisticated yet approachable outfit. The purpose of this supper is to convey a message.

"What sort of message is it?" My curiosity sparked me to ask.

With a slight chuckle, he remarked, "That we're deeply in love."

For a brief minute, I was unable to discern whether he was being serious or joking as the words hung in the air.

---

I was quite nervous by the time evening arrived. My hair was beautifully styled by Sofia, who pinned it into a loose updo that framed my face. The outfit Cole's team chose for me was gorgeous; it was tight but not too showing, and it was deep red.

Cole was waiting at the bottom of the grand staircase, fiddling with his suit cuffs, when I came down.

His gaze briefly swept over me, and an unintelligible expression appeared on his face. "You look flawless," he remarked quietly.

My cheeks were heated. "You don't look that horrible."

He felt a slight smile tug at his lips, but it vanished as fast as it had come. I paused before accepting his arm as he gave it to me.

As we made our way to the car, he reminded us that tonight was a performance. However, maintains its naturalness.

"All right," I responded in a sarcastic tone. "Because it is quite normal to act as though you are in love with a man who is emotionally unavailable."

I was taken aback by the infrequent sound of his laughter. "You'll be alright."

---

Le Bijou was just as lavish as I had thought it would be. The room was filled with subdued talk and the gentle murmur of classical music, while crystal chandeliers glistened above. As soon as we entered, everyone's eyes were on us.

Cole's hand grounded me when it touched the small of my back. "Give a smile," he muttered.

Despite my stomach turning over, I gave it my all. To guarantee that we would be the center of attention, we were seated at a table close to the middle of the space.

Cole engaged in courteous conversation with the other diners at our table while dinner got underway without incident. I did the same, joining in when necessary and laughing when appropriate.

However, the actual performance didn't start until dessert was served.

Cole's palm brushed mine on the table as he leaned closer. He whispered, so softly that only I could hear, "You're doing great."

I tried to ignore the fact that my heart was racing as I said, "Thanks."

Then he suddenly reached up and tucked a flyaway hair behind my ear. I was temporarily taken aback by the gesture because it was so personal and unexpected.

His eyes met mine and he said, "You should relax." "No one is evaluating you as severely as you believe."

"That's easy for you to say," I returned in a whisper. "This is nothing new to you."

A small smile flickered over his lips. "Perhaps. However, you're managing it better than most people.

Before I could react, a well-known voice interrupted the conversation.

"Well, isn't this comfortable?"

When I looked around, I saw Kaitlyn standing a few steps away with a sly smile on her face and a glass of champagne in her hand.

"Kaitlyn, what do you want?" Cole inquired in a tone that was colder than I had ever heard.

She answered naively, "Oh, nothing," but her eyes sent a different message. "I just wanted to stop by and greet the happy couple."

She turned to face me, and I prepared myself for whatever poison she could be about to release.

Her smile grew brighter as she remarked, "You look… lovely, Aria." "How does dressing up feel in Cole's world, though? That is something I can't help but wonder."

Her words pricked me, but Cole got up quickly before I could react.

"That's sufficient, Kaitlyn," he stated firmly.

She blinked, obviously surprised by his tone. "I was just chatting with someone."

He tightened his grip on my hand and whispered, "You've made your point." “Please pardon us now.”

His hold on my hand was tight but not painful as he guided me out of the room. As we went outdoors, the cool night air touched my face, and I became aware that I had been holding my breath.

He said, "Are you okay?" in a calmer tone.

Despite the tightness in my chest, I nodded. "Why is she so hostile toward me?"

After a moment, he continued, "She doesn't hate you." "She is simply resentful."

"How about?"

"Me," he said, his eyes growing gloomy. She wants to harm me back because I hurt her. You are merely a byproduct.

I was taken aback by his candor and momentarily unsure of how to respond.

His phone buzzed in his pocket before I could reply. His face tightened as he read the screen after he took it out.

"What is it?" With a growing sensation of dread, I asked.

His jaw tensed as he mumbled, "Another problem."

"What sort of issue is it?"

I felt a chill go through me as his eyes locked with mine. "The kind that has the potential to ruin everything."