Hired as His Fake Fiancée

CHAPTER TEN: THE PAINTED LIE

NORA

“Nora?”

“I worked at Evergreen Equestrian Club.” That was not a lie, but I only worked there because I knew how to work a horse a little too well. “I learnt how to take the reins after picking up for people like you.”

He relaxed, but the suspicion was not gone. Of course, I'd be a fool to think he would just believe me because I said so.

“I had to work to support myself and my sick mother.”

He took a step back, cold air replacing his warm hands. He doesn't say a word more. I follow behind sheepishly. It didn't matter what happened; I couldn't let myself be found out. To him, I had to remain Nora Rhodes and never a Thorne.

“We have to get changed and go down for breakfast,” Gabriel said as the door shut behind me. The house really did run everything on a strict schedule.

The breakfast hall was a small courtyard in what resembled a gazebo. It was smaller and more intimate compared to the dining hall, but still carried all the grace and aura of the King family.

Helena was with the servant, trying to make sure everything was up to taste when we stepped in. Gabriel just took his seat, leaving his mother in awe.

“Good morning, Mrs King,” I murmured. She looked up at me, bright-eyed, as she smiled.

“At least someone has manners.” She squinted her eyes at her son, who didn’t seem to pay her any attention.

“Good morning, Mom.” He didn’t lift his face from his phone. She cleared her throat and gestured for me to sit beside Gabriel.

Evelyn and Aurelia entered. Aurelia sat opposite her brother, eyes assessing me like I was an antique she was contemplating buying. Evelyn came to sit beside me.

“I always sit here,” she said when I didn’t turn to her.

“What?” I was trying my best not to show a smile on my face from her reaction.

“I like sitting here because of the draught in the room,” she explained, not too kindly. I knew what she was trying to do. This had nothing to do with the room.

“My fiancée wouldn’t get up for you,” Gabriel spoke without even looking up.

“But Gabriel, you know this; I always sit here.” Her tone that sounded like sandpaper now carried a hint of sweetness in it.

“That changed when you stopped being my wife.”

Lawrence stepped into the room, and a whiff of cold air replaced the warmth of the room. He cleared his throat, and his eyes fell on me.

“She wouldn’t be getting up.” Gabriel finally looked up from his phone. Eyes clashed with his father as they had a stare-down.

Neither was going to go down, and in that moment I hated being the centre of what that was. Evelyn seemed to be thrilled since she had gotten what she wanted. I pushed the chair back, ready to move, but Gabriel’s hand enclosed mine and held me down.

My breath hitched from his action. Evelyn was staring at our intertwined hands with a scowl on her face.

“Let’s just have breakfast, please,” Helena said, tapping the edge of her cutlery to the side of the wooden table.

Lawrence pulled away, and even though no one said it, it was obvious that Gabriele had won this round. He sat at the edge of the table, and Evelyn pulled away. After a grace that sounded more like a death sentence, we began to eat.

“Today is the fifteenth,” Lawrence suddenly announced. Gabriel let out a loud, unintentional sigh that earned him a glare from his father.

“The painter will be around by noon for the family portrait.” He paused, raised his nose in the air and fixed his eyes on me. “Gabriel, ensure your... fiancée... is presentable. The archive does not tolerate flaws."

I swallowed because of the way everyone at the table turned to me. I looked down at the overpriced two-piece I wore and wondered what else he wanted from me.

“Of course, Father.”

The rest of breakfast was me trying to push down the scones and Evelyn throwing me poisonous darts from her eyes.

“My father allowed you to be a part of the portrait,” Gabriel said when we got back to the room. “That is progress.”

“Do I have to? I mean, I won’t be here again, so….”

“It is all part of your contract.” He cut me off with a cold voice.

Of course, the contract. Why did I forget that part of it all? There was nothing sentimental about things like this for him; it was all about getting that investment.

“This painting is important, so you won’t mess it up.” He walked out, leaving me to spiral as I tried to understand what not messing it up was supposed to mean.

Gabriel had picked the dress, a deep emerald velvet floor-length gown. The fabric is heavy and makes my skin shine more than it should. The fabric is hard to breathe in, but it makes me do a double-take at myself in the mirror.

“This will pull it all together.” He hands me the diamond necklace from before with a matching earring pair.

The painting was taking place in the huge study. Evelyn was standing beside the painter while I stood at the back like some castaway. Other extended family members had arrived; they all had the same expression that Aurelia had when she looked at me.

They were all positioned in frame, and I was standing at the edge. Putting me there was an obvious action to show me how much I didn't fit into their world.

“Evelyn, you are the CEO of Pierce Group and our most valued partner. It feels incomplete without you. Join the frame." Lawrence called before the painter began.

Evelyn flashed a smile and walked over, standing right in front of me. She was dressed for the occasion, almost as if she knew she was going to be asked to join in.

Gabriel’s hand on my shoulders tightened. I could feel the anger surging through his veins from the actions. I swallowed and pushed my feet into the ground, not allowing the fear overtaking my body to show on my face.

Evelyn whispered, but just enough for me to hear. “I fit better, don’t you think?”