I'm In Love With My Bestfriend's Billionaire Fiance!

Behind all the reporters and bloggers, I stood in the shade, away from all the lights. The band played a romantic song as Kira and Jace walked into view, arms linked as they smiled at everyone. Jace looked dashing as he waved and Kira looked like she couldn't believe the number of people had turned up for her.

Seeing them together in such proximity, the way she smiled as she leaned into him, the way she laughed when he whispered into her ears, they were acting like real lovers and I felt a surge of jealousy well up inside me. I was jealous of my own best friend.

I remained rooted to the spot as the couple easily made their way through the seated guests, they were shaking the dignitaries, thanking them for being present. The Mayor looked especially happy to see Kira and wanted to hug her, but Jace expertly avoided that by leaning in to kiss Kira on the cheek which made the Mayor's attempt to hug a bit awkward. Watching all these, I felt my cheeks burn as I remembered just what his lips felt like; not just on my cheeks, but also on my lips.

"So, I'll see you tonight?"

His request echoed in my head, and thinking about it, I felt my heart skip a beat. I badly wanted to see him as well, I was terrified of where all this sneaking around was taking us. It was only by sheer luck that we weren't caught today. Meeting up so close to reporters and investors had been a risky move, and whoever knocked that time could have been anyone at all, they probably had no idea what they saved us from.

Just then, I saw a shadow slide in beside me. I turned and saw that it was only Lena, Jace's personal assistant. She smiled at me, shifting her spectacles on her nose as she clutched her tablet. She was dressed in a beautiful gown, it had shiny petals all over it that shimmied over her body, making her appear like she was glowing. When she walked, lights bounced off her. She was breathtaking.

"Hey…" I muttered in greeting. I didn't get to spend much time with Lena, but I knew she was devoted to Jace and would do anything she thought was in his best interest.

"Hey…" she said back without looking at me, her eyes were on Kira and Jace. As she watched them, she toyed with the necklace on her neck. I could tell that it was made with the same petals as those on her dress. It was beautiful.

"You pulled out all the stops, didn't you?" I commented. "You look good."

She smiled, "you think? Thanks though. You're drop-dead gorgeous, as always."

Together, we watched as Kira and Jace were finally done making their rounds. They then went to take their seat. Once that happened, I spoke into my walkie-talkie, and at once, waiters trooped into the hall. The actual dining had begun. There was no fixed menu. Every meal conceivable had been prepared and all the guests had to do was make their choice. It didn't matter how outlandish or specific it was, they were sure to get it. We also had three of the city's top chefs on stand-by, in case a guest wanted something that wasn't readily available. There was so much you could do when money wasn't an issue.

So, as the waiters went around neatly. Taking orders from the guests and hurrying off to see to them. I pulled Lena further into the shadows and turned her around to face me, "do you know what it is Kira's uncle spoke to her about?"

She shrugged, "I don't. All he told me to do was call her, he didn't share his plans with me."

"Oh…" I released her. "I can't help but wonder what it was he said to her because when she returned she was a mess."

"Well, family drama and all. You know how it can be."

I let out a breath as my eyes roved over the guests once more. I saw Uncle Leo speaking to one of the waitresses. She was bent beside him, listening intently as she took his order. I knew the lady and had specifically asked for her to see him. Leo could be a handful and only a seasoned waitress could handle someone like him without losing her mind.

I knew Uncle Leo very well, even before talks of the marriage began, I met up with him multiple times when I went over to their mansion to see Kira. I had always seen him as an ambitious and dogged fellow. He struck me as someone willing to do whatever he could to get what he wanted. He would also justify his actions as long as it was for a benefit he could abide by. It made me a bit wary around him and if I must confess, a bit scared of him.

With what I had going on with Jace, he was the one person that scared me the most. I knew if he found out about Jace and me, he could easily destroy me without even batting an eye. He had reporters in his pockets who could paint whatever picture he wanted and my reputation would be tarnished overnight. Uncle Leo was used to getting what he wanted and I was sure that whatever he must have told Kira when she went to see him must have reflected yet another one of his ambitions.

Across the hall, I saw Steve heartily engrossed in his meal. He had a beautiful lady beside him who looked like she wanted to swallow him whole. I recognized her at once, she was an actress, but not a very good one. I could count on one hand how many of her movies I had seen, and none of them were any good. With a shrug, I simply turned away from the guests and focused on my staff. I loved how they were being neat and professional in their dealings. This wasn't my first time working with them and they all knew the stakes this particular gig held, so everyone was giving it their top game.

"The dinner is starting well, don't you think?" Lena said suddenly. "You don't think Steve or Leo would do something crazy, will you?"

"In front of so many reporters? I don't think so." I assured her.

She only shrugged, "well, they're billionaires. So…"

I nodded, I understood what she was saying. I was about to say something else to that effect when I noticed that her eyes were back on the couple. She was staring intently at Jace and Kira while fondling the necklace on her neck. For some reason, I couldn't understand why it made me uncomfortable.

"They make a cute couple, don't they?" I said quietly.

She nodded, "seeing them together, they make such a perfect picture. The perfect power couple. That's all the headlines have been buzzing about. Now, seeing them together, it's not so hard to see, is it?"

"Uhm…" I nodded once more, slowly this time as I tried to understand where she was taking all this.

"But they're not the perfect power couple, are they?" She went on. "It's all a mirage they've concocted to trick mindless idiots and boost their shares, so they stay rich. Just another typical day in Silicon Valley."

"Lena…" I muttered, stepping close to her as I gently took her arm. She seemed genuinely pained, "Are you okay? You shouldn't be saying things like that out here, especially with so many reporters around. You're Jace's assistant, if they get a whiff of what's going on from you, it could destroy everything."

She looked at me for a few moments as if she had forgotten I was there, "how the hell are you so calm about all this?"

This question took me aback, I let go of her arm at once as if she burnt me. I stared at her, "Excuse me?"

"I'm sorry, I have to go." She muttered and before I could say another word, she turned and hurried out of the hall.

I stood there, confused as I stared after her. What the hell did she mean by that question? Did she know about Jace and I? It didn't make any sense. But watching her, I could see she was in real pain. The kind of pain I was feeling watching Kira cozy up to Jace, the man I was in love with. Could this be what I was thinking it to be?

Just then, I heard the rhythmic clink of a fork against a glass as Jace stood up to make a toast. At once, I made a signal and all the waiters snuck away and returned to the backrooms. The band immediately stopped the music while the engineer dimmed the lights but left the one over Jace bright.

"I just want to say," Jace began. "It's an honor to have you all present here today. You all are a part of making Kira's dream and mine a reality. Your presence here is a testament to the power of love, friendship, and strategic networking." At that, many of the guests laughed at the joke, and he smiled as he went on, "As we gather here tonight, I'm reminded that true wealth lies not in our bank accounts or stock portfolios, but in the relationships we build and the memories we create. Not just for ourselves, but also for others. This is something Chillz and Beacon Studios have been known to be about, creating memories that will bring families and loved ones closer.

"So, let's raise our glasses tonight," he raised his glass and everyone else did the same. "Not just to my lovely bride and I being a happy couple, but also to the values that bring us together. Love, friendship, philanthropy, and of course, the pursuit of excellence. To Kira, my wife-to-be, I offer this toast to you: may our love continue to grow, even as our net worth fluctuates. May our partnership be a source of strength, inspiration, and joy, not just for us, but for all those around us. May our marriage be a shining example of the power of love to transform lives and make the world a better place. I love you, Kira. Cheers!"

At that, there was a round of applause as everyone drank up. The flashes of light were blinding as Kira stood up beside Jace, then she turned to face him and without even a hitch in her stride, she kissed him fully on the lips. It wasn't a brief kiss, I watched in horror as the French kiss lingered on for close to thirty seconds before they pulled away, smiling like teenagers.

Shocked, I was rooted to the spot. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. While I was still trying to reconcile the image of the man I loved kissing his fiancée, I glanced over at the entrance to the hall. I saw Lena walking hurriedly, her face buried in her palms as she raced out of the building. She seemed to be weeping profusely.

I knew then that my assumption was correct; like me, Lena was in love with Jace.