The Deal We Never Made

son

ice in my ears, smooth and businesslike, even as my insides threatened to climb up my throat. Even my hand

t the edge of a chair and seemed perfectly a

apped, folding my ar

e're fake engaged now, we have to set some b

by this. "Let me guess. I have to smile on command and we

, darling, I don't discover it new because I've been in such circumstances before, Ma

. He wasn't wrong. Inasmuch as I hated it – it was time to get some rules put i

gly. "Which are these

-

nervous energy of movement. "First, public appearances. We will have to be observed tog

ak?" I repeate

his chest in the gesture meaning 'not impor

mething I'd regret it for having said. "It

etter. Which brings me to rule number two: the timeline. It's the Christmas sea

ike less that ninety days to go. It looked like a lifet

ust...? BREAK

stic sham breakup we are going to produce. By then, you will see that I am aware of

tried my best to digest what

son. My world isn't kind. People will dig into your life, question every

ction. "Even worse than this and

ing, but his eyes, though, gave a brief hint of

-

ruthless world of journalism and bore with reje

arn the whole truth about Ethan and Blackwell empire was stand

, my tone more sharper t

siness or any other person's business when it comes to my life. This

s I could. "The last thing I want

n, backing off. "Th

-

t, I could have a little time to thin

just as I was about

cardigan around me

unusually grave. "This particular deal... the going is go

unnatural even to the very ear of my

he was looking for something and then he

could only describe as whisper and I

-

the face. I was walking, and the sound of my heels couldn't be heard an

wondering to myself What the hell had I just done? Except this isn't a movie, and pretending to be en

d not look the other way. This story could help me to get a new job, shut m

igh. The media attention, even the constant presence beside Ethan, and

-

d gotten ten years older. I took off my heels and

opened it to a blank page. Writing always helped

r

o the Blac

o bring ba

to show

o

le wat

ght try to

if people find out

th more cons than pros. But th

stopping my thoughts. I picked it up, and

rrow night. I'll send a ca

e, it wa

the couch shutting my eyes. This was real.

ed looking at the ceiling

ng enough to handle what was coming. And that thought te