Event

As we arrived at the venue, the chauffeur opened the door for us, and Damien stepped out first, offering me his hand. "Ready?" he asked with a charming smile.

I took his hand, feeling a surge of nerves and excitement. "As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, trying to muster up some confidence.

Damien chuckled, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You'll be fine. Just follow my lead."

As we made our way towards the entrance, the paparazzi descended upon us, their cameras flashing relentlessly. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, but Damien seemed unfazed, his easy confidence radiating as he greeted the reporters with a charming smile and a few carefully chosen words.

Once inside, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "That was... intense," I remarked, trying to steady my racing heart.

The spotlight was on Damien and I as we stepped onto the red carpet, the flash of cameras blinding in its intensity. Reporters swarmed around them, eager to capture their every word.

“Damien, over here!” 

“I am here with someone who needs no introduction whatsoever, Damien Blackwood has officially stepped into the Golden Gala.”

Damien let out a wide smile, his gaze locking with mine for a brief moment.

“How are you doing tonight?" The interviewer asked. 

“I’m doing amazing tonight, can’t complain!”

“Can I just take a minute for the outfit? Tell us more about that, head to toe, we want to know everything!”

Damien flashed his signature smirk, his gaze locking with mine for a brief moment before answering. "Givenchy dressed me tonight. Can't go wrong with a classic, right? And the shoes are custom made by Tom Ford!"

“Oh! I love it! I must say you look stunning tonight.” The reporter said. 

And Damien, who’s the lovely lady accompanying you tonight?” She continued.

My heart skipped a beat as I waited for Damien’s response, unsure of what he would say.

Damien’s smirk widened, and he looked at me with mischief in his eyes. “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the most beautiful woman in the room—Seraphina Everheart. This is my girlfriend and we’re tying the knot soon.”

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as the reporters reacted with surprise, their questions coming at us in a frenzy.

“Ms. Seraphina Everheart, is it true? Are you really dating Damien?”

I nodded, feeling a sense of pride as I stood by Damien’s side. “Yes, it’s true. Damien and I are together, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“How long have you been keeping this relationship under wraps?”

Damien chuckled, his arm slipping around my waist as he spoke. “We wanted to wait for the right moment to share our love with the world. And what better time than tonight?”

“You guys look amazing together, you look breathtaking as well! Who styled you?”

I smiled gracefully, posing for the cameras as I answered. "Of course! I'm wearing a stunning gown by Givenchy, designed specifically for tonight's event. I feel incredibly honored to be wearing such a beautiful piece."

"Before you guys go, what if after this, there’s a speculation swirling around about a contract marriage. Care to comment on these rumors?"

Damien’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "I understand that there's going to be a lot of speculation, but any rumors suggesting those are purely unfounded."

"Damien, what do you say to critics who claim that your relationship with Seraphina might be nothing more than a publicity stunt?"

Damien chuckled, his demeanor relaxed and confident. "I say they're entitled to their opinions. But the truth is, I love my woman and my woman loves me. That’s all that matters to me!"

“That’s righttt! Can we expect any memeable moments from you this night?” The interviewer asked with a laugh. 

“We’ll see about that!” We all laughed 

“One more thing, can we get a cute couple moment for the cameras?”

I glanced at Damien, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “Of course! How about a kiss, darling?”

Damien grinned, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to my cheek as the cameras flashed around us. The reporters cooed at the display, capturing the moment for the world to see.

“Aww that’s sweet! Thank you for joining us, see you guys on the inside!” She said.

With that, Seraphina and Damien continued down the red carpet, their answers echoing in the air as they disappeared into the glittering throng of guests.

I nodded, grateful for his support. "Thanks," I said softly, feeling a sense of gratitude for his reassuring presence.

The chauffeur cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Shall I wait for you here, sir?" he asked, his tone respectful but tinged with curiosity.

Damien glanced at me, then back at the chauffeur. "Actually, you can head back for the night," he said with a nod. "We'll call for a ride when we're ready to leave."

The chauffeur nodded and tipped his cap before heading back to the car. 

The morning after our gala debut, tabloids buzzed with speculation and sensationalized stories about Damien and me. 

Rumors ranged from secret affairs to hidden agendas, painting our relationship in a dramatic light. Sorting truth from fiction in the midst of this media frenzy proved challenging. 

Headline 1: "Secret Romance Unveiled: Seraphina and Damien's Debut Stuns Gala Attendees!"

Headline 2: "Damien's Mystery Woman Revealed: Who Is Seraphina Everheart, and What's Their Connection?"

The headlines screamed for attention, each one more scandalous than the last. It was surreal to see my name plastered across the tabloids, dissected and analyzed by strangers.

Headline 3: "Love or Lies? Inside Seraphina Everheart and Damien's Whirlwind Romance!"

Headline 4: "From Rags to Riches: Seraphina's Cinderella Story Takes a Dark Turn!"

Headline 5: "Damien's Ex Speaks Out: Is Seraphina Just a Pawn in His Game?"

My fingers hovered over my phone screen as I drafted a text to Damien, my mind reeling from the onslaught of tabloid rumors. With a sigh, I typed out a message:

"Hey Damien, have you seen the headlines? The tabloids are having a field day with our gala appearance. Secret affairs, hidden agendas, your ex…. you name it. Just wanted to give you a heads up. - Seraphina"

As I hit send, I couldn't help but wonder how Damien would respond to the media frenzy surrounding our contract marriage.