“My family and I, we’ve not exactly had–”

“Family?”

That’s what the dinner is about.

“Yes,” he looked surprised at my reaction.

No. No. No.

Anxiety knifed through my ribs.

“Why didn’t you inform me?” I almost yelled.

“I didn’t want you to panic. I just wanted to ease you int-”

“Are you kidding me? And telling me now would ease my panic?”

He seemed to be having a rethink.

Shit.

I could feel my airways constrict as my fingers found each other in its embrace of entanglement.

What if I did something wrong? What if I said something wrong? What if they didn’t like me?

Wait, why did I care if they liked me? Should I even-

I stopped when I felt his hand on mine.

“Stop,” he frowned. “I don’t want to see you this way.”

I raised my eyes to meet his. They held something so… vivid. Genuineness.

“Think of it like a casual date,” he continued. “The dinner would be held at a restaurant, not at their home. Sarah would also be there if that eases anything.”

Oh..

Of course, he knew about Sarah and me. I hadn’t really cared anyway.

“Okay,” I breathed.

He gave my fingers a light squeeze before leaning away. “My family and I aren’t exactly on the best of terms,” he continued. “We’ve barely had contact in…seven years.”

The strain in his voice was apparent. It really made me wonder what really happened in those years.

“They also don’t know that this engagement is fake. And it’s best we keep it that way until the deal is signed.”

I swallowed. Even Sarah? I wanted to ask. But I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Suppressing my rising panic, I breathed. “Okay.”

He nodded.

After hours of comfortable silence, we finally arrived at the restaurant. With his hands around my waist, we breezed past the sea of people seated. Until we reached what I assumed to be the private area.

A tall red-haired waitress waited for us at the entrance. She had green eyes and a small button nose.

“Welcome sir,” she smiled. Too sweetly at Damien. Ignoring my existence.