Chapter 1

[Cassidy’s POV]

“Cassidy, look here!”

I turn and smile, allowing the photographers around me to shoot the perfect face, perfect angle, and perfect pose.

“Cassidy, you’re so beautiful!”

I smile and lift a hand to my lips and blow kisses to those who are worshipping me.

“Cassidy, we love you!”

Love.

Everyone wants it. Everyone craves it. And if they say they don’t, then they’re just lying.

Love. It’s such an easy word to use.

A four-letter word that indicates that someone is fully enraptured in you.

That word can make or break you, and I, for one, intended to let it make me and refused to let it break me.

“Cassidy, can you tell us what you plan to do once this event is over?”

Reporters shove their microphones at me. Begging me to give them a bit of attention, and since I’m feeling particularly cheerful today, I’m more than willing to give them exactly what they want.

“Well,” I smile, tossing my curly copper hair over my shoulder. “Since today is my birthday, of course, I intend to spend it with someone special.”

As I speak, I give a little wink and watch as those around me explode.

Look at them, I think, watching the frenzy.

Just a few words from me and they’re going crazy.

I love seeing scenes like this.

I love hearing their praises.

I love knowing that they love me.

It makes me feel important, complete, and like I will never, ever be left alone.

“Can we ask who that someone special is?” The reporters beg. “Rumor has it you’ve been seeing someone for a while now, but since he isn’t part of the entertainment industry, you’ve kept quiet.”

That’s true. I respond silently, but that wasn’t the reason I kept him secret.

I kept him a secret because if I let photos or articles about him get out there, I feared that he would leave me.

I couldn’t let that happen, so I decided to keep him all to myself so that he and our relationship would be even more special and last that much longer.

Of course, I knew that it wasn’t the easiest thing for him to date a celebrity, and there were times when we talked about a possible split, but we always managed to work through it because he was all I had.

We met when I was still a trainee and didn’t have a name to stand on.

He supported me.

He encouraged me.

And he was my biggest fan.

That is what made him so special and the reason that tonight when we met, I wanted to discuss possibly advancing our relationship.

After years of dating, wasn’t it about time we took the next step toward marriage?

Smiling, I let my mind wander to the new golden band that was sitting in my purse waiting for our date later in the evening.

I spent a lot of time picking out the ring with only the thought of the one most special to me, and in the end, the one I picked would certainly fit him perfectly.

“I’m afraid I can’t say anything…yet…” I say now, causing the crowd around me to erupt in roars of excitement. “But keep an eye out for an announcement later.”

Once we were engaged and had begun planning our wedding, I would finally reveal his identity. After all, marriage meant that he would soon be tied to me and we would become a family. When that happened, I would certainly want to show him off on the day of the wedding.

“Thank you for attending today's event!” I continue, lifting a hand and waving. “It is because of all of you that I am where I am, and because of that, each and every one of you is so special to me.”

Finished speaking, I allow my agent and my guards to begin to lead me toward the limo that is waiting just on the street, and once I’m inside, I collapse on a long cushioned seat.

Sighing, I finally feel my perfect expression shifting and then start rubbing my cheeks.

“It’s so painful to continuously smile,” I sigh as my agent Andy climbs into the limo with me. “I swear it felt like my cheeks were going to fall off.”

“That’s the price of fame, kid.” He tells me. “But you did a wonderful job.”

“I know,” I smirk, turning toward the window beside me and taking in my reflection.

Call me cocky, but I knew that I was a beauty.

With my caramel-colored skin, 5’8 height, slim build with curves in all the right places, and my large golden eyes that shone brightly through naturally thick dark lashes, I was made to shine brightly, but to say that I chose this path because I craved the attention would be a bit of a stretch.

“I’m finished for the day, right?” I ask Andy.

“You’re done,” he confirms, giving me the thumbs up. “I promised to keep your evening open so that you could have your birthday dinner with Isaac, and I kept to my word.”

“Great,” I smile.

Excitement begins to start to build in me as I wonder whether Isaac has already arrived at my apartment.

Since Tina, my roommate and best friend, was home, she could let him in and keep him company until I arrived, and once I did, she would unexpectedly have to take her leave.

Everything was planned perfectly, and that alone helped ease some of the nerves that I was feeling over what I would be doing when Isaac and I were alone.

Smiling, I look down at the dress that I’m wearing.

It’s tight and lacy, and it shows off my figure beautifully, and just below it are the black silk underwear that Isaac likes to rip off of me.

When he saw me, he would certainly want to jump me right then and there, but I would make him work for it because today was my day, and I wasn’t going to go against the agenda that I worked on so painstakingly.

And that’s why during the limo ride home I focus on what I plan on saying when I pop the question to Isaac.

By the time we reach my home, I’m ready, at least, as ready as I’m going to be, and as I collect my things and tell Andy bye, he gives me the thumbs up once more.

“Go and tie him down, girl,” he tells me, and I smile.

“In more than one way,” I assure him. “See you in the morning.”

Giving one last wave, I climb out of the limo and then stare at the building in front of me, letting my gaze travel up to the top floor where my penthouse is located, and when I see that the lights are out, I begin to get an ominous feeling.