Rapped in His World:

I hardly had time to comprehend what had transpired the previous evening before I was dragged into yet another maelstrom the next morning.

Evelyn, Cole's assistant, showed up at my door before breakfast with her usual sardonic expression.

"You must prepare yourself," she stated sharply. "The event will begin in one hour."

Still half sleeping, I blinked. "What happened?"

"The gala for charity." You and Mr. Montgomery will be going together.

My stomach turned over.

A gala had not been mentioned by Cole. However, he rarely gave me advance notice before putting me in awkward circumstances.

I wanted to resist and say no, but I knew it wouldn't make a difference. Now, this was my reality.

I let Evelyn lead me to the dressing room, where a stylist was waiting and sighed resignedly. They had my hair and cosmetics done in a matter of minutes while I sat in front of a big mirror.

They handed me a stunning gown, a deep-red, floor-length gown that caressed my body in ways that bordered on obscene. My cheeks burned from the plunging neckline, and the fabric shimmered in the sun.

"Isn't this a bit excessive?" I shifted uneasily and inquired.

Evelyn's eyes seldom left her tablet. "Mr. Montgomery chose it on his own."

He did, of course.

The door opened before I could protest.

Cole entered wearing a black tuxedo and exuded dominance with ease. His demeanor was opaque as his piercing blue eyes swept over me.

I thought he might make a smug remark about my appearance or mention the outfit. However, he remained silent.

He merely gazed.

We were silent for so long that I had to turn aside because my heart was pounding.

"Are we going to depart now?" Trying to sound indifferent, I asked.

He gave one nod. "Remain near me this evening."

I scowled. "Why? Are you afraid I'll make you look bad?

His gaze darkened, but his lips quirked, almost as if he wanted to smirk. "No. Because not everyone in the room is someone I trust.

A shiver went through my body.

There was no time for me to press him for answers. We were in the car in a matter of minutes, the soft buzz of the city filling the air between us.

I tried not to notice how close we were as I gazed out the window.

Then his fingers brushed mine, and I felt it.

I tensed up.

Was it a mishap? Or was I being tested by him?

I remained motionless. He didn't either.

As the automobile swerved across the city, we remained in that position, hardly touching.

My heart was racing by the time we got to the gala for reasons I didn't want to look into.

### The Gala

Flashing lights burst in front of us as soon as we entered.

Reporters and cameras.

Cole pulled me in closer as his hands tightened around my waist.

"Smile," he whispered.

Even though his contact was burning my flesh, I forced one.

Some of the city's most influential individuals were present in the room. Politicians, celebrities, and wealthy businesspeople. There was a lot of civil discourse and covert intentions in the air.

Cole kept his hand on my back as he guided me through the throng. His physique stayed stiff, yet he greeted everybody with easy charm.

I sensed it.

There was a problem.

We had been mixing for an hour when a man came up to us. Tall, in her mid-forties, with a slick voice and a sardonic smirk.

"Cole Montgomery," uttered the man. "A pleasure every time."

Cole's face became quite icy. "Nathaniel."

Nathaniel glanced in my direction. "And who is this?"

Cole spoke before I could say anything. "I have her with me."

He spoke in a forceful, possessive tone.

Nathaniel laughed. "She is, of course."

My skin crawled at the way he said it.

Cole jerked me aside and whispered, "Excuse us."

He was guiding me through the vast hall with a firm grip before I could even react.

"Who was that?" When we came to a more peaceful nook, I inquired.

"No one significant."

I looked at him. "That is untrue."

He tightened his jaw. "Avoid getting close to him."

I was about to argue and demand explanations when a staff member came up.

“The media is asking for a picture of you and your fiancée alone, Mr. Montgomery,” she stated.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Cole turned to face me with hardly any hesitation. "Leave now."

There was nothing I could do.

We were escorted out of the crowd to a secluded balcony. In the distance behind us, the city glistened in the darkness.

The photographer's voice was far away from my heartbeat when he told us to stand nearby.

I flushed against Cole as his fingers moved around my waist.

A harsh breath came out of my mouth.

"Calm down," he whispered.

My exposed skin was touched by his fingertips. Every nerve in my body was on edge, betraying me.

The camera flashed.

My attention ought to have been on the photographer and the knowledge that we were being observed.

But Cole was all I could think about.

His breathing seemed a little erratic. It felt like he was holding back when his fingers clenched around my waist.

Then something changed when the photographer lowered his camera.

Cole moved his fingers to my chin and turned me to face him.

His voice was low as he whispered, "Stop staring at me like that."

I took a deep breath. "Like what?"

"As if you want me to give you a kiss."

My breath caught.

He was near. Too near.

Then his lips slammed into mine before I could stop it.

It wasn't kind. It lacked caution.

It was uncooked. Tense.

A fight between two individuals who had been acting as though they didn't want this for too long.

He put his hands around my waist and drew me in until there was nothing left to separate us. Desperate and engrossed in the fire he stoked within me, my fingers were entangled in his hair.

I ought to have prevented him.

I ought to have retreated.

However, I didn't.

I returned his kiss as if he were the only thing preventing my disintegration.

We were both gasping for air when he eventually broke the kiss.

My lips were still tingling as I gazed at him.

He had darker eyes than I had ever seen.

I said, "This is not a good idea."

He touched my lips with his thumb while grinning. "Perhaps."

The balcony door flew open before I could reply.

Amusement curled at Nathaniel's lips as he stood there, his eyes darting between us.

"Well, isn't this interesting?" he remarked softly.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Cole stiffened all over next to me.

Nathaniel, what do you want? His voice was stern as he inquired.

Nathaniel's head cocked. "Just a gentle reminder."

Cole held hold of me more tightly.

Nathaniel grinned. Montgomery, exercise caution. You never know who might be observing.

After that, he turned and vanished into the throng.

I let out a trembling breath.

Cole's countenance was unreadable, and his jaw was clenched.

"What was that about?" I inquired.

He didn't respond.

Rather, he led me back inside by taking my hand.

"We're heading out," he declared in a chilly tone.

Without warning, the night suddenly became perilous.