Chapter 11

JENNIE POV:

Jennie stood in the center of her walk-in closet and realized she was holding her breath.

She wasn’t nervous. Jennie Kim didn’t do “nervous.”

But the “Billionaire Aquarium” was currently being filled with people who were experts at finding secrets. And for the first time, Jennie wasn’t sure if her armor was thick enough.

Mainly because her armor had a Lalisa-shaped dent in it.

“If you stare at that dress any harder, it’s going to catch fire,” a voice said from the doorway.

Jennie didn’t turn. She knew the scent of that expensive perfume. “It’s a vintage Mugler, Lisa. It doesn’t catch fire. It just makes the rest of the room look cheap.”

Lisa leaned against the doorframe. She looked like a problem. She was in a black suit, no tie, the top buttons open. It was a personal attack on Jennie’s focus.

“Powerful,” Lisa nodded, walking in. “Are you going for ‘Queen of the Penthouse’ or ‘I might poison your drink’?”

“Both,” Jennie said, finally turning.

Lisa stopped. Her eyes did a slow sweep from Jennie’s heels to her face. For a second, Lisa actually looked speechless.

Jennie felt a small win in her chest. “No joke ready? That’s new.”

Lisa recovered, her voice dropping a register. “Just… checking the dress. For security.”

“Liar.”

“Guilty.” Lisa stepped closer and pulled a box from her pocket. “Here. You forgot this.”

The ring. The “Business Asset.” The diamond was so big it was basically a weapon. Jennie looked at it, then at Lisa.

“Put it on me,” Jennie said.

It wasn’t a request.

Lisa’s expression changed. The playful light died into something steady. She took Jennie’s left hand. Her skin was way too warm. She slid the ring onto Jennie’s finger, her thumb lingering on Jennie’s skin for a beat too long.

“There,” Lisa whispered. “Now everyone knows you’re officially stuck with the girl with the green beanbag.”

Jennie looked at their hands. “A fate worse than death.”

“And yet, you’re smiling.”

“I am absolutely not.”

“Your dimple says otherwise, Jen.”

Jennie snatched her hand back, her heart doing a frantic, stupid rhythm. “Go check the food. If the caviar is wrong, I’m blaming you.”

“Yes, boss,” Lisa winked. “Try not to miss me too much.”

The penthouse was a mess of silk, wool, and passive-aggression.

Jennie moved through the crowd like a shark. She shook hands and gave fake laughs until the words “merger” and “legacy” lost all meaning.

Then, she saw him.

Minho Park was standing by the glass, looking at the river like he owned it. He turned and gave a practiced, smug smile.

“Jennie,” he said, walking over. “The place is… interesting. A bit cold, but it suits the fake arrangement, doesn’t it?”

Jennie sipped her champagne. “Minho. I didn’t think you’d come. Don’t you have a startup to bankrupt?”

Minho laughed and tried to touch her arm. “Still sharp. But I hear you’re spending a lot of time with Manoban. It must be exhausting, pretending she’s your type.”

“She isn’t pretending,” a voice interrupted.

Lisa appeared at Jennie’s side. Her hand slid naturally—possessively—around Jennie’s waist. The contact made Jennie’s skin electric. She settled into it, the warmth of Lisa’s palm feeling like a shield.

Minho’s smile stiffened. “Lisa. Nice suit. Borrowed?”

Lisa didn’t blink. “Bought it. Along with the company that makes your shoes. Small world.”

The tension was thick enough to choke on. Minho looked at Lisa’s hand on Jennie’s waist, his jaw tightening.

“You two are great actors,” Minho sneered. “The park walk? Very touching. How many takes to get the hand-holding right?”

Jennie felt Lisa’s grip tighten.

“Just one,” Jennie said, her voice like ice. “Some things are easy, Minho. I know that’s hard for you to understand, since you have to pay for your friends.”

Lisa let out a short, delighted laugh. “Ouch. Someone get the man some ice.”

Minho glared. “Enjoy this while it lasts. Glass breaks.”

He turned and vanished.

When he was gone, Lisa didn’t let go.

Jennie looked up. Lisa was still staring at the spot where Minho had been, her eyes dark.

“Rule number five,” Lisa muttered.

“Another rule?”

“Yes,” Lisa said, looking down at her. “Rule number five: If he looks at you like that again, I’m throwing him off the balcony. I don’t care about the laws of physics.”

Jennie felt a strange fluttering in her stomach. It wasn’t annoyance.

“You’re very territorial for a fake fiancée,” Jennie whispered.

Lisa’s gaze dropped to Jennie’s lips, then back to her eyes. The party noise blurred out.

“Maybe,” Lisa said, her voice deep and dangerous. “Or maybe I just don’t like people touching what’s mine.”

Jennie narrowed her eyes. “I am not ‘yours,’ Lisa.”

Lisa leaned in, her breath warm against Jennie’s ear.

“You’re right,” Lisa whispered. “You’re the boss. And I think this meeting is going very well.”

Jennie pulled back an inch, her hand resting on Lisa’s chest. Lisa’s heart was hammering against her palm.

“The meeting is adjourned,” Jennie said, though she didn’t move away.

“Is it?”

“Yes. We have guests. We have to be professional.”

Lisa smiled—the real one. “Fine. But after everyone leaves…”

“After everyone leaves,” Jennie said, “you’re helping me get out of this dress. The zipper is stuck.”

Lisa’s brain immediately blue-screened.

Jennie smirked, patted Lisa’s chest, and walked away toward her mother. She left Lisa standing in the middle of the room looking like she’d been hit by a train.

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