THIS IS WAY OUT OF MY LEAGUE. But here I am, holding hands with Jeff as we enter the Met, the venue of the Vandercourt Charity Foundation gala.

He said I shouldn’t worry. I believe him. I’m out in the open with Jeffery Vandercourt. I have an expired visa, and I don’t care. I shall enjoy the night.

“I can’t believe I’m ascending these famous steps that I only used to see in magazines,” I tell him as he assists me up the front steps of the Metropolitan Museum with cameras aimed at us, flashing from all directions.

“Get used to it. This is nothing compared to the White House galas.”

“The White House?!” I splutter.

“Smile, Mara mia. You won’t want your shocked rabbit face gracing the pages of Vanity Fair next month.”

I squeeze his arm hard. “I’m terrified. I’m going to trip in my heels anytime soon.”

“I’ll catch you.”

“Promise?”

“Always.”

Always. I’m getting used to these sweet words he’s throwing around casually. But I can’t complain. Hope. I must not stop hoping.

The past week was simply heavenly.

Jeff and I were inseparable. I was thinking he’d be working all day everyday—Nona did warn me about his workaholic ways of bringing work home— but surprise, surprise, Jeff didn’t bring work home at all. In fact he’s been leaving for work at seven-thirty in morning and coming back at three in the afternoon to spend time with me.

We did things together that normal couples do, like cooking, reading and watching movies. He’d asked me several times if I wanted to go out for dinner but I declined. Though he assured me that it was all right to be seen in public and that I should not fear the authorities, I opted for us to just hang out at the penthouse.

I found out that Jeff and I have so much in common. Our love for reading is one thing I really enjoy with him. We practically read the same authors, though his library is a dream and his book collection can rival a museum. He likes to collect first editions of classic books.

We spent our time talking about practically anything under the sun— history, philosophy, art. We avoided politics. He knew I had strong feelings about certain topics and he respected that.

And the sex. My God. I walk with a constant ache between my legs that’s a cross between a dull tenderness and half-arousal, always reminding me of the almost indescribable pleasure of having him inside me. I’d be surprised if I’m not yet pregnant by now.

When he mentioned this gala a few days ago, I was already running out of excuses not to go out with him.

“Will it be covered by the media?” I’d asked him.

“Exclusively covered by Vanity Fair.”

“Just Vanity Fair?”

“Yes.”

I thought, what were the odds of getting recognized by the immigration authorities from magazine pictures? No one would certainly expect me to be rubbing elbows with New York high society. Plus, who would even mention a nobody like me? And Jeff did assure me he’d protect me.

I figured I could oblige him once. He told me it was a very important event that he should not miss because it’s the Vandercourt Charity Foundation yearly gala.

That scared me even more. I’d be meeting his family. The mighty Vandercourts! I was worried about a lot of things, especially my identity. People would be curious about me. What would I tell them when they’d start asking the usual questions?

I told Jeff about my concern and he gently said to me, “Just be yourself, Mara mia. I want nothing less.”

So, here I am.

I’m trying to be calm and flippant about the whole thing but in truth, I’m literally quaking inside. I have a buzz in my tummy. This is hard for me. I feel like I’m being uprooted from obscurity and thrust into a life I could never have imagined. But I must adjust and adapt for Jeff and for the child we will have, and for myself, as well.

I’ve been down and out but I will rise from the ashes, reinvent myself and make something out of myself here in America. I will not waste this opportunity that Jeff is giving me.

You got this, Mara.

Jeff guides me into the vast gallery that houses The Temple of Dandur. I stare in awe. The ancient ruins are a magnificent backdrop for the gala which guests are meandering about dressed in haute couture. I’m trying to be cavalier, but my goodness, there’s probably a billion worth of designers in this ball tonight! I sure am decked in one. Sarah told me that my gown is a brand new masterpiece by a celebrated French designer which just happened to fit me perfectly. I chose the gown not for its label or its exorbitant price but for its simplicity and exquisite detailing. Jeff approved. I’m still feeling guilty about it.

“There are starving children in the world and I’m wearing a gown than can feed an entire village for a year. I swear to wear it again and again at every gala I go to until it’s threadbare,” I told myself in front of the mirror when I was fitting it.

Sarah was horrified at my idea. “Mara, you don’t do a repeat on a haute couture, except in a fashion show!”

Wow. I swore to never wear a haute couture again. Off the rack is fine with me.

I can feel everyone’s eyes on us. I wonder how Jeff is going to introduce me. I haven’t really asked him about it. I will find out soon enough.

I inhale deeply to calm my nerves.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asks me, squeezing my hand.

“Talk about a dramatic entrance.”

His brows furrow.

“Everyone must be wondering who the heck I am. Miss Never Heard. And if they do find out, how dare me, a lowly house help walk beside the Prince of Manhattan at this famed gala attended only by the chosen guests of Malena Vandercourt, which only happens once a year?”

“Don’t insult my taste. I have an impeccable one.”

Oh God, I’m having a Cinderella moment again.

This place. This dress. This man and his silver tongue that does wicked things to my body.

“Have I ever told you you’re a goddess, Mara mia?”

My heart swells with joy and my eyes water. Oh no, my make-up! But Sarah told me everything that’s on my face right now is waterproof. “Not out of bed.”

He chuckles. “Well, you are, in and out of bed. My goddess.”

“Jeff, you’re making me horny,” I whisper to him.

“And you have lousy timing. My mother is coming our way and I’m getting hard.”

I giggle, then I almost swallow my tongue when I spot Malena Vandercourt gliding toward us in an emerald gown that must weigh a ton, but she’s carrying it like it’s feather-light. I’ve seen Malena once when she hosted a gala at Everland two months ago. I was one of the staff in charge of assisting the caterers. But of course, I was never near her.

“Mother!” Jeff lets go of my hand and gives his mother a light hug. Malena air-kisses her son on both cheeks.

“I missed you, honey. You’ve been missing our Sundays together.”

“Uh, sorry about that, Mom. I promise to be there next weekend.”

“You better be. Well…” Malena’s eyes transfer to me. “What have you been up to?” She’s asking her son but her eyes seem to be asking me.

Oh God, I thought I could do this, but Malena Vandercourt’s aristocratic eyes are sizing me up. She looks divine, so mesmerizingly beautiful.

“Mom, this is Mara Cortez. Mara, my mother, Malena Vandercourt.”

“Hello,” Malena greets me.

I awkwardly offer my hand. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Madam.”

Malena takes my hand. I’m glad for the elbow-length gloves I’m wearing because my palms have gone clammy.

“Please, call me Malena. I refuse to be a madam yet. I don’t even have any grandchildren yet.”

I swallow nervously. Jeff and I are working on making you a grandma soon.

“You look beautiful, Mara. Where have you been hiding all these years?”

I don’t know how to answer that. “Uhm…”

“Mara actually lives at Everland, Mother.”

Malena’s brows lift in confusion. “At Everland? What do you mean?”

“She’s one of the house staff there,” Jeff answers casually, his hand touching the small of my back.

Boom, he dropped the bomb so casually. His poor mother looks blindsided.

She stares at me, speechless in shock. Then she remembers her manners quickly and assumes a formal expression. “Oh.”

Oh, indeed. Lord, how awkward. But I’ll survive this, too. I refuse to feel small in the presence of this powerful woman. I have no reason to.

Malena smiles again. “Well, then you must come to the Sunday dinner at my house this weekend, Mara. Jeff, promise me you’ll bring her.”

“Of course, Mother.”

“I’m so happy to met you, Mara.”

I hope she’s sincere. Please, God, don’t let her be the typical wicked, scheming mother of the prince.

Malena’s face suddenly hardens. “Oh God, your father just arrived with that woman. The nerve of him to bring her to my gala.”

Ops, Vandercourt family drama coming up, and I’m smack dab in the middle of it. I look up at Jeff. He winks at me and squeezes my hip in silent assurance.

I instantly recognize Baron Vandercourt, even from afar. He’s tall and imposing like Jeff, and quite handsome with silvery hair. Beside him is his current wife, Heather, a former supermodel. But in my opinion, she looks like a younger version of Malena, blond, fair and willowy.

I don’t know if Baron will recognize me. I’ve seen him three times at Everland. He loves to ride his favorite Arabian pony across the hills or play golf at the country club. But he’s actually only seen me at Everland once when I served him some snacks. He was very nice to me. He never brought Heather to Everland though.

Jeff’s younger and only sister Nicolette has never stepped foot in Everland in the months that I’ve lived there.

According to Mama Zon, the Vandercourts had not visited Everland as one happy family in the last decade. It is understandable as Baron has divorced Malena many years ago and has remarried twice. He divorced his second wife after only two years of marriage, and is now currently married to his third wife, Heather, a woman only a few years older than Jeff. They have a young daughter together.

Mama Zon said Malena maintains a civil relationship with her ex-husband for the sake of the family’s public image but was deeply hurt by the bitter divorce. Malena thought that she deserved more in the settlement, but Baron’s shrewd lawyers made sure she was denied her rightful share of the Vandercourt empire which she argued she’d helped cultivate during her marriage to Baron.

Ah, the problems of the rich. The bigger the money, the bigger the problem. It’s beyond my comprehension, really. I’m just an ordinary person who longs for a chance to live a simple, peaceful, normal life in this country. A second life, so to speak.

The couple reaches us. I notice how the noise has suddenly gone down. Are they expecting drama?

Jeff hugs his father. “Glad you could join us, Dad.” He smiles at Heather. “Heather.”

“I wouldn’t miss seeing your mother for the world, Jeffery,” Baron replies and smiles at Malena whose stoic face could probably crack granite. “Lena,” he greets his ex-wife with a slight bow of his head.

“Baron,” Malena simply says, dismissing her ex-husband in favor of his new wife. “Heather.”

Heather smiles a supermodel smile. “Malena, good to see you again.”

They air-kiss.

“And who is this lovely young woman, Jeffery? Introduce us,” Baron says, eyeing me speculatively.

Jeff snakes his arm around my shoulders protectively. He probably senses I’m feeling overwhelmed now. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Mara Cortez. Mara, my father, Baron Vandercourt.”

Baron extends his hand toward me. We shake hands.

“Mara. What a lovely name. Wait, you look familiar. I think I’ve seen you before.”

“Yes, Sir…at Everland. I served you once.”

Baron glances at Jeff briefly, but his expression doesn’t change. “Oh, yes, that was you. I wouldn’t have forgotten such a pretty face.”

I smile shyly. Baron is such a charming man. It’s a shame that he and Malena divorced. But then again, he seems happy with Heather.

Baron introduces me to his wife.

Heather surprises me by giving me a hug and an invitation. “You must let us host a dinner for you and Jeff one weekend. I’ll cook for you.”

“Don’t forget to come to my house first, Mara, “ Malena pipes in with a saccharin smile aimed at Heather.

Oh dear. “Ahm…”

Jeff saves me. “We accept both the invitation, thank you, Mom, Heather.”

Malena raises her chin. “All right then, I should attend to the other guests.”

“See you around, Mother.”

“Baron, don’t be a cheapskate tonight. I expect to raise at least ten million dollars this evening,” she tells her ex-husband and walks away like a queen.

Jeff and Baron chuckle good-naturedly.

I smile at Heather.

She smiles back. I can sense how awkward she feels but is hiding it behind an I-don’t-give-a-damn facade.

I feel an instant kinship with Heather. It’s apparent she’s still trying hard to get along with her husband’s first family.

“All right, we’ll move along. Mara, I hope to see you again,” Baron says with a congenial smile.

I can only smile back.

Baron and Heather walk away.

“So, they’re back together again,” Jeff murmurs.

“Huh?”

“My sister Nicolette just arrived with her on and off boyfriend. Last time I heard they broke up for the fifth time, but now it seems they’ve kissed and made up again.”

Indeed, a couple is approaching us. Both are tall and very good-looking.

Nicolette breaks away from her escort and runs toward us in a flurry of pink. “Jeff!”

She launches herself into her brother’s arms. “I missed you!”

“How are you, moppet?”

“You haven’t returned my calls!” she tells him accusingly.

“I was…busy,” Jeff replies, glancing at me.

Nicolette glances at me, too. “Oh, THIS kind of busy, I can understand. I’ve been busy too!”

I smile nervously. Nicolette seems to be bursting with energy. She’s quite gorgeous and intimidatingly fashionable. If her mother exudes understated elegance, Nicolette screams look-at-me with her hot pink gown that reminds me of a Marilyn Monroe iconic video.

“Hello, I’m Nicolette.”

“I’m Mara.”

She pulls me into a hug.

I’m shocked. I glance at Jeff. He’s looking at us, amused.

Nicolette’s date reach us. He and Jeff hug briefly.

Nicolette pulls her boyfriend to her side. “Honey, I’d like you to meet Jeff’s girlfriend, Mara. Mara, my boyfriend, Leyton.”

Girlfriend? Oh no. “H-hi.”

Leyton smiles broadly, shaking my hand. He glances at Jeff. “I think you finally got lucky, bro. Congratulations.”

Nicolette launches into a monologue of what’s been happening to her lately. She’s so animated that it’s better to listen to her than engage her in a conversation.

She only stops talking when her boyfriend puts his arm around her shoulders. “The gang is here.”

“Oh, then let’s go! Later big bro, Mara.”

Then they’re off like kids, laughing.

Jeff and I look at each other.

“I know. She’s thirty and still acts like a kid.”

I giggle. “Nah. She seems fun.”

“Wait till she’s on you on a regular basis. She likes you.”

“We hardly exchanged a word to each other. I mean, I hardly said anything to her.”

“She was talking to you the whole time. Couldn’t you tell?”

“Oh.”

“Nicky hardly liked anybody I dated before.”

I don’t know what he meant by that.

I have hopes, but not that high a hope.