We follow Antoine into the sleek room offstage.
Maddie takes her fancy dog out of his carrier. It looks up at me and lets out a little huff, as if warning me to keep my distance.
Antoine sits at the head of the table and places a thick file folder on the glass surface.
"Rio, you're a professional performer," he says.
"I don't have to coach you on the art of persuasion. But you and Maddie must make the journalists believe you are truly in love. The chemistry must be undeniable. Sponsor Henry Lemon and all your fans are looking for romance."
I let out a laugh that echoes against the sleek walls.
"Did I say something funny?" Antoine asks, his tone dry.
"No. But this whole setup, The dog, his designer carrier, this fake romance. It rubs me the wrong way."
"Rio," he says, his voice dropping an octave. "This is serious. If you blow this press conference, you could blow the Midnight Records deal."
"As far as anyone knows for sure, this 'deal' is just a pipe dream in Prince Michael's imagination," I say. "But I'll try to keep myself in check."
“Now check the message I sent you both on your phones. It's a list of questions the press are likely to ask you. Rio, do you see the question about why Maddie attracted you?"
"Yes," I say, scanning my screen. "You want me to answer that I was attracted to Maddie'sjoie de vivre. That she had a unique sophistication I hadn't seen in any of my other girlfriends."
The words taste fake in my mouth. Like saccharine.
"And it's true," Maddie blurts out. "Because those women were skanks."
Realizing what she just said, Maddie slaps her hand over her mouth. Like she's surprised by her own words.
"I didn't mean to say that out loud," she mumbles, looking mortified. Her cheeks turn a brilliant shade of crimson.
I smirk, leaning back in my chair. This is the first interesting thing that has happened all day.
"Skanks, huh?" I let the word hang in the air between us, relishing the sound of it coming from her prim little mouth. "That's what you call my lady friends?"
I watch her squirm, enjoying this rare moment where perfect, judgmental Maddie loses her cool.
“Just read from your script, Rio,” Antoine sighs.
“When I met Maddie,” I continue, reading from my phone in a monotone drone, “I realized I was at a time in my life when fun and games were over.”
I look up, addressing Maddie clearly. “And I was ready for the ol’ ball and chain.”
Maddie makes a face and looks pointedly at Antoine. “Can you please make him be serious? This is humiliating.”
I throw up my hands.
"Fine, I'll play along. But seriously, Antoine, who's gonna buy this crap? I've got tattoos on my neck and a mug shot that went viral last month. The tabloids call me 'The Wrecker' for a reason."
I gesture toward Maddie, who's sitting there with her ankles crossed, stroking that expensive looking dog.
"And they're supposed to believe I'm marrying Miss Goody Two-Shoes with her fancy dog and designer bag? We look like we belong on different planets, let alone in the same relationship."
Antoine leans forward, his elbows on the table.
"They'll swallow whatever story you feed them, Rio. Because they want to. After that snake incident in New Orleans, the press is practically begging for a redemption arc. They want to see the ‘wild child’ tamed by the love of a good woman."
I snort and glance at Maddie, taking in her perfect posture and that tight bun that makes her look like a sexy librarian.
