The Perfect Facade

POV Valerie.

I stepped out of the luxury spa into the cool evening air. The deep tissue treatments had scrubbed away my physical exhaustion, but I still had to fake the inner confidence required to survive tonight’s boring high-society event. I locked my apartment door and checked my reflection in the hallway mirror one last time. The white gown hugged my curves before dropping into a daring leg slit, while my blonde hair fell in loose curls down my bare back. Soft pink lipstick polished off the flawless mask. I grabbed my clutch bag, ensuring my custom keyring was attached, and waited for the call.

My cell phone buzzed in my hand. I hit answer, and my dad’s gruff voice poured through the speaker.

"We are waiting outside."

The line went dead before I could even draw a breath to reply. I shoved the phone into my bag and headed down to the street level.

The black stretch limo idled by the curb. Edgar, our long-time driver, stood by the open rear door with a warm smile creasing his weathered face.

"Good evening, Miss Thornton. You look stunning tonight."

I offered him a genuine smile, grateful for the kindness. "Thank you, Edgar."

I slid into the plush leather seat. Edgar’s words sat heavy in my chest. He always noticed when I put effort into my appearance. It was a painful contrast to the men in my life. My dad treated me like a prop, and my gold-digging ex, Trent, had only ever cared about looking important when I ordered Edgar to chauffeur us around.

My dad sat across from me in the dim cabin, scrolling through his phone.

"Hi, Dad." I smoothed the silk fabric over my knees.

He gave a stiff nod, not bothering to look up. We rode the rest of the way to Milo’s massive estate in suffocating silence.

The limo slowed to a crawl as we approached the property. Through the tinted window, I saw the ridiculous spectacle Tanya had arranged. Blinding spotlights swept across the manicured trees, and a long red carpet blanketed the circular driveway. An army of valets swarmed the arriving luxury cars in coordinated movements.

I navigated my way out of the vehicle, carefully managing my high slit to avoid flashing the waiting staff. My dad walked beside me, his jaw clenched in quiet irritation.

Milo and Tanya waited by the grand double doors. Milo tugged at his bow tie, grumbling under his breath the second we reached them.

"What would have been the issue with a small gathering with jeans and t-shirts? Now I have to dress like a stiff penguin yet again."

I hid my smile behind my clutch, nodding in quiet agreement.

My dad stepped forward to shake Milo’s hand. "Is the guest of honor here yet?"

Tanya rolled her eyes and waved a manicured hand toward the bustling foyer. "You know him. He always has to make a dramatic entrance."

We moved past the hosts and stepped into the sprawling entertainment area. The room buzzed with loud chatter and the sharp clinking of crystal. Waiters weaved through the superficial corporate crowd, balancing silver trays of canapés and tall flutes. I grabbed a glass of champagne, and my dad steered us toward his inner circle. Rhys, Cora, Silas, and Paige stood near the edge of the room.

Cora offered a bright, practiced smile. "Valerie, you look gorgeous."

"Thank you, Cora. You look lovely tonight as well."

I took a sip of my drink, bracing myself for the usual dry conversations. The group merged into a tight circle as Milo and Tanya joined us. I turned my bare back to them, reaching out to swap my empty flute for a fresh one from a passing waiter.

Then, I heard *that voice*.

A sharp shiver shot straight down my spine. The deep, commanding tone punched the breath right out of my lungs. My muscles locked. My fingers froze around the stem of the crystal glass.

*It can’t be.*

Panic clawed at my throat. I kept my eyes glued to the tray of drinks, desperate to look busy. I dreaded the terrifying moment I would have to turn around and face the light. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

My dad’s booming voice pierced through the ringing in my ears.

"Cassio, meet my daughter."

I took a shaky breath, forcing my frozen legs to move. I slowly turned around in my white gown, lifting my chin. My terrified eyes locked directly with the dark, intense gaze of Sir.

POV Cassio.

I tapped my fingers against the leather steering wheel as I pulled my G-Wagon up to Milo’s sprawling estate. The lavish invitation had stated seven o'clock sharp, but as the guest of honor, I could afford to be fashionably late. It was just past eight, and the driveway was a circus. Tanya had set up a ridiculous red carpet that stretched all the way to the street. I expected paparazzi photographers to jump out from behind the manicured hedges and shove flashbulbs in my face.

A valet rushed over to open my door. I tossed him the keys and jogged up the wide stone steps, eager to get inside and bypass the spectacle.

The extravagant party was already in full swing. The massive house was packed tight with a superficial corporate crowd. I barely recognized a single face in the sea of tailored suits and designer gowns. Tanya must have rented a crowd just to make the event look bigger. I hated the stuffy, over-the-top nature of these high-society parties.

I scanned the room and spotted my close friends. Milo, Rhys, Silas, and Gid stood in a circle near the back of the massive room.

I started toward them, but my attention snagged on the woman standing next to Gid. She had her back to us, reaching gracefully for a glass of champagne. The plunging cut of her white gown exposed her sculpted bare spine. A cascade of blonde curls tumbled down her shoulders. Something about the curve of her waist and the tilt of her head felt hauntingly familiar.

"Hi everyone. Sorry I’m late, but what will the guest of honor be if he is not late?" I offered a smooth laugh, stepping into the circle and shaking hands with the men.

Even as I greeted my friends, my sharp eyes stayed glued to the mysterious blonde's back. The exact second my voice carried over the music, her body language changed. Her spine went rigid. Her shoulders locked in place. She froze, gripping her champagne glass like a lifeline.

*What the fuck?* I thought.

My pulse kicked up a notch. She recognized my voice before she even saw my face.

Milo clapped me on the shoulder. "Welcome back, Cassio. Glad you could make it."

"Thank you for having me. But who are the rest of these people?" I gestured toward the unfamiliar guests mingling near the bar.

Tanya stepped into the circle, waving off my complaint. "It is just some business contacts, Cassio. There is always time for networking."

"I thought this was supposed to be an intimate welcome home party." I kept my tone light, but my annoyance flared.

Gid stepped forward, breaking the tension with a wide smile. He pulled me into a tight bro hug. "Welcome back, Cassio. Good to have you home."

"Good to be back, Gid."

He stepped back and gestured toward the blonde woman. "Can I properly introduce you to my daughter, Valerie?"

The woman finally turned around to face me. The breath vanished from my lungs. I could not believe my own eyes. Tessa was standing right in front of me, draped in a stunning white gown. Her eyes were wide with pure, electrifying shock, mirroring the exact expression on my face. The invisible collision of our gazes sparked an instant, undeniable sexual tension that crackled in the air between us.

Her submissive conditioning slipped the moment we made eye contact. Her lips parted, and a single, breathless word slipped past her mouth before she could stop it.

"Sir."

Hearing my title drop from her mouth right in front of her oblivious father sent fire straight to my groin. My dick got rock hard in a single second.