An Offer
Caitlyn sighed and stared at the marking on her calendar. In four days, her parents were going to be hosting yet another gala, and she had run out of excuses to escape the event.
Caitlyn didn’t hate the event itself; it was the people who attended that made it such a painful experience. Like pushy aunts and uncles despite never having met Caitlyn, they tossed around subtle yet sharp comments about Caitlyn’s life, mostly about the fact that she was — and had been — single for nearly six months now.
Her previous romance hadn’t gone down so well either. Maddie Nolen was one hell of a character. On the surface, she was sweet and genuine, but her presence was now often frowned upon at social events thanks to her criminal past resurfacing. The fact that the entirety of Piltover knew about their brief fling did not help Caitlyn’s situation either. The one time she dated anybody, it just had to be a two-faced ex-convict.
“Damn it,” she muttered angrily. She did not need any more comments about how lonely she seemed, or any more offers to be set up with some man she had never met. She wasn’t interested in guys anyway.
The constant dread of the event constantly hung in the back of her mind like a cloud over the Sun. Even now, in the police station, the thought of the gala followed her around, making her want to punch a wall.
“You okay?” said a new voice. Caitlyn looked up.
The woman standing at the entrance to her office was tall, lean, yet she looked like she had some serious training as an athlete. She exuded a sort of aura of confidence that Caitlyn couldn’t ignore. Her hair was messily swept to one side, her eyes a mix of grey and blue. She wore an old leather jacket, arms folded across her chest, tattoos running down both arms.
She wasn’t polished like most of the people Caitlyn met, but there was a sort of magnetism and beauty to her ruggedness, which Caitlyn could appreciate. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth, like her whole world was a comedic show.
“Fine,” Caitlyn scowled. “Who the hell are you, and how did you get in here?”
“If you were fine, you wouldn’t be gripping that pen like you’re about to stab me with it.” Her voice was a low and smooth baritone, with a slight cheeky edge to it.
“I’m about to call security.”
The woman chuckled lightly and stepped into the office. She glanced at the label on Caitlyn’s open door. “You are security, am I right…Sheriff?”
Caitlyn scowled. She hadn’t asked for company, and she didn’t want it, but she kept her emotions under control and refrained from stabbing her uninvited guest in the eye with the pen.
“Which means I can have you arrested for public nuisance now.”
The woman smirked and put out her hand. “Vi.”
“That short for something?” she asked.
“Violet,” said Vi, “but don’t ever call me that unless you want me to snap your neck.”
She said it so casually, almost like a joke, but Caitlyn detected another layer beneath her voice, like she had done it before.
Caitlyn shook her hand. “I’m Ca —”
“I know,” Vi said, cutting her off. “Caitlyn Kiramman.”
Caitlyn sighed and rolled her eyes. Her parents’ influence was the primary reason people often heard of her before they’d even met.
Still, she kept a civil front. “I haven’t really seen you around. What house are you from?”
Vi’s expression soured. “None. I’m Zaunite.”
She flicked her head toward Caitlyn. “What’s up with you? If I didn’t know better I might think you were a pitfighter of some sort.”
Caitlyn shook her head. “My parents are hosting a gala again, and the people will, as always, talk about me being single and how badly my last relationship worked out.”
“Ah.” Vi nodded. “I’m guessing you’ve run out of excuses.”
Caitlyn nodded grudgingly.
Vi shrugged. “If you can’t avoid the event itself…why not just…I don’t know, get a fake date? Get someone to pretend to be your boyfriend. Or girlfriend.”
Caitlyn laughed dryly. “And where am I supposed to find someone like that? Unless you’re volunteering, of course.”
Vi smirked. “I don’t mind. Are you paying me for this?”
Caitlyn couldn’t believe anyone could be so brazen and shameless, yet so effortlessly smooth and charismatic. But in truth, she knew Vi could fit the role. Someone like her would have no problem fitting into such a social event.
“Fine,” Caitlyn grumbled. She stuck out her hand, and Vi shook it.
“It’s a deal,” she said.
Caitlyn flicked her head toward the door. “Now get out before I do it for you.”
~~~
The night of the gala arrived.
Caitlyn stood at the entrance of the grand ballroom, adjusting her dress one last time. She glanced at the well-dressed guests, all mingling and chatting in groups, and felt her anxiety rise. Her parents were already talking to a few friends, her mother’s eyes scanning the room for her, no doubt expecting Caitlyn to join in. But then she spotted Vi.
Vi was leaning casually against a pillar near the entrance, looking completely at ease amidst the sea of formalwear. She wore a slightly worn-out black suit, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal tattoos on both arms, and her dark hair was tousled in a way that looked deliberate yet unbothered. Her presence in the room, though starkly different from the meticulously groomed guests, seemed almost magnetic, so much so it made Caitlyn’s heart pound, though she wasn’t sure if it was Vi or her nerves. Still, Caitlyn couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Vi was exactly the kind of distraction she needed.
"There you are," Caitlyn said, forcing a smile as she approached, trying to keep her voice steady. "You look...different."
Vi looked her up and down, raising an eyebrow as she flashed a smirk. "You didn’t think I’d come in a tux, did you? Gotta keep things interesting." Her voice was confident, but there was an edge of playfulness that Caitlyn hadn’t expected.
Caitlyn couldn’t help but admire how effortless Vi made it all seem. It was as if she belonged here as much as anyone else, even though her appearance suggested otherwise.
With a quick glance toward her parents, Caitlyn hooked her arm through Vi’s. “Let’s get this over with,” she muttered, the nerves creeping back in. Vi, however, was unfazed, giving a light chuckle and falling into step beside her.
As they walked into the ballroom, Caitlyn noticed how easily Vi blended into the crowd. She charmed Caitlyn’s parents with a few quick, sharp-witted comments, instantly deflecting any questions about Caitlyn’s nonexistent love life. Vi wasn’t the kind of person to shy away from attention, but it was clear she didn’t take herself too seriously. Caitlyn admired her for that, even if she wasn’t entirely sure how it all worked.
At one point, Caitlyn caught a glimpse of her reflection in the ballroom’s polished floor: her perfectly styled hair, the sleek black dress, and then Vi — a total contrast in the best way. They couldn’t have looked more different, yet for some reason, they seemed to fit together. Her heart fluttered in a way she didn’t expect. This was supposed to be a business arrangement, but something about the way Vi’s hand brushed against hers, the way she made her feel seen, made it all feel real in a way Caitlyn hadn’t anticipated.
As the evening went on, Vi’s casual, almost playful nature slowly made Caitlyn relax. For the first time in a long while, Caitlyn wasn’t trying to fit into a mold of perfection — she was simply enjoying the company of someone who didn’t judge her for her seriousness, who didn’t seem to expect anything from her except to have a little fun. And for just one night, it felt like that was enough.
~~~
Vi stepped out of the ballroom when midnight fell. Caitlyn stood on the porch next to her, admiring the stars in the night sky.
“Thanks, Vi,” said Caitlyn. “For all this.”
“Not a problem,” Vi answered. “I had fun.”
“You…were so at ease, back there,” Caitlyn said. “Almost like we should have switched positions.”
“Yeah?” Vi raised an eyebrow and turned to Caitlyn, her intense gaze boring into Caitlyn’s soul. “What makes you say that?”
“It’s…obvious,” Caitlyn answered. “You’re sociable, so comfortable around them. Unlike…well, unlike me.” Her face fell and she glanced in the direction of the ballroom. “You’re the kind of person my parents wish I was. So effortlessly sociable, and everyone in there liked you.”
Vi used her index finger and turned Caitlyn’s face toward her. “Hey, cupcake.”
She felt Caitlyn’s skin grow warm beneath her fingertip. “You’re right where you need to be,” Vi said gently. “You shouldn’t have to change who you are for any of them.” She flicked her head towards the ballroom.
Caitlyn didn’t say anything, instead simply staring, eyes wide, at Vi.
“I’ll get going, then.” Vi tucked her hands into her pockets and walked down the stairs of the porch, giving Caitlyn one last wink and a little wave to thank her.
~~~
Vi leaned back in her chair, interlacing her fingers, a lopsided grin resting on her lips. Caitlyn sat across from her in a quiet cafe downtown, away from the usual noise and gossip of Piltover.
“Let me get this straight,” Vi said, arching an eyebrow. “You want me to attend another gala. As your girlfriend, which I most certainly am not since we’ve only met three weeks ago and I haven’t seen you since the previous one.”
Caitlyn shrugged. “You did a good job. My parents are convinced, as is everyone else who attended. If you could just keep doing this until I find someone…”
Vi chuckled. “I still don’t get how you’re single.”
Caitlyn’s cheeks took on a slight flush. She maintained her composure, although Vi could see the fraction of a second when her deep blue eyes flickered with surprise. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Vi smirked, took a sip of her coffee and ran her eyes up and down Caitlyn’s figure, assessing her all at once — the hair, the face, the tailored coat, the boots. “You’re smart. You’re from a rich family. Needless to say…” She shook her head playfully. “You’re pretty damn hot, too.”
Caitlyn averted her gaze. She shifted in her chair and took a sip of tea, cautiously avoiding Vi’s gaze. “Don’t be like one of those polished folk I’m going to have to deal with. Are you going to help me or not?”
Vi shrugged and tapped her fingers on the table. “How long am I gonna do this for? And what’s in it for me?”
“Just until I find someone,” Caitlyn answered firmly, regaining her usual poise and setting down her cup. “I’ll tell the people we broke up. As for payment…I’m not sure I have much to offer besides my family’s assets, but if those start disappearing my mother will definitely start suspecting that something’s up.”
Vi nodded thoughtfully. She took her time responding, letting the tension and suspense hang between them.
“So I get to pretend I’m dating Piltover’s finest and not get paid? Sounds like…a sweet deal, I suppose.”
Caitlyn looked up, surprised. “You’re doing a lot for me, you know that? I can’t just make you do all this for free. I have to at least pay you back in some way.”
Vi laughed — a gentle, cool sound wafting through the air like a breeze. “You can pay me with a little alone time, hmm?”
Caitlyn’s eyes narrowed, her brow furrowed. “Alone time?”
“Mmm.” Vi nodded. “Maybe after one of these galas, you let me drag you somewhere fun. You’d probably need it anyway. No suits, or speeches, or…in your words, ‘polished folk’. Just us, having fun and chilling out.”
Vi studied Caitlyn. She could tell that Kiramman was stuck somewhere between suspicion and interest. All she needed was a little push.
“And what — exactly — would ‘alone time’ involve?”
“Guess you’ll have to agree to find out,” was Vi’s mysterious response.
~~~
The night of the second gala passed, then the third, and the fourth. Each one followed the same pattern — Vi would show up in a suit like the first, joke with the Kirammans, charm the people, and leave at midnight.
Vi started to look forward to those moments, when they stepped outside onto the porch, away from the music and noise of the galas, and chatted a little. But at the same time, Vi’s disappointment grew with each of those as Caitlyn outrightly ignored Vi’s suggestion to hang out.
In truth, Vi liked Caitlyn. She found Caitlyn a breath of fresh air from the other topsiders. As a Zaunite, Vi was often looked down on by them as they stepped over her with their gold-plated, leather boots. Even now, after making a grueling climb into Piltover’s upper echelons, the disdain towards her was barely hidden.
But Caitlyn…Caitlyn was different. From the moment they had met, Vi had seen it. Caitlyn, despite being the heir to one of Piltover’s leading houses, did not act like it. She hadn’t shunned Vi or spoke down towards her just for being Zaunite. If anything, she treated Vi as an equal, her sharp wit matched only by her quiet kindness.
For Vi, it was hard not to appreciate that.
At the same time, Vi knew and heard everything the people would say if they saw someone like her cozying up to a Kiramman. As always, people would mutter and mumble about Vi being close to Caitlyn just for the wealth, the power, the influence that the Kiramman name held. Vi could already hear whispers about it directed at her as she strode through the streets, the eyes piercing her back as she walked around the galas.
And even Vi herself couldn’t deny that they were wrong. It was true — she wanted respect. She wanted to walk into a room without a dozen pairs of unforgiving eyes staring at her in disdain. She wanted people to see more than the Zaunite thug they knew her as.
It wasn’t a lie that she enjoyed Caitlyn’s company, either. Perhaps a little too much, but who could blame her? Caitlyn’s name alone commanded respect, even if she herself wasn’t there. Vi didn’t need it to that level, but perhaps Caitlyn could just share a little?
So, Vi told herself she’d keep going. She’d keep playing the part of the perfect fake girlfriend, keep sharing those late-night conversations, and keep watching Caitlyn walk away at midnight.
Because friendship? Friendship with Caitlyn was enough. It had to be.
For now.