"Lacy. What do you want," Aaron said flatly to the newcomer.

"I'm not allowed to say hi now?" the woman purred as she tried to sidle up to him.

Aaron backed away instantly, nearly knocking Jennica over. "No, you're not. Pay more attention to your date and leave Kimberly and me be."

"Kimberly?" she asked sourly before turning to her opponent. "How long have you known Aaron?"

"Not long," Jennica said coyly.

She had a feeling her employer for the night really wanted this woman to be put in her place. She was happy to oblige—she really felt for the guy.

"We just hit it off one day, didn't we Aar-Bear?"

Revulsion flitted across his face briefly at the horrible nickname she came up with on the spot before he resumed his poker face and spoke stiffly. "Yes, we did. She is…lovely company."

She was sorely tempted to laugh at how uncomfortable the previously unflappable Aaron Hale was acting but kept the charade going. Wrapping her arm around his waist, she batted her eyelashes up at him bewitchingly.

"Didn't you say you were going to get me a drink?"

"…I'll go do that."

Jennica wouldn't quite describe what he did as 'scurrying away' since it was a bit more dignified but that was the feeling she got. He must truly loathe this woman.

"Lacy, was it?" she asked sweetly, sizing her up not at all subtly. "Don't you think you're a bit brazen for going after someone else's man?"

Lacy's careful composure cracked and she let an ugly look appear for a moment before smiling again.

"Last I checked, Aaron was single. That makes him fair game."

"You think of him as a game? Poor dear, he deserves so much better than a schemer like you," Jennica clucked sympathetically, inciting Lacy's rage even further.

"You're a no name actress! You could never be Mrs. Hale," the woman said furiously, her hands balled into fists.

So she was actually after the title of Mrs. Hale. Interesting. For the first time Jennica was grateful she wasn't born rich and didn't have to deal with all of this drama regularly. It seemed like such a drag.

For the moment though, she was having a good time taking this spoiled brat down a peg.

"Who said anything about wanting to be Mrs. Hale? I'm here because Aaron wanted me to be; nothing more, nothing less. Too bad he doesn't seem to even want you within a hundred feet of him."

Lacy appeared to be on the verge of popping a blood vessel by the time Aaron came back with two drinks. Jennica accepted hers with an innocent smile and took a sip while raising her eyebrows in challenge, daring Lacy to snitch on her.

As predicted, she didn't say a word. She probably knew Aaron wouldn't take her side. She stomped away in a huff. Sayonara, sucker.

"What exactly did you say to her?" he asked coolly.

"Nothing you wouldn't have said yourself given the chance, I wager," Jennica said smugly. "You're welcome."

His forehead creased briefly. "You're lucky I used a fake name to introduce you."

Shivers ran down her spine when he said that and she wasn't sure why. Was he referring to the spoiled heiress that just left? Was she dangerous? She seemed like a pansy to Jennica.

Before she could ask what he meant by that, an older couple approached them and began talking to Aaron. Jennica put on her most professional smile. Here they go again.

===

"Would you prefer cash or check?" Aaron asked boredly once they were back in the car at the end of the party.

Jennica was exhausted—who knew smiling could hurt your face so much. She had used up her smile quota for the rest of the month.

Every single person she met tonight was either completely fake or super stuffy. How people actually lived like that, she had no idea.

"Check, please. I'd be nervous about getting mugged on the way to my front door with that much cash."

He didn't so much as bat an eyelid at her joke. Did this guy even have a sense of humor? She had never met anyone so stiff.

The only time he broke his blank, slightly disdainful expression was when talking about the woman he loved or when dealing with Lacy.

He seemed softer and sadder talking about his love and even more forbidding than usual when that brat was involved. It made sense. Love and hate were about as strong as emotions could get.

"That woman you care about…does she know she's in danger with you?" Jennica dared to ask.

His cold, empty eyes seemed to drill a hole into her soul.

"She's not in danger with me," he said firmly. "I won't let anybody else touch her."

She didn't buy it. From what she had seen and experienced tonight, any real girlfriend of Aaron's would be eaten alive.

"Aaron…I don't mean to pry, but if the one you love is anything like me—normal, I mean—there's no way she would survive in your world."

"I know."

Jennica wasn't expecting that. She was unexpectedly protective of this girl she didn't know after nearly being thrown to the wolves herself for just a couple hours.

"If you know, then why—"

"I would abandon that world entirely for her. Once I accomplish my goals, there will be absolutely no need to socialize with the rabble. I don't care about high society connections; my parents do. All of those people annoy me. As soon as I control the company all I have to do is show up for business meetings. Anything else can be handed off to someone else on my behalf."

Her eyes widened. He must be serious about this girl to be willing to leave everything he knew behind for her like that.

"You…would leave high society behind completely?"

Aaron stared out the window so she couldn't see his expression.

"I should have done it years ago…I didn't realize she wasn't—I mean, wouldn't be—happy with all those people. I've had a lot of time to think about it. I want to give her the normal life she craves."

She was a bit moved by his speech. He must love this woman more than anything to be able to compromise like that despite their differences. Who on earth could inspire that kind of devotion from one of the most powerful men in the city?

"In that case, I think she's very lucky to have someone like you."

Aaron turned back to her and raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. When they arrived in front of her building, the driver came out and opened the door for her and she bid him goodbye, thinking that was the last she would ever see of him.