JUST US

Public Appearance

Nathan wasn’t a stranger to the spotlight.

Being Charles Lancaster’s son meant he had grown up in front of flashing cameras, shaking hands with powerful people, and smiling for the sake of the family name. He had mastered the art of looking composed even when he wanted to walk away.

But pretending to be a doting fiancé to Layla?

That was going to be a whole new challenge.

He adjusted his cufflinks as he stepped out of the sleek black limousine, the bright camera flashes hitting him instantly. His mother had insisted on him attending a high-profile charity gala with Layla that evening. A “small public appearance,” she had called it.

A test, Nathan knew.

To see just how convincing he and Layla could be.

He turned, offering his hand as Layla stepped out of the car. She was stunning, as always, in a midnight blue dress that hugged her figure in all the right ways. But more than that, she carried herself with effortless confidence, as if the world belonged to her.

And in a way, it did.

She slid her hand into his without hesitation, smiling up at him as if she wasn’t mentally cursing their entire situation.

“Ready, fiancé?” she murmured under her breath, her voice just low enough for only him to hear.

Nathan forced a charming smile, leaning in slightly as if sharing a private moment. “As I’ll ever be, fiancée.”

The press ate it up. Cameras clicked. Reporters whispered.

Nathan gritted his teeth and led Layla inside.

The venue was extravagant, a ballroom filled with chandeliers, classical music, and people dripping in wealth. As soon as they entered, guests turned to them with curiosity and excitement. Some already knew about the engagement; others had probably heard whispers.

“Nathan!” A familiar voice rang out.

He turned to see an older gentleman approaching one of his father’s longtime business associates. His wife followed closely behind, eyes gleaming with interest.

“Young man, congratulations on your engagement,” the man said, clasping Nathan’s hand in a firm shake. “You’ve caught yourself quite the beauty.”

Layla let out a soft laugh, playing her role with ease. “You flatter me, Mr. Hendricks.”

Mrs. Hendricks clasped her hands together. “Oh, this is wonderful! When’s the wedding?”

Layla squeezed Nathan’s hand just slightly—silent warning.

He kept his expression smooth. “We’re still finalizing details,” he said easily. “But we’ll be sure to make an announcement soon.”

Mrs. Hendricks practically beamed. “Well, I can’t wait! You two look absolutely perfect together.”

Nathan resisted the urge to snort. If only they knew.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of conversations, fake laughter, and endless smiling. Nathan and Layla played their parts flawlessly greeting guests, accepting congratulations, and looking every bit the happy couple.

But behind it all, there was tension.

The feel of Layla’s hand in his. The way she leaned in just a little when they posed for pictures. The warmth of her skin against his when she looped her arm through his.

It was all fake.

And yet, it felt dangerously real.

By the time they finally escaped to a quieter corner of the ballroom, Nathan was exhausted. He loosened his tie slightly, exhaling. “Remind me never to get engaged again.”

Layla smirked, sipping her champagne. “You think this is bad? Wait until our mothers start planning the wedding.”

Nathan groaned. “I’d rather walk into a boardroom full of sharks.”

Layla tilted her head. “Same thing, really.”

He chuckled, but his amusement faded as he studied her. She looked composed, elegant but he saw the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on her just as much as it was on him.

“We’ll figure this out,” he murmured.

Layla glanced at him, something unreadable flickering across her face. “Yeah. We will.”

Nathan wasn’t sure why, but for the first time since this mess started, he actually believed it.

Now, they just had to make sure they didn’t start believing their own act.