The anticipation clawed at my chest, an unfamiliar weight I couldn't quite shake. I tapped my fingers against my knee, shifting on the couch, trying to figure out what had gotten into me. It wasn't like I hadn't handled high-profile events before. But tonight was different. Tonight, Nelly would be stepping into my world as my fiancée.
It is a necessary move, nothing more. That's what I kept telling myself. But the thought of parading her in front of those men—the same ones who closed deals with predatory smiles and even sharper appetites—made my jaw tighten.
I exhaled, forcing myself to lean back. I had always been comfortable on my own, handling my problems without dragging anyone into them. But now, with Nelly in the picture, there was this uneasy shift in my routine. What if she didn't handle things the way I expected? What if I didn't like the way she carried herself in these circles? What if—
