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photographers and crowds of people waiting to see who the billionaire Caleb Hawksley will have on his arm.
    Fear hits me and my throat constricts, "Oh crap, what am I doing here? We'll be all over the papers tomorrow."
    Caleb frowns, "They're looking for headlines and you're it. Be a mystery for an evening. When they finally figure out who you are, it won't matter."
    "Won't it?"
    "Trust me?" He holds out his hand.
    Putting my palm against his, I inhale lungs of air hoping it will calm me down.
    It doesn't.
    "Of course I trust you. It's them I don't trust."
    We leave the limo and the flashes go off all around me, people scream Caleb's name, asking, "Who's your date?" and "Who's the lucky lady?"
    "Keep your head high, back straight." He whispers in my ear, before kissing my neck. "Don't let them see you're nervous. They love to see blood."
     

Chapter 11

 
    My heels don't help, but I throw back my shoulders and smile at the cameras as Caleb and I walk gracefully, hand in hand, to the Gala Ball. The red carpet has been rolled out and the media are behind a rope as we walk up the middle. I feel glamorous and wanted. Like a movie star from the fifties.
    When the sounds of shouting and the flashing of cameras are behind us, I exhale.
    "How do you deal with such an invasion of privacy everywhere?" I whisper to him.
    "I’ve never known any different," Caleb glimpses me, and I swear there's sadness in those big blue eyes of his. "Anonymity and wealth are incompatible."
    I squeeze his hand, "Let's go and enjoy ourselves. Screw them."
    "Hey, potty mouth."
    I bite my lip, “Oops."
    As we enter the building, I see that the Gala Ball is everything I imagined it to be.
    Large, grand, flashy and over the top.
    It is too perfect.
    The men and women are flawless. They are all dressed to perfection in their tailored suits, custom-made designer dresses and shiny jewelry.
    I feel out of place.
    I don’t belong here.
    I am just a housekeeper. Just a worker.
    I don’t belong here with the mega-rich and ultra-famous. These are not my people. My people are laughing, chatting casually at my local Chinese takeaway.
    And I doubt I’ll find any sweet and sour chicken dishes here.
    Caleb turns to me, “Are you ok?”
    “I’m fine,” I lie. “Why do you ask?”
    “Your mouth has dropped open wide.”
    “This mouth is wide enough to fit something else, too,” I reply cheekily.
    He kisses me, "And this mouth is far too splendid to resist."
    The kiss is soft, and his blur gaze penetrating.
    I need not to think filthy thoughts, and he's not helping. "Is there food? Think I've worked up quite an appetite."
    He whispers, "Makes two of us, bad girl."
    He spots the food area and bar and pulls me in its direction.
    Once there, he seats me at a table, "I'll fetch us a few nibbles and some drinks. Don't move."
    Grateful to be off my feet, I nod in reply and observe how his cute butt cheeks move in his tux pants.
    Left alone in this amazing place, I don’t know what to do.
    I don’t know how to sit, or behave, or even look.
    So, I just stare at the table in front of me and listen to the action around me.
    At the opposite table, there are five perfect women all in their early twenties. Too perfect. Too amazing. They could all be models walking down the catwalks of a Victoria Secret show.
    All of the women look like they have never worked a day in their life… and never plan to either.
    While staring at their perfection, one of them looks my way and we make eye contact.
    Damn.
    Quickly, I look back down at the table.
    Please don’t talk about me.
    Please…
    "Who the hell is she?" snarls one of them, clearly talking about me.
    "Don't know, but she's only my standin," a stunning brunette says. "I told him to go screw himself yesterday; I won't be second best for anyone."
    Are the perfect people talking about me? I'm a standin?
    She turned him down?
    Does she mean my Caleb?
    "You turned Caleb Hawksley down? Are you insane?"
    Damn.
    I am a standin. Just