"My fiancée"
Jade smiled sweetly. "Pleasure to meet you. Please don't zoom in too much , I'm only 60% photogenic."
Daniel almost choked on a laugh but kept it contained.
As they entered the gallery, the noise of the press faded into soft classical music, low murmurs, and the clink of champagne glasses.
"Not bad," Daniel said quietly. "You handled that well."
She raised an eyebrow. "You sound surprised."
He looked down at her, eyes gleaming.
"Let's see if you survive Camilla."
The gallery was breathtaking chandeliers glittering above modern art pieces, tables of crystal glasses and hors-d'œuvres lined with gold cutlery. The guests wore diamonds like they were casual accessories.
Daniel guided Jade through the crowd with ease, greeting old money, business tycoons, and politicians as if it were just another Friday night.
People stared. Whispered.
"Daniel Ooman? Engaged?"
"To who?"
"She's… not from any family I know."
"Pretty, though. And confident."
Jade heard it all behind glasses, behind fake smiles.
Daniel, meanwhile, didn't flinch.
"This is Jade," he said smoothly, "my future wife."
Every time he said it, heads tilted and brows lifted. But he never hesitated, never doubted. And Jade… well, she was starting to enjoy the game.
Daniel guided Jade through a hallway filled with abstract sculptures and portraits. She could feel the weight of every glance people still whispering about the mysterious "fiancée" of Daniel Ooman.
They stopped near a velvet-rope section, where a tall, distinguished man in a white tuxedo stood, surrounded by people who laughed too loudly at his every word.
Mr. Enzo Orellana.
Silver-haired, with eyes too sharp to be fooled by appearances.
"Enzo," Daniel greeted with a respectful nod. "You're still outshining your own art collection."
"Daniel, my boy!" Mr. Orellana turned and clasped Daniel's hand warmly. "And this must be the young lady making headlines."
Jade smiled, offering her hand. "Jade Lee. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Orellana."
He shook it, not missing a beat, but his eyes scanned her like an art critic judging a new exhibit.
"Beautiful name," he said, still watching her carefully. "And quite bold to face a room like this with such confidence."
Jade tilted her head slightly, unfazed. "Well, confidence is free. Unlike everything else here tonight."
Daniel coughed, hiding a laugh.
Orellana chuckled, clearly intrigued. "So she has wit. Good. You'll need that in his world."
Jade glanced at Daniel. "I'm already learning. Fast."
Enzo leaned in a little. "I can see why you chose her. She's not just another painted doll."
"She's not a choice," Daniel said calmly. "She's the future."
Jade blinked, surprised by his tone even she wasn't sure how much of this was still a game.
Orellana's eyes flickered, but he smiled. "Then you're full of surprises, Daniel. Just like your father."
He turned to Jade. "Take care of him. He acts like he runs the world, but there's still a boy in there who's never figured out how to sit still."
Jade smirked. "Then I'll be the one to keep him on his toes."
Orellana laughed. "I like her."
Daniel gave Jade a look half proud, half warning.
She just sipped her champagne.
After few minutes with Mr Enzo Orellana,
Until,
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Daniel whispered, gently squeezing her waist. "Mr. Orellana wants to speak business."
She nodded. "Sure. I'll just go flirt with the champagne bar."
He gave her a sideways smile before slipping away into the crowd.
Not even ten seconds later, five women in dazzling gowns approached all elegance on the outside, venom underneath. And at the center:
Camilla.
Blonde, poised, and dangerously perfect.
"Well, well," Camilla began, swirling her glass, "so you're the fiancée."
Jade smiled. "I must be. People won't stop staring."
The girl beside Camilla snorted. "It's just… unexpected."
Another added, "We always imagined Daniel would marry someone… I don't know… in his world."
Camilla tilted her head. "But then again… he's always been so kind. Maybe he saw you serving coffee and thought you needed rescuing."
Jade's smile didn't even flicker.
"Yeah, well, I guess he wanted a woman who actually knows how to work."
The girl on the left coughed, almost choking on her drink.
Camilla stepped forward.
"Just know, dear… men like Daniel don't marry waitresses. They play with them. You're a temporary chapter."
Jade leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.
"Then let's hope I'm his favorite chapter… because I'm definitely not going anywhere."
Camilla's smile tightened.
And that's when Daniel returned, his hand slipping naturally around Jade's waist.
"Everything okay here?" he asked, clearly sensing the tension.
Jade beamed.
"Perfect. I was just being "welcomed" by your friends."
Daniel looked at Camilla for half a second. She blinked, then turned away in silence.
He leaned down to Jade. "What did I miss?"
She sipped her champagne.
"Just girl talk. Super friendly."
.
.
After the frosty encounter with Camilla and her squad, Daniel led Jade toward a quieter corner of the gallery a serene indoor garden lined with soft hanging lights and blooming orchids.
A waiter approached with two glasses of champagne. Daniel handed one to Jade, studying her from the corner of his eye.
"You handled that… surprisingly well," he said, finally breaking the silence.
Jade took a slow sip. "I almost threw a mini samosa at her, but I restrained myself. Growth."
He chuckled, low and brief. "Camilla can be… sharp."
"She tried to slice me open with her words," Jade replied casually, "but she forgot I'm built from sarcasm and stubbornness."
Daniel's lips twitched. That was… new. And oddly impressive.
"Most women would've walked off in tears. Or caused a scene," he said.
Jade raised an eyebrow. "Maybe I'll cry in the bathroom after dessert."
He looked at her, a little longer than necessary, clearly amused.
"You're taking all this better than I expected."
She met his gaze directly, her smirk unfazed.
"You tossed me into a world full of sharks, Daniel. I just decided to be an eel smiling, but possibly venomous."
That got a real laugh from him. He raised his glass.
"To the smiling eel."
She clinked hers against his. "And to the rich boy who clearly has no idea what kind of creature he just invited into his life."
Their glasses clinked gently, champagne bubbling between them as the distant sound of music floated through the gallery.