The Public Fiancée
961 Words
The moment Clara stepped out of Knight Global Holdings, camera flashes exploded around her.
“Miss Hayes! Are you really engaged to Damian Knight?”
“When is the wedding?”
“How did you meet the billionaire?”
The sudden barrage of questions left her frozen.
Security guards quickly surrounded her, escorting her toward a waiting black sedan.
As soon as the car door closed, Clara let out a shaky breath.
“What just happened?”
The driver adjusted the rearview mirror.
“Mr. Knight expected this.”
Clara frowned.
“Expected it?”
“Someone leaked your meeting with him.”
She looked out the window as the reporters continued chasing the car until it disappeared into traffic.
Her phone vibrated nonstop.
More than fifty missed calls.
Dozens of text messages.
Friends she hadn’t spoken to in years suddenly wanted answers.
Even her manager at work had sent a message.
Report to my office immediately.
Clara leaned back against the seat.
Her life had changed in less than twenty-four hours.
⸻
When she arrived home, she found her parents sitting silently in the living room.
Her mother looked up first.
“Clara… is it true?”
Clara forced herself to smile.
“What do you mean?”
Her father handed her a newspaper.
Across the front page was a photograph of her entering Knight Global Holdings.
The headline read:
MYSTERY WOMAN TO BECOME DAMIAN KNIGHT’S BRIDE?
Her stomach tightened.
“I…”
Before she could explain, another black car pulled into the driveway.
A middle-aged man stepped out, followed by two assistants carrying briefcases.
“Miss Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“I represent Mr. Damian Knight.”
He opened one briefcase.
Inside were several legal documents.
“The debts owed by Mr. Richard Hayes have been settled in full.”
Her father stared at the papers in disbelief.
“What?”
“Effective immediately, all legal claims against your family have been withdrawn.”
Tears filled Mrs. Hayes’ eyes.
“You mean…”
“You may keep your home.”
Clara looked at the lawyer.
“But I haven’t…”
The man smiled politely.
“Mr. Knight always keeps his word.”
Her father grabbed Clara’s hands.
“You did this?”
She hesitated.
Then slowly nodded.
Her mother embraced her tightly.
“I don’t know how we’ll ever thank him.”
Clara hugged her back, guilt weighing heavily on her heart.
If only they knew the truth.
⸻
Later that evening, Clara received another message.
Be ready by 8:00 p.m.
—Damian
Exactly at eight, the familiar Rolls-Royce arrived.
Neither of them spoke during the drive.
When they reached Damian’s penthouse, Clara followed him inside.
The apartment overlooked the city, its lights sparkling beneath the night sky.
Damian loosened his tie before facing her.
“Our engagement will be announced tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
“We don’t have a choice.”
“You said this marriage was private.”
“It was.”
He poured himself a glass of water.
“Someone forced my hand.”
Clara folded her arms.
“So now I have to pretend we’re in love?”
“You’ll only need to act in public.”
She looked at him carefully.
“You really don’t believe in love, do you?”
For the first time since they’d met, Damian’s expression changed.
Only for a second.
Then it disappeared.
“Love is expensive.”
His answer surprised her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means…”
He looked out the window.
“…the people who claimed to love me only wanted my money.”
Silence filled the room.
Clara suddenly understood why his eyes always looked so empty.
Before she could respond, his phone rang.
His expression darkened.
“What?”
He listened silently.
“I’ll handle it.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?” Clara asked.
“The press conference has been moved to tomorrow morning.”
She sighed.
“I’ve never spoken in front of reporters.”
“You won’t have to.”
“But what if they ask questions?”
“They will.”
“And?”
“I’ll answer them.”
She looked at him, surprised.
“You’re protecting me?”
He walked toward the door.
“I’m protecting my wife.”
The words caught her off guard.
Wife.
Even though it was only a contract, hearing him say it made her heart skip a beat.
⸻
The next morning, the grand ballroom of Knight Global Holdings was packed with reporters.
Television cameras lined every corner.
Journalists whispered excitedly as they waited.
Suddenly, the doors opened.
Damian entered first, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
Beside him walked Clara, wearing an elegant cream-colored dress chosen by his stylist.
The room erupted with camera flashes.
Without warning, Damian reached for her hand.
His fingers intertwined with hers.
Clara looked at him in surprise.
He leaned closer and whispered,
“Smile.”
She did.
Not because he told her to…
But because, for some strange reason, holding his hand made her feel safe.
A reporter immediately stood.
“Mr. Knight, are the rumors true?”
Damian looked directly into the cameras.
“Yes.”
The room fell silent.
“I am engaged to Clara Hayes.”
Gasps echoed through the ballroom.
Another reporter asked,
“When is the wedding?”
Damian smiled faintly.
“Soon.”
Across the room, hidden behind a pair of oversized sunglasses, a beautiful woman watched every second of the announcement.
Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her handbag.
“So…”
she whispered coldly.
“You’ve found someone to replace me.”
A dangerous smile spread across her lips.
“This isn’t over, Damian.”
“Not even close.”
- Writer
