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1414 Words
After school was over, Cassie slung her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the road, ready to hail a cab and head straight home.
Her plan was simple: disappear into her aunt’s house, avoid all thoughts of Luke Hudson, and pretend her life wasn’t spiraling into a ridiculous soap opera.
But as she stepped off the sidewalk, she spotted someone standing beside a sleek, polished black SUV parked a few feet away.
It was Luke Hudson’s assistant, his overly professional, perfectly put-together PA.
She wore a tailored suit and carried herself with the air of someone who had everything under control, even when no one else did.
The PA waved at Cassie, smiling faintly and called after her, “Miss Cassie.”
Cassie’s steps slowed as dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She approached cautiously. “Uh… hello?” Cassie quietly answered.
“Mr. Hudson asked me to accompany you to your appointments,” the PA said politely, her tone businesslike.
“Appointments?” Cassie blinked and asked in confusion. “What appointments?”
“To get you ready for tonight’s dinner with the investors,” the PA clarified, as if Cassie should’ve known all along.
Cassie’s stomach dropped. “Oh no.” She had completely forgotten about the dinner.
Between the embarrassment of the day before, dealing with curious classmates, and trying to keep her head on straight, it had slipped her mind entirely.
“Right. The dinner,” Cassie mumbled, more to herself than anyone else. “Just perfect.”
The PA tilted her head. “I assure you, everything is prepared. Mr. Hudson has arranged for you to have a full makeover, spa treatments, hair styling, and attire fitting for the event.”
Cassie groaned internally. ‘Of course he did.’
Before she could respond, a new thought hit her, ‘her mom’ .
There was no way she could just show up late at Aunt Linda’s house all glammed up without raising suspicions.
“Give me a second,” Cassie said quickly, pulling out her phone. She dialed her mom’s number, pacing in small circles as she waited for her to pick up.
“Cassie?” her mother’s voice came through.
“Hi, Mom! I just wanted to let you know that I’m staying over at Kate’s place tonight. We have this big group project to work on, and it’s probably going to take forever.” She said, her voice monotone.
Her mother paused for a moment before she continued. “Oh, okay. Make sure you’re not bothering Kate’s family. And don’t stay up too late.”
“I won’t, promise.” Cassie hung up with a sigh of relief, then turned back to Luke’s PA. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
“Wonderful,” the assistant replied with a slight smile.
“Shall we get going? Oh, and Mr. Hudson mentioned that you may want to bring someone along, so if you’d like to invite your friend Kate, she’s welcome to join us.”
Cassie hesitated. Luke said that? That was surprisingly thoughtful for someone so infuriating.
“Actually, yeah, Kate would love that,” Cassie said quickly. She sent Kate a text asking her to meet them by the school gates, and within minutes, her friend came jogging over, her face lit up with curiosity.
“What’s going on? Are we being whisked away in a black SUV?” Kate teased, practically bouncing with excitement.
Cassie gave her a look. “Don’t make this weird. I’m being forced to get ready for dinner with Luke’s investors. You’re coming with me as emotional support.”
“Dinner with Luke Hudson’s investors?” Kate said, eyes wide. “You’re living in a movie, Cass. I swear.”
“I’m living in a nightmare,” Cassie muttered under her breath as they climbed into the SUV.
Their first stop was an upscale spa tucked into the heart of the city, a place that looked too posh for Cassie to even think about entering under normal circumstances.
The moment they stepped inside, the scent of lavender and eucalyptus enveloped them, and soft instrumental music played in the background.
Cassie shot Kate a wary look. “Do we really need all of this?”
“Relax, Cass,” Kate replied, already taking off her shoes as a smiling spa attendant approached. “Just let yourself enjoy it for once.”
The spa treatments began with facials and massages that melted the tension Cassie didn’t even realize she’d been holding.
As much as she wanted to hate the entire experience because, after all, it was Luke Hudson footing the bill, she had to admit that it felt heavenly.
She and Kate were scrubbed, polished, and pampered to perfection.
By the time they were finished, Cassie felt strangely… human again. She glanced at herself in the mirror, surprised at how refreshed she looked. Even Kate was beaming.
“Okay,” Kate said, fluffing her freshly blow-dried hair. “If this is what being a billionaire’s fake fiancée gets you, maybe I should sign up, too.”
Cassie snorted. “I’ll trade you places any day.”
Next, they were whisked away to an exclusive boutique specializing in designer dresses.
Cassie stared at the racks of glittering gowns, her discomfort returning tenfold. Everything looked absurdly expensive. Just touching the fabric made her feel like she owed someone money.
“We’re here to find something suitable for tonight,” the PA explained, gesturing to the boutique attendants. “Feel free to choose anything you’d like.”
“Anything?” Kate whispered, her eyes sparkling like a kid in a candy store.
Cassie, however, was less enthusiastic. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered. “It’s just dinner. Do I really need a fancy gown?”
“Yes,” the PA said matter-of-factly, “because appearances are important to the investors. You’ll be representing Mr. Hudson tonight.”
Cassie groaned but started flipping through the dresses anyway. After several failed attempts and many sarcastic comments from Kate, one of the attendants brought over a deep emerald gown.
It was sleek and elegant, with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt that pooled at the floor.
Cassie hesitated. “It’s… beautiful,” she admitted.
“It’ll look perfect on you,” the attendant assured her, holding it out for her to try.
Reluctantly, Cassie disappeared into the dressing room. When she emerged, even she had to admit the dress looked stunning.
The rich green color brought out her hazel eyes, and the fit was flattering without being over-the-top.
“Cassie, you look like a queen,” Kate said, eyes shining. “Luke Hudson is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
Cassie rolled her eyes, though her cheeks flushed. “Don’t say things like that.”
By the time they were done dress shopping, they moved on to shoes.
Cassie tried not to faint when she saw the price tags, but under the PA’s watchful eye, she selected a pair of black heels that made her legs look longer than she thought possible.
As the SUV carried them back to their respective homes, Cassie stared out the window, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and anxiety.
The spa, the dress, the shoes, it all felt so surreal. She had never been pampered like that in her life, and knowing it was all for the sake of appearances made it feel hollow.
“Are you okay?” Kate asked softly, breaking the silence.
Cassie nodded slowly. “I think so. It’s just… a lot. I don’t belong in this world, Kate. I’m just pretending, and it feels weird.”
Kate gave her a reassuring smile. “You’re stronger than you think, Cass. You’re doing what you have to do, and you’re handling it better than most people would.”
Cassie appreciated the sentiment, but as the SUV pulled up a few blocks from Aunt Linda’s house, her nerves were back in full swing.
She hugged Kate goodbye and climbed out, clutching the bags that held her dress and shoes.
The weight of the evening ahead settled on her shoulders as she trekked the short distance home.
Soon, she would have to stand beside Luke Hudson at that dinner, pretending to be something she wasn’t. And no matter how stunning the dress was, or how perfect her hair and makeup looked, Cassie knew one thing for sure: she was way out of her depth.
- Writer
