Beyond the White Charade

I was the last-minute finisher of a wedding, to be honest seemed to have all the indications of a disaster, but such is the nature of event planning; everything seems to be in disarray until the last minute when magically everything falls into place. Here, I caught a breath beside the grand ballroom entry, as I watched the bustling staff set up the reception area while music would be heard in a matter of hours. The excitement hung thick in the air.The phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to check the message from assistant."Ryan Miller is here. He wants to see you."Ryan Miller.

Instantaneously, my mind registered his name while my heart skipped a beat, but I really could not tell why. I knew who he was, of course. Every event planner in the city knew who he was. He was a billionaire businessman who had earned the notorious reputation for being merciless and charming. So, he was like the type of a guy who could make you feel both intimidated and maybe intrigued at the same time. I had seen him at a couple of high-profile events in passing, but we had never spoken, much less had any meaningful interaction. After all of that, I scanned the room to ensure everything was in its place before making my way to the lobby where Ryan was apparently waiting. What could he want with me? I could guess. People like him always had a reason for going to these kinds of events, but it was hardly ever for good. Still, that didn't stop a small flutter of curiosity in my gut. After all, how often did a man like Ryan Miller walk into your life?The moment I stepped into the lobby, I saw him. Standing at the windows and looking through the view of the city skyline, emanating that calm confidence which seemed almost unnervingly overpowering. He was a tall one, probably about six feet tall, with dark hair and a jawline that could be chiseled out of stone. Impeccably-fitted suit that could have been tailored for him. He just made my admiration soar as he carried himself with a nonchalant, effortless grace in his movements, as though used to getting exactly what he wanted all the time."Emily," said that smooth, rich voice as he turned around to face me. "I've heard a lot about you."I gave him my polite smile, trying especially hard to win over the butterflies busy conducting their own propaganda in the pit of my stomach. "Mr. Miller," I said evenly, "What can I do for you?"He arched one brow and had the corner of his mouth turn up just a little bit, almost making it look like a smirk. "Please call me Ryan."I nodded and stepped towards him. "Ryan, then. What brings you here today?"He kept looking at me for some moments, even gazing at me with intense and unreadable eyes. Finally, to my surprise, he took a deep breath and said, "I need help from you."I blinked. "My help?""Yes," he replied while looking straight at me. "I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend."At first I was shocked. "Excuse me?" I asked, somewhat unsure whether or not I had heard him.Ryan leaned back against the wall as if asking me to fetch a coffee instead of making the most ridiculous request. "I know this is going to sound very strange but hear me out. There's a situation I need to handle, and I could really use someone like you in my corner. I'm offering a rather substantial chunk of money to 'lease' your time and... services."He was staring at me as if hypnotized by what he had just said. "Wait," shaking my head, "are you asking me to fuel a false relationship with you?"His smile enlarged, though it was not real warm. "Exactly. Only for a few months. Nothing serious. I need to get these people off my back and this'll work in our favors."I took a step back, completely thrown off by the proposal. "And why me? What made you think I would agree to something like that?"Ryan's gaze never faltered as he straightened up. "You're a professional. I've seen the way you handle yourself. You're smart, confident, and you know how to keep a situation under control. You wouldn't be fazed by the kind of people I run with."Crossing my arms, I thought over his words. "And for what exactly am I being paid for? You can't think I'm pretending to be your girlfriend because you ask."He stepped closer, almost drawing me in." "I am offering you fifty thousand dollars." I had no time to show my surprise, but it was hard. Fifty thousand dollars was more than I usually earned in an entire year, and was also meager in terms of what I had expected to be possible in my bank account. Yet, putting myself up to fake relationship, getting lost in whatever scheme ridiculous he was involved in, just made my stomach twist uncomfortably."I don't know," I said slowly, meaning my voice broke with effort to remain steady. "This is not..." Ryan's eyes softened, though his expression was still mostly guarded. "Look, I understand it's a huge ask from you. But I assure you this is just business. It will have no string attached. We will maintain a professional distance, and after a few months, you can walk away with the money and no ties to me whatsoever. It is just a job." I bit my lip and stared at the ground for a moment. There was something about him-about this offer-that tugged at me, even though everything in my gut screamed at me to walk away. It was just too tempting: fifty thousand dollars could solve all my problems: pay off debts, take my business to the next level, and maybe take a long-overdue vacation.But then there was still that inkling: Was it worth it? Was it too risky?Again, I caught his gaze, and my heart jumped another notch. "What will happen if I say no?"Ryan shrugged, but something flickered behind his eyes. "You don't have to. But I suspect that in your heart, you'll see that this is an opportunity you probably won't want to miss."I hesitated, my head swirling with a hundred different thoughts. Finally, I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding."Fine," I said, amazed by my own words. "I'll do it. But I'm going to need everything in writing. No surprises. Ryan widened his smiles, and for the very first time, that smile looked to him very genuine. "Deal. I will have my lawyer draft something up." And with that, I took his outstretched hand, sealing a deal that was full of thrill and terror at the same time. But there would be no turning back now.