She Outshines All the Starlight

Today was Jerry and Claire’s engagement banquet. All of Southborough’s elite had gathered for the occasion, while she was forced to hide like a shameful secret in this gilded cage.

Jerry’s expression stiffened for a moment before his smile returned. “Jealous?”

Barbara ignored him, turning back to the files spread across the desk.

He wasn’t about to let it go. Grabbing her shoulders, he forced her to face him, his tone turning sharp. “Barbara, what’s your problem?”

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to slip away from that banquet?” Closing the distance between them, his eyes darkened dangerously. “I came here with a gift just to make it up to you—and this is the thanks I get?”

Barbara almost laughed in his face.

Did he really think stealing a few minutes from his own engagement party was some grand act of charity?

“Envious?” His voice dropped to a murmur against her ear, thick with desire. “Be good for me tonight, and maybe I’ll get you a ring too.”

“Be a good girl. I promise, yours will be even bigger…”

His hands began to wander.

“Jerry, what do you even think I am?”

He caught her hand, pulling her roughly against his chest with a low laugh. “What do you think you are? Sweetheart, don’t be difficult. Do we really need to spell it out?”

His voice was a husky, seductive whisper—yet it sent a chill straight down her spine.

“You’re engaged, Jerry. Why are you doing this?”

Trembling, she shoved against his chest with all her strength, but his arms were like iron bands around her.

After a desperate struggle, she finally broke free.

She fled to the bathroom, snatched a wet wipe, and began scrubbing her skin where he’d touched her. Over and over, as if she could scour away the memory itself.

She felt filthy.

Jerry stumbled back from her shove, nearly losing his balance.

Watching her frantic scrubbing, his face darkened.

“Barbara, stop this,” he said, his voice low and rough with anger. “You know how I feel about you.”

“Stop this?” A bitter laugh escaped her. “Jerry, when have I ever *not* been ‘making a scene’ in your eyes?”

“I ducked out on my own party. I left my fiancée, my family, all our guests. Do you have any idea the pressure I’m under? I just wanted to see you. I just… missed you.”

“Missed me?” The words tasted like ash. If she hadn’t overheard his conversation with his friends a few days ago, she might have almost believed him.

At her scornful tone, the smile finally faded from Jerry’s lips, replaced by a chilling calm.

“Barbara, enough.”

“Just stay. Be good, and I’ll give you everything you want. Everything except my name. You know how this works. Claire is just a business arrangement. Once this all settles down, we can go back to how things were…”

“Go back?” Barbara laughed, the sound hollow. “To being your caged songbird?”