Chapter 6: The Gala
1501 Words
I thought 90 days would feel long.
Day 2 felt longer.
Mama Grace woke me at 6AM. "We have work, dear."
Work. Right. I was Kairo’s contract girlfriend now. That was the job.
She brought coffee to my suite. Real coffee. Not instant. "First lesson: How to be seen with Mr. Blackwood."
I sat up in bed. Hair messy. No makeup. "And what’s that?"
"Seen, not heard," she said. "Smile. Stand tall. Never ask for money in public. Never cry. Never look scared."
"Easy," I lied.
She opened the closet. "Today we shop for the gala."
"Gala?"
"Blackwood Annual Charity Gala. Tonight. 7PM." She pulled out a cream dress again. "You’ll wear this."
I touched it. Silk. Expensive. "I can’t—"
"You can," she cut in. "Rule 2, Aria. No questions. Just do."
By 5PM my hair was done. My face was done. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.
I looked rich. I looked dangerous. I looked like I belonged.
Mama Grace zipped the dress. "Breathe."
I couldn’t.
A knock. Kairo.
He walked in without waiting. Suit. Black. Perfect.
He stopped when he saw me.
His eyes did that thing again. Slow. Head to toe. Then back to my eyes.
"You clean up well," he said. Voice flat.
"Thanks." My voice was small.
He held out his arm. "Car is downstairs."
I took it. His arm was solid. Warm.
The car ride was silent. Accra lights blurred past.
"Listen," he said finally. Not looking at me. "Tonight will be cameras. Business people. My ex’s friends. Don’t react. Don’t explain. Just smile."
"Who’s your ex?" The words slipped out.
He turned to me. Sharp. "Rule 2."
I shut up.
The venue was a hotel in Airport City. Crystal chandeliers. Red carpet. Flashing lights.
The moment we stepped out, they came.
"Mr. Blackwood! Over here!"
"Who is she?"
"New girlfriend?"
Kairo’s hand went to my lower back. Firm. Claiming.
"Smile," he muttered.
So I smiled.
Inside was worse. Louder.
Women in diamonds. Men in suits. Waiters with champagne.
Everyone looked.
"That’s Kairo Blackwood," I heard. "Billionaire. Never dates. Who’s the girl?"
He led me through the crowd like we owned it.
Because we did.
"Stay close," he said under his breath. "And for God’s sake, take the champagne."
I took it. My hands shook.
"Relax," he said. "You’re not in Nima anymore."
The words hit hard.
"Nima made me," I said back. Quiet. "Don’t act like it’s shameful."
He looked at me then. Really looked.
Something shifted in his face.
"Miss Blackwood?" A woman cut in. Blonde. Red dress. Too much perfume.
Kairo’s jaw tightened.
"Elena," he said. Cold. "What do you want?"
"Just saying hi to my favorite ex," she purred. Her eyes dragged over me. "And who’s this? Your new charity case?"
The crowd got quiet.
My chest burned.
Kairo’s hand on my back got tighter. "Watch your mouth, Elena."
"Or what?" She laughed. "You’ll buy her off too?"
I stepped forward before I could stop myself.
"My name is Aria," I said. Loud enough for everyone to hear. "And I’m not for sale. I already signed the contract."
Gasps.
Kairo stared at me. Shock. Then... pride?
Elena’s face fell. "You’re trashy."
"Maybe," I said. "But I’m not fake."
Kairo pulled me away. Fast.
We didn’t stop until we were on the balcony. Alone.
He let go of me. Ran a hand through his hair.
"What the hell was that?" he snapped.
"Rule 1?" I said. Breathing hard. "No feelings? Well I felt that."
"You were supposed to smile and walk away."
"I’m not a doll, Kairo."
He stared at me. Chest rising.
"You can’t talk to people like that. This is my world."
"Then maybe your world needs new rules."
Silence.
The city was loud below us.
He stepped closer. Too close.
"You’re going to get us both killed," he said. Low.
"Or maybe I’ll save you," I whispered back.
His eyes dropped to my lips. Just for a second.
He caught himself. Stepped back.
"Inside. Now."
We went back. No words.
The rest of the night was a blur. Handshakes. Photos. Lies.
He never left my side.
At 11PM he said, "We’re leaving."
The car was quiet again.
I stared out the window. Mascara probably ruined.
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
"Do what?"
"Stand up to her."
I shrugged. "Because she was wrong."
He was quiet a long time.
Then: "Don’t do it again."
"Or what? You’ll fire me? We have a contract."
He looked at me. Dark. Tired.
"Or I’ll forget Rule 1," he said.
My breath stopped.
The car pulled into the penthouse.
He got out first. Didn’t wait for me.
In the elevator, he pressed 40. Then 39.
My floor.
He turned to me.
"Goodnight, Aria."
He stepped out at 39.
The doors closed.
He went to 40. Alone.
I leaned against the wall.
My lips still felt his stare.
And Rule 1 was cracking.
Fast.The elevator stayed empty.
My floor was quiet. 39.
I didn’t go to my suite right away. I stood there.
Rule 1 was cracking.
And he knew it.
My phone buzzed in my bag.
Unknown number.
"You forgot your earrings."
I looked down. The diamond studs from tonight. Still on.
"I’ll take them off," I typed back.
Three dots. Then: "Don’t. Sleep in them."
"Why?"
No reply.
I went inside. Mama Grace left tea on the table. Chamomile.
She knew I couldn’t sleep.
The suite was too big again. Too quietThe suite was too big again. Too quiet.
I touched my lips. Stupid. He didn’t kiss me. He looked.
But that look felt worse than a kiss.
At 1AM I couldn’t take it.
I walked out. Floor 40.
No knock. I just stood at his door.
It opened before I could.
Kairo. Shirt off. Just sweatpants. Hair wet from a shower.
He looked at me. At the earrings. At my face.
"You shouldn’t be here," he said.
"I know."
"Rule 1," he reminded me.
"Rule 1 is broken," I said.
His jaw ticked.
He stepped aside. Let me in.
His penthouse was darker. Colder. No lights except the city.
"You’re playing with fire, Aria."
"Then burn me," I whispered.
He moved fast. Hand on my wall. Not touching me. Just trapping me.
"Say it again," he said. Low. Dangerous.
"Burn me."
He stared. Chest rising.
ThenThen he stepped back.
"Go to your room."
"Why?"
"Because if you stay one more second, I’m going to forget 90 days."
My heart was loud.
I walked out. Didn’t look back.
The door closed behind me.
In the elevator, my hands shook.
I didn’t sleep in the earrings.
I slept with them under my pillow.
Like proof he wanted me to keep them.
Day 3 started with a text.
"Pack a bag. We leave at noon."
"Where?"
"Cape Coast"
"Rule 2?"
"Don’t ask."
So I packed.
The car ride was 3 hours. Silent.
Cape Coast was hot. Wind from the sea.
He booked a whole villa. Just us.
"Why here?" I asked before I could stop myself.
He looked at the castle. The slave dungeons.
"Because people here know what chains feel like," he said. Low.
I didn’t ask again.
That night we sat on the beach. No suit. No mask.
Just him. Just me.
"Tell me one real thing," I said.
He was quiet a long time.
"My father left when I was 12," he said. "Took everything. My mom worked 3 jobs. I promised myself I’d never be weak again."
"That’s not weakness, Kairo. That’s hurt."
He looked at me then. Really looked.
"Don’t," he said.
"Don’t what?"
"Make me want to tell you more."
The waves were loud.
I leaned my head on his shoulder. Just for a second.
He didn’t move away.
Rule 1 was gone.
And we both knew it.The villa felt different after that.
Quieter. Heavier.
He didn’t go to his room.
I didn’t either.
We ended up on the balcony again.
No blanket this time. Just the night air.
"Tell me something real," I said.
He was quiet for a long time.
"When my father left," he said. "I swore I’d never need anyone."
"And now?"
"Now I’m scared I do."
That broke me.
Kairo Blackwood. Afraid.
I reached for his hand.
He let me take it.
We sat there until sunrise.
No talking. Just breathing.
When the sun came up, he turned to me.
"You’re not leaving in 90 days, are you?"
I shook my head.
"Good," he said. "Because I don’t want you to."
Rule 2 and 3 were gone too.
And I didn’t miss them.The morning after felt strange.
Lighter.
He made coffee. Burnt it.
We laughed.
Actually laughed.
Kairo Blackwood. Laughing.
"Don’t get used to this," he said.
"Too late," I said.
He handed me a cup.
"90 days started as a deal," he said.
"I know."
"Now it feels like a beginning."
I looked at him.
"No rules," I said.
"No fear," he said.
Just us.Forever.[End Of Chapter 6]
- Writer
