The sound of the engine filled the silence between Jossy and Damien, while the driver kept his eyes focused on the road. Jossy sat restlessly, wondering if today's gala will be any different from the several others she had attended before.
"We won't be staying long," Damien said suddenly, his tone bored, as though the gala was an errand rather than a celebration. "It's not like you have a lot of people to say hi to anyway." He adjusted his tuxedo, catching his reflection in the window before continuing. " A few of my high school friends will be there. Some of my parents' business partners too. So," he turned his head toward her, his voice threatening "behave. Don't talk too much. And don't even think about flirting with anyone."
Jossy forced a smile, the practiced kind she had perfected over the past two years. Damien had never allowed her to mingle much during the galas, and it's not like she wanted to, anyway. "Of course," she murmured.
Their driver rolled the car slowly to the gala entrance, where flashes of light exploded in every direction. Within seconds, the swarm of reporters and photographers closed in on them.
Damien, already reaching for the handle, stepped out first, tall and polished in his designer suit, and then circled around to her side with the theatrics of a perfect gentleman. He opened the door for her as the cameras captured every moment, his hand outstretched like she was a fragile treasure.
"Mr. Rothwell! Mrs. Rothwell!
"Who is the designer for your dress?"
"How will you celebrate your upcoming second anniversary?"
"Any plans for children soon?"
"Tell us, Jossy, what's the secret to your perfect marriage?"
Their voices overlapped
Jossy lifted her chin, plastering on a wide smile, her hand slipping automatically into Damien's elbow as she played with her wedding ring.
Damien, of course, thrived in the spotlight. His grin was wide, confident, his voice loud and endearing. "We'll be celebrating somewhere special. Bora Bora, maybe," he announced smoothly, pausing for dramatic effect. "And yes, soon there will be some good news."
The media and the crowd erupted with cheers and more questions.
Jossy kept her smile frozen in place, her cheeks aching. Inside, she wondered how long she could keep playing the role of the perfect wife, especially when the man at her side wasn't the one she had once fallen for, but a stranger who had mastered the art theatrics.
At the entrance, Jossy thought of how she had been to countless galas since marrying Damien, yet every time felt like walking into a stage play. The gowns, the champagne, the conversations about money and power, none of it interested her. She smiled anyway, adjusting the diamond bracelet on her wrist, reminding herself that this was the role she had chosen. She had made the choice herself, and had made the vows too.
Damien moved through the crowd, his hand pressed on Jossy's back, guiding her like she was a robot. They paused first near his parents. His mother's eyes lit up when she spotted Jossy, her expression warm, a rare softness compared to Damien's usual sharpness.
"Darling," Mrs. Rothwell said, taking Jossy's hands. "You look radiant. Doesn't she look radiant, Anthony?"
Mr. Rothwell adjusted his suit as he nodded approvingly. "You're just what this family needed. You anchor Damien."
Jossy smiled as she answered, "Thank you, it's good to see you both." She endured the usual small talk, questions about their anniversary, half-hints about grandchildren, and comments about the Rothwell Corporation. Damien stood beside her with his easy smile, though his grip on her waist tightened whenever she said something he didn't fully approve of.
As their conversation went on, Jossy got tired of the fake smiles and excused herself to freshen up. She passed the long hallway toward the restrooms, but instead of entering, she slipped through a side door onto one of the balconies.
The cool night was easy on Jossy's skin as she leaned against the railing, and as the weight of the evening fell away in the quiet, she slipped off her heels and set them beside her, curling her toes against the cold floor. She needed a few minutes where she wasn't "Damien's wife". Here, she was just Jossy, a girl who can breathe without being told that she did it wrong.
"Jossy?" a familiar voice broke the silence.
Her head turned around, and standing at the far end of the balcony was a tall man with broad shoulders and a face that hadn't changed since she last saw him two years ago.
"Noah?" she breathed in shock. "You're back? Damien told me you went abroad after college. When, when did you come back?"
Noah studied her, really studied her, as if the years hadn't erased a thing. Then a slow smile tugged at his lips.
"Am I not welcomed back, Jossy?" he teased lightly. "I just came back. Last week in fact. The family business needed me, so here I am."
Noah was still talking when Damien's voice spoke before his figure appeared.
"What are you doing here, Jossy? You're making me look bad! You're supposed to be standing beside me, smiling at our business partners. And don't tell me you needed a break. From what exactly? From eating, shopping, and sleeping?"
His words rang through the air, each one sharp. He stormed forward, his anger clear from his raised voice. But then he froze. His gaze shifted past her and landed on Noah, who stood quietly at the far end.
Damien paused, shock flashed across his face. "What are you doing here with my wife, Noah?"
Noah didn't flinch. Instead, he offered a faint smile, calm but complicated. "Hi to you too Damien. Long time"
Damien was now angry. "Stay away from my wife."
Noah's eyes narrowed just slightly. "Is this how you treat her? Shouting at her in public? That's no way to treat women..to treat your wife Damien."
Color rose in Damien's cheeks, but his smile was forced. "My marriage is none of your business. Maybe you should go back to where you ran away to."
For a moment, the three of them stood there, the air heavy between the two men. Jossy slowly put her shoes back on, and walked back to the ball room, Damien behind her.
***
The ride back to their penthouse was quiet at first. Jossy kept her eyes on the blur of city lights outside the window, replaying the night in her head. It had been a gala like all the others, nothing out of the ordinary. Damien hadn't spoken since they left the gala, and she thought maybe he was too tired,or too wrapped up in his own thoughts. Either way, she was happy with the silence.
But then, out of nowhere, he said, "You two seemed to be having a good time."
She turned to him, confused. "Me and who? I hardly talked to anyone at the gala."
His jaw tightened. "Don't play dumb, Jossy. You and Noah."
Her brow furrowed. "Noah? Damien, when you walked in he had just arrived at the balcony. I thought he was your friend, isn't he? We only exchanged a few words."
"He was my friend, but not anymore," Damien whispered. "Noah is no friend of mine. He has always wanted to be me, ever since college. Did he tell you why he left?"
She shook her head slowly. "You told me he just..left."
"I don't want you talking to him." Damien's tone sharpened. "Yes, his family has money, maybe even more than ours, but he'll never succeed as a CEO. He's too emotional. Weak even. That's why I don't want you entertaining him. Keep your distance."
Jossy pressed her lips together, choosing silence. She didn't understand why Damien was so worked up. To her, the brief encounter with Noah had meant nothing, in fact, they had just begun chatting when Damien got there. She didn't see the big deal, but she was determined to keep him away. If Damien said to keep off, she would do so. She took a deep breath and let some quiet stretch a bit before speaking again, softly, almost a murmur. "Damien, I've been thinking about working. Maybe I can apply for one of the open positions in marketing. I'm getting restless at home because I don't have much to do. Even an internship would be enough for now."
His head snapped toward her. "We had an agreement before marriage that you would support me by being with our family. We would start having children immediately, grow the company together, and later, you can take on more. Maybe host charity galas, if that's what you want. Why are you suddenly changing the plan?"
"I just thought..maybe"
"Is this why you still don't want to give me a baby?" His voice hardened. "It's been six months since the incident, Jossy. Your body has healed. Don't you think it's time to try again? Once you're pregnant, we can revisit this little idea of yours."
Her throat tightened. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Maybe he was right. Maybe a baby would change things. Maybe then he will see her, maybe then he will love her like he used to, and maybe he will grow softer.
By the time the car pulled into the penthouse drive, Jossy knew what she needed to do so that they can be happy. She would keep her word. She will try again.