Chapter 4: A Dance Of Power

Following Rye’s guidance, Sherry accompanied him as he greeted the distinguished guests of the evening. The focal point of the gathering was Lady Katherine, a woman of notable influence and stature. Arden had once described her as exceptionally talented, someone who had stepped into the role of leader with grace and resilience after her husband’s untimely death. Not only had she successfully taken over the family business, but she had also made waves in political circles, earning her a reputation as a formidable figure. 

Lady Katherine’s backstory was the kind of tale that circulated endlessly in high society. Her husband had tragically passed away during a vacation with his mistress—a woman famed for her beauty, allure, and the obsessive infatuation she had stirred in him. Katherine, in stark contrast, came from a traditional, aristocratic lineage. With a grandfather who was an earl, she had been raised in a household that prized discipline and propriety above all else. Her personality reflected her upbringing: rigid, serious, and uncompromising. 

Her marriage had been far from harmonious. Katherine’s stern demeanor and her husband’s free-spirited, flirtatious nature had led to frequent arguments. Even after discovering his infidelity, she chose to remain in the marriage, restrained by her upbringing and the conservative expectations of her family. Divorce, after all, was not an option for a woman of her standing. It wasn’t until her husband’s death leaving behind a son not yet seven years old—that Katherine stepped into her role as head of the family and their business empire, proving her strength in the face of adversity. She’s the quintessential example of a woman shaped by the standards of the past. Sherry  used to herself. 

The bitterness of her past had shaped Lady Katherine’s values. She harbored a particular disdain for unfaithful men and women who flaunted their charms. From the start of the evening, her sharp gaze had been fixed on Riley and Mr. Wade, though neither of them seemed aware that they had drawn her silent disapproval. 

As Rye gently guided Sherry forward to greet Lady Katherine, his composed demeanor and clear rejection of Riley’s earlier advances worked in his favor. Katherine, a shrewd judge of character, appreciated his restraint and gentlemanly manner. Sherry, with her delicate beauty and unassuming elegance, further softened the atmosphere. Her calm demeanor and natural charm complemented Rye’s polished presence, creating a dynamic that even Lady Katherine seemed to approve of.  The conversation flowed with surprising ease. Lady Katherine, usually reserved, seemed genuinely engaged as she spoke with Rye and Sherry. Despite Sherry’s initial nervousness, she quickly adapted, following Rye’s lead and participating in the discussion with poise. Katherine’s stern expression even softened into an occasional smile, a rare sight for those who knew her. 

Despite spending less than an hour together, Sherry and Rye had already recognized the seamless harmony in their dynamic.Sherry was composed and cooperative, instinctively sensing when to support Rye or step back to let him take the lead. Rye, in turn, showed a thoughtful awareness of her comfort, subtly steering the conversation away from topics that might make her uneasy. His actions were subtle but deliberate, showing a level of consideration that Sherry quietly appreciated. Neither of them said a word about the unspoken harmony they shared, but it was impossible to ignore. For all the pretense of their roles tonight, a genuine respect for each other had begun to take root.

“We deeply regret having to leave so early, Lady Katherine. Please accept our apologies!” Rye said, his voice laced with gentle regret as he clasped her hand in a firm yet respectful handshake. 

Katherine’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Oh, I understand completely! Young people like yourselves should enjoy livelier places. There’s no need for such formality, Mr. Mavis and Ms. Willows.” 

Her teasing tone sent a wave of warmth rushing to Sherry’s cheeks. Her face flushed a soft crimson, and her awkward shyness only seemed to amuse Katherine further. The misunderstanding was written all over the older woman’s expression. Rye, however, didn’t bother to explain. He merely smiled faintly, as if embracing the misconception after all, tonight, they were playing the role of a couple. 

“Thank you, Lady Katherine. Please excuse us!” Rye replied with his usual poise, gently placing a hand at Sherry’s back to guide her away. Once outside, the two didn’t head straight to their car. Instead, they lingered under the starry sky, taking in the crisp night air. The distant hum of the party faded into the background, replaced by the soft rustling of trees swaying in the evening breeze. 

Sherry instinctively reached into her handbag, a habit cultivated from her work as a kindergarten teacher. She always carried a stash of candy both to appease her little students and as a quick remedy for her own occasional low blood sugar. Tonight, it served as a quiet comfort amid the evening’s formalities.  Rye’s gaze drifted to her as she unwrapped a small candy and popped it into her mouth. The faint sound of the wrapper crinkling broke the silence, and her soft chewing caught his attention. 

It musts taste amazing. He thought, feeling an odd pang of curiosity and perhaps a little envy. A fleeting regret surfaced in his mind as he recalled the strawberry candies he had left at home. 

“Would you like one?” Sherry asked suddenly, her voice carrying a gentle concern. She held out a candy in her palm, the wrapper gleaming faintly under the moonlight. “You’ve had a fair bit to drink tonight, and alcohol isn’t exactly kind to your stomach. This might help!” 

For a moment, Rye simply stared at her, caught off guard by her unexpected kindness. The gesture was simple just a small piece of candy but it felt inexplicably personal. Slowly, he reached out and took the candy from her, the tips of their fingers brushing briefly. Unwrapping the candy, he placed it in his mouth. The rich, sweet flavor of strawberry milk spread across his tongue, its gentle sweetness melting away the lingering bitterness of the evening.  Without changing his expression, Rye felt something shift within him. His heart gave a single, unfamiliar thud-a quiet yet undeniable echo that resonated through him. 

Despite the calm, composed exterior he maintained, the candy seemed sweeter than it should have been. Perhaps it was the taste of Sherry’s quiet thoughtfulness, lingering in the simplicity of her gesture. Whatever it was, Rye let the flavor settle, savoring it longer than he had expected.

"Let me go!" A piercing scream echoed through the quiet of the back entrance, startling the staff nearby. The voice belonged to Riley, the sultry, attention-grabbing woman who had commanded the room’s gaze at the beginning of the evening. Now, she was being escorted out by Lady Katherine’s security team. Flanking her was two men: the rotund, sweat-drenched Wade and another older gentleman who had briefly disappeared with her earlier. 

As Riley’s eyes locked onto Sherry and Rye standing a short distance away, her body stiffened. Rage and embarrassment clouded her features, and she immediately assumed the pair had tattled on her to Lady Katherine. Riley had little understanding of the sophisticated world of business and high society. She had dropped out of young school, relying entirely on her physical charms to climb the social ladder. Unlike Sherry, whose struggles had forged a quiet resilience, Riley didn’t seek survival—she sought indulgence. Her dreams revolved around designer gowns, glittering jewelry, and a life free of effort, funded by the men she could ensnare with her beauty. 

When Wade had casually remarked earlier in the night that Rye’s “girlfriend” was just an aspiring actress, Riley saw her opportunity. She’d assumed Sherry was another gold-digger, a pretender clawing her way to wealth and status like herself. But seeing Sherry up close left Riley unsettled. Sherry’s natural beauty was light and unassuming, a soft radiance that invited affection and trust. Unlike Riley’s deliberate, sultry appeal, Sherry’s presence felt effortless. Riley immediately dismissed her as fake, convinced that this supposed innocence was just a masterful act to deceive Rye. 

In Riley’s mind, Rye wasn’t immune to such tricks. Surely, like every other man, he would eventually fall victim to feminine wiles, and Riley had no doubts she could prove her superiority. Fueled by this belief, she confidently approached him earlier that evening, ready to make him hers. To her shock, he rejected her outright with a calm indifference that stung worse than outright disdain. Humiliated but unwilling to accept defeat, Riley had set her sights on other targets in the room. 

But something strange happened—none of the eligible young bachelors paid her any attention. They treated her like she didn’t exist. Instead, only the older, wealthier men seemed interested, and even that was a diminishing pool. Riley had thought her luck had finally turned when an older gentleman, strikingly well-dressed and exuding sophistication, began to show interest. Though clearly older than Wade, his sharp suit and commanding demeanor made him appear a desirable conquest. Her triumph was short-lived. Before she could secure her prize, Lady Katherine’s security intervened. Riley, Wade, and the older gentleman were swiftly and unceremoniously removed from the party. The sting of humiliation burned hotter than ever as she processed her disgrace. 

When her eyes flicked back to Sherry and Rye, still standing poised near the doorway, her heart burned with hatred. In her mind, they were to blame for everything her failed schemes, her public embarrassment, her expulsion. She stood there, trembling with fury, unaware that the true reason for her downfall had been Katherine herself. From the moment Riley stepped into the party, Lady Katherine’s sharp eyes had been watching. She saw through Riley’s every move, her predatory intentions, and her shallow games, and she decided Riley had no place in her carefully curated world. She would never understand that her greatest enemy that night had not been Sherry or Rye, but her own inability to recognize the sharp judgment and disdain of a seasoned woman like Lady Katherine.

Sherry stood beside Rye, radiating an effortless grace that only deepened Riley’s simmering jealousy. The image of Sherry, officially introduced as Rye’s girlfriend, cut like a knife. Riley, relegated to nothing more than a mistress—a disposable distraction—could feel the weight of the comparison. Sherry’s elegance was natural, her gown a thoughtful gift that reflected care and consideration. In stark contrast, Riley’s flashy attire, chosen for maximum allure, now felt cheap and hollow, mere scraps of attention thrown her way.

The envy brewing within Riley boiled over into blind rage. Her logic drowned in the storm of her emotions, she lunged at Sherry without warning, gripping her hair with a ferocity born of frustration. The force of the attack sent Sherry toppling backward, caught completely off guard. Rye, stunned by the suddenness of it all, couldn’t catch her in time. The delicate flowers meticulously arranged in Sherry’s hair scattered to the ground, their sweet fragrance lingering in the air as a cruel reminder of the ruined moment. Riley’s stiletto heels came down mercilessly, crushing the blossoms underfoot in a display of reckless fury.

“Get her under control—now!” Rye’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, snapping the nearby security team into action.

"Are you insane!?" Sherry yelled, her voice trembling with both fear and anger. She clawed at the arm, yanking her hair, hoping the pain would force her assailant to release her grip. 

The security team quickly subdued Riley, pulling her away as Sherry stumbled backward, her hair disheveled and her face flushed. Rye was there in an instant, pulling her into his arms to comfort her. Sherry, overwhelmed and humiliated, couldn’t hold back her tears. She sobbed softly, unable to believe that her first day on the job had taken such a turn. Never in her life had she experienced anything like this—being physically attacked was beyond her comprehension.

“It’s okay now. You’re safe. I’ll take you home.” Rye reassured her, his voice steady and calm. He gently stroked her back, guiding her toward the car as he shielded her from curious onlookers. 

Unbeknownst to Sherry, Rye’s thoughts lingered on her history. He had read about the abuse endured by her predecessor, the former Sherry Willows, and assumed that this traumatic event might have triggered a similar reaction in her. A naturally thoughtful person, Rye felt a sense of responsibility to ensure his employee didn’t feel unsafe or haunted while working under his leadership. 

However, Rye wasn’t particularly skilled in offering comfort. He worried that saying the wrong thing might upset her further, so he opted for quiet reassurance instead. Wrapping his arms around her, he softly patted her head and rubbed her back, hoping his gestures would calm her. Thankfully, Sherry seemed to understand his intention. Her trembling eased, and her breathing grew steadier. Relieved, Rye signaled to the driver to head home, watching closely to ensure Sherry continued to regain her composure.