The Grand Entrance

"You didn't say an exact time," Claire says as Mr. Gabriel Tan helps her up. "So technically I'm not late."

Gabriel Tan shakes his head. He looks at her weirdly, as though he's seeing her for the first time. "That black dress looks good on you. That Balenciaga hag did something right, this time."

"Oh, thank you," Claire mutters, suddenly feeling self-conscious. It is only now that she realizes what a sexy outfit this is, yet regal at the same time. The dress shows some skin, but only enough to excite the imagination. Claire feels as though she's royalty from a far-away kingdom who has come to visit.

When she's finally able to fully stand up, Mr. Tan offers his hand. She looks at it for a moment, uncertain of what to expect.

"Come on," Mr. Tan says. "I won't bite."

Cautiously, still convinced that there must be a catch with this show of good behavior, Claire takes Mr. Tan's arm and allows him to lead her down the red carpet. Camera flashes go in a frenzy. Reporters throw them all sorts of questions.

"Who is she, Gabriel? Is she your new fiancée?"

"What happened to Belladonna? Did you dump her?"

"Does your mother know about this new girl?"

"What changes can the world expect from TXCI now that you have a new inspiration?"

Claire is utterly bewildered with all these questions. What fiancée? Who's Belladonna? And why is Gabriel Tan treating her as though she's not his personal assistant? What game is he playing this time? Is this a new level of craziness?

"What's happening," she finally manages to mutter, but her voice is drowned out by the noise of the crowd.

Gabriel is looking ahead, trying to ignore all the cameras and the questions. At one point, he just says, "No!" and "No comment!" and then "Yes, she is my new fiancée."

"What did you just say?" Claire's curiosity and confusion is hitting an all-time high by now. "What fiancée? Are you referring to me?"

Still, Gabriel continues leading her down the red carpet and into the waiting double-doors of the Palace. He's not speaking, just soldiering forward, acting like the gentleman he wants to appear to be. When they arrive at the door, they are greeted by a long line of servants and other guests who acknowledge their—or just his—presence.

People are looking at Claire, discreetly whispering among themselves. She catches one line: "Who is the lady in black?" And it takes her a moment to realize they are referring to her. Gabriel Tan leads her into a long hallway lined with life-sized mirrors, and only then did she realize what all the fuss is about: she really is the Lady in Black, she really did own this black dress and killer pumps, and the woman who stares back at her in the mirror is barely the Claire Monteverde she has known all her life—the woman reflected looks more like a princess than a personal assistant, and the way Gabriel Tan holds her sweaty hand, you'd think he's in love with her. Could it be? What if this is the crazy twist to her crazy life? That he came to this sordid affair completely clueless, and now she may be walking away as the fiancée of one of the world's leading billionaires? Is it possible that Gabriel Tan is actually a kind-hearted lover underneath all that stone-cold, calculating exterior? Is it possible that her life is about to change tonight?

But just as she allows herself to get carried away, Gabriel Tan, with his always flawless timing, mutters under his breath, "Act like you actually like me."

She looks up at him, a mix of confusion and irritation throbbing in her heart. "Can you at least enlighten me on what I'm supposed to be doing?"

"You're supposed to act like the woman I am in love with."

"Huh?" Despite what she was imagining just a while ago, this comes as a surprise. "Are you even serious?"

"Please stop making me repeat what I've just said," he says. "Don't worry, this is just work. But for tonight, for the mean time, you are my fiancée. Can you do that? Just for tonight?"

"What's in it for me?" Claire asks, even though she already knows the answer.

"Don't be so greedy. I already said this is worth a month's work, on top of everything we've discussed. You should be grateful I'm publicly acknowledging you to pose as my fiancée. Hundreds of women are dying to be in your position."

Claire is aghast. "Then what are you doing using me as your pretend girlfriend, when you can have anyone at a flick of your finger?"

Gabriel Tan does not answer. He just looks at her earnestly, and for a moment, he seems real, honest, truthful. "Because you're smart. Smarter than every bimbo I've met. Everyone here are just rich because of their parents' money. They are just trust fund kids."

"Aren't you one of them, too?" And even as the words escape Claire's mouth, she already regrets it. "Sorry."

"Don't worry, I don't have the desire to explain myself to you," Gabriel says, his tone inscrutable. "I don't owe you any explanation. Just keep one thing in mind: Make this the greatest performance of your life."

"And how do I do that?"

"We can start with this," Gabriel Tan says, and in front of everyone, he kisses her.