Page 8 of Staging Love
She opened the door to their bedroom and ushered Jade inside, closing it behind them. Apart from a fresh lick of paint, nothing had changed in the room she’d claimed as her own when she was a teenager. The king-size bed dominated the space, its heavy wooden frame and plush linens promising comfort after long days on the slopes. A cozy sitting area by the fireplace offered a perfect spot for quiet evenings, while the balcony beyond the French doors provided a private view of the mountains.
Once they were alone Jade's carefully maintained composure crumbled. "Oh my god," she babbled, her words tumbling out in a rush as she covered her mouth with her hands. "This place is amazing. But it's so much scarier than I thought it would be. I mean, lying to their faces like that? Your uncle and aunt seem so nice, and here we are, just... And your cousin Theresa, the way she looked at us? I don't know if I can-"
"Jade," Camilla interrupted, placing her hands on Jade’s shoulders. "Take a deep breath. You're doing a great job, truly. But you need to lower your voice. These walls aren't as thick as you might think."
Jade nodded, visibly trying to calm herself.
"Listen to me," Camilla continued. "You don't need toworry. If anyone asks a tricky question, I'll step in. And I won't leave you alone for a moment, so you won't get into any uncomfortable situations. Okay?"
Jade took another deep breath, then nodded. "Okay. You're right. I can do this."
"Good. As we discussed on the flight, Theresa is the one to watch out for, so be prepared."
“What about Robert and Lara?” Jade asked.
"They're good people. Uncle Robert is a lovely man. He's always been supportive and genuinely cares about the family. In a way, he's been more of a father figure to me than my own dad sometimes. Aunt Lara is a sweetheart too, she's got a good heart. They've had their struggles, never being able to have children of their own, but they've always been there for the rest of us, and I spent some time with them after my father…"
Jade's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. She covered her mouth with her hand, her breath hitching. "Oh, Camilla," she said softly, "I'm so sorry. Here I am worrying about myself while it’s your first Christmas without your father. That must be so hard for you."
Camilla felt a lump form in her throat at Jade's words. She hadn't expected this sudden show of empathy, and it caught her off guard. For a moment, she struggled to maintain her composure, the façade of strength she'd been holding onto since her father's passing threatening to crumble. "It's... it's okay," she managed. "I'm just trying to focus on getting through this week. On making sure everything goes according to plan." She paused, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Anyway, now you know a bit more about who we're dealing with. Just remember, you're doing great. Now, why don't we unpack and then rest a bit? We're expected to join everyone for an early dinner at five."
Chapter Six
Camilla felt tense as they were seated at the dining table. Jade was sitting next to her, looking stunning in her dark jeans and a black silk top with a low V that accentuated her cleavage. She wished she had made more effort herself, suddenly feeling underdressed next to her "fiancée."
The dining room hummed with conversation as her family caught up on the past year, as always, starting off with business, and Camilla watched as Jade effortlessly engaged in small talk with Aunt Lara, who was seated on her other side. Jade's easy charm seemed to work its magic, and Aunt Lara had clearly taken to her.
"So, Jade," Lara was saying, "Camilla tells us you're an actress. What kind of roles do you usually play?"
"Oh, I've done a bit of everything. Theater, musicals... It’s more of a hobby though," Jade lied. “I dabble in investments, mostly.”
Camilla admired how smoothly Jade delivered it. They’d agreed to stick to the actress story as it was easy to find Jade online, but they’d bulked the scriptout a bit by adding wealth management to Jade’s resume. Their relationship had to be believable after all, and it was unlikely she’d date an out of work actress. She reached for her glass of crisp white wine, taking a sip to calm her nerves.
The first course arrived, a beautifully presented tuna tartare. The delicate pink flesh was artfully arranged on the plate, garnished with micro-greens and a drizzle of wasabi aioli. As the family began to eat, conversation continued to flow around the table.
Uncle Robert's booming laugh echoed from the head of the table as he regaled everyone with a story about his childhood. Aunt Vivian, seated across from Camilla, kept shooting curious glances at Jade, clearly itching to ask more questions.
Theresa and her husband Mark sat further down the table, their children seated between them. The kids, who had met Jade before dinner, were delighted with her presence.
"Jade," Emma called out, her voice cutting through the adult conversation. "Can you do another magic trick?"
Jade chuckled and shot her a wink. "How about I show you one after dinner?"
Jack's eyes lit up. "Can you pull a rabbit out of a hat?"
“I can’t do the rabbit trick, I’m afraid, but I can pull a coin out of your ear.” Jade dropped a silence for effect. “Or, even better… I can teach you how to do it yourself.”
Jack shrieked with excitement and Camilla was laughing despite her nerves. She hadn't expected Jade to be so good with children, but it seemed to come naturally to her.
She became increasingly aware of Jade's physical presence beside her. Every so often, Jade would lean in and place a soft kiss on her cheek, or gently rub her arm. It wasstrange, pretending to be in a relationship, and even more so with a woman. But at the same time, there was something oddly comforting about it.
Having a plus one, even if it wasn't real, felt supportive in a way Camilla hadn't anticipated, and she found herself leaning into Jade's touches, playing along with their charade more naturally than she'd expected. Her mind was preoccupied with the warmth of Jade's leg pressed against hers under the table, the way Jade's hand occasionally found hers and gave it a squeeze. It was all an act, she reminded herself, but part of her liked it.
"So, Jade," Aunt Vivian's voice cut through Camilla's thoughts. "Tell us how you two met. I'm dying to know the details."
Camilla tensed, but Jade smoothly took the lead.
"We met in a coffee shop in Beverly Hills, actually. Camilla and I got talking because we’d placed the exact same complicated order. I was next in line, and she couldn’t believe it when I said I’d have the same. She asked me why I was copying her – she’s convinced no one gets coffee right the way she does, and I retorted she didn’t have copyright on her ridiculous venti, half-caff, triple shot, ristretto, four-pump vanilla, no-foam, extra hot, light whip, caramel drizzle, soy milk latte, with a sprinkle of chocolate on top, served in a to-go cup.” Jade laughed. “Little did she know that I’d noticed her before, and I’d been dying to ask her out but I had no idea how to strike up a conversation.”
