Page 44 of Playing Pretend

“Okay, fine.” I sipped my champagne. “It’s true. Caleb and I…” I hesitated, knowing it would be the first time I would be acknowledging out aloud what the rest of the city had already assumed. “Are together.”

Aaliyah and I traded a knowing glance, each reminding the other that we were doing nothing more than playing a part. Me more so than Aaliyah, but she was one of only two people privy to the exact nature of the arrangement between myself and Caleb.

Annabelle clapped, and her reaction garnered a few curious glances from several of the other guests. “This is so exciting. We should definitely do a story on you two for the magazine.”

“You’d have to speak to Caleb about that,” I replied, trying for nonchalance. The thought of having an ‘expose’ done so soon was not at all appealing. “I’m still trying to adjust to all the attention.”

Whatever Annabelle said next was lost on me as I finally took a moment to look around. Large white strobe lights hung from exposed beams above the built stage and chairs draped in an assortment of pastel colored fabrics lined the runway. On the far side of the warehouse stood several high-top tables with various canapés and a variety of champagnes and sparkling wines. To lend to the artistic theme of the event, we had a number of the walls covered in blown up designs from the contestants, along with black and white photographs of the city landscape.

Much like the décor, there was an eclectic mix of guests in attendance as well. It was smaller in scale compared to the Shareholders Gala, and the atmosphere more intimate. Potential investors mingled with top designers, and venture capitalists rubbed shoulders with retail buyers from stores like Bloomingdales, and Saks Fifth Avenue. The room hummed with the sweet stench of money and creative genius and all because Caleb had chosen his guests with the young designers presenting their work in mind.

Annabelle’s fiancé, Brian, stopped by and dragged her away, and when her brother, Landon, stepped up to Aailyah’s side, and wrapped his arm around her waist, my brows shot up in surprise.

“Landon,” she gave him a shy smile. “You remember Kadence right?”

“Yes, nice to see you again,” he replied. He was so enraptured with Aaliyah that he barely looked at me. I chose not to hold it against the guy because Aaliyah looked just as taken with him.

Huh.

When had that happened?

They seemed to have forgotten I was standing there altogether, so I excused myself and took a turn around the room until I’d greeted everyone I knew, and introduced myself to the people I didn’t. When guests asked about me and Caleb, I answered as vaguely as I could without sounding rude, and promptly redirected the conversation back to the event. Caleb found me when I was talking to Anthony and Julien, and not-so-discretely pulled me into his side.

“I should have known I would find my woman with the two of you,” he joked, squeezing my hip. I tried not to roll my eyes at his public display of affection, but figured I should get used to it.

“Oh please,” replied Anthony, waving his hand in the air. “Our sweet Kadence doesn’t have eyes for anyone but you.”

My cheeks warmed. I guess I wasn’t as inconspicuous about seeking Caleb out as I’d thought.

“The feeling’s mutual.”

I couldn’t meet Caleb’s eyes, but when the master of ceremonies announced the start of the show, I was relieved I wouldn’t have to.