“Ruby!” her mom chides. I laugh, then open my mouth to answer in my normal, vague way, but get interrupted.
“We sure are,” Chris says with a dazzling smile, pulling me into his side. I stumble a bit, and my hand lands on his chest to catch myself. As I do, I notice that the paparazzi have gotten closer, clearly seeing an opportunity.
“Kiss!” one calls, and I roll my eyes, jokingly shaking my head in the negative. But before I can step away toward the car, Chris moves, pulling me in closer, my hand still on his chest as he drops his face to mine.
My entire body stills.
I try not to give in to the urge to push him away and do ithard, instead forcing myself to do what I’ve always been good at: acting.
I let Chris kiss me, a soft, delicate touch of lips, almost sweet and considerate. It’s the kind of kiss that, at a different time, when we hadn’t just agreednotto do this tonight, I would have been fine with.
But it’s not that.
So instead, fury bubbles in my veins, and with the crowd watching, cheering, and awing, I’m fighting everything in me not to flip out on him.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity but is probably closer to a few seconds, Chris pulls back, giving me a wide, satisfied grin. I force myself to reflect on it, reminding myself that I am supposed to be into this, before turning back to the two little girls.
“Okay, well, it was nice meeting you girls,” I say through a tight jaw. “I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.” They squeal and say goodbyes, and their mother mouths a heartfeltthank you, before Chris and I stiffly make our way to my car. Gabe opens the door, and I slide in, taking deep breaths to center myself.
“What was that?” I snap as Chris closes the door behind himself. He took an extra minute, waving at the additional fans who began to gather—my fans,I should add—before coming in, and it’s only given me more time to stew on my anger.
“What was what?” He has a shit-eating grin on his lips, the cocky boyish look I’m sure gets him everything and anything he’s ever wanted and out of trouble more than a couple times over his career.
Unfortunately for him, I am immune to it.
“That kiss?” I say, voice cracking in the small vehicle. “What the fuck was that kiss?”
“Playing it up for the cameras.” My jaw tightens, and I’ve never in my life wanted to hit someone, but right now, my fingers itch to slap that annoying smile off his face.
“I said I didn’t want to kiss tonight, for the cameras or otherwise,” I remind him, trying to keep my voice neutral.
“I did what I had to do to give the people what they wanted. In that moment, what you wanted didn’t matter.”
Horror rolls through me at his words.
“Excuse me?”
He shrugs as if this entire exchange isn’t unhinged.
“You’re like me: you’ll do what needs to be done for the press.”
I force myself to take in deep breaths, and as I do, I remind myself why I’m here.
The marketing plan that Jackie has put a lot of work into.
The contract’s already in place.
He could out all of my previous fake relationships if this falls apart.
Leo’s career very well could hinge on this, what with Jefferson justlookingfor a reason to fire him.
And just as Leo would never do anything to get between me and my career, I have to make sure I do the same for him. I can’t let my own discomfort, the same discomfort I’ve tackled time and time again over the years, be the reason Leo loses everything he’s built.
“Never do that again. Ever. If I explicity say no kissing, no touching,anything, you will respect my wishes.” Despite my focus being solely on the obnoxious man before me, from the corner of my eye, Gabe stiffens as if he’s understanding what is happening. I know if I wanted him to, he would step in, but I’ve got this handled.
“Oh, come on, it was a good kiss,” he says, trying to make light of it and giving me what I assume is meant to be a swoony look.
“I am not an idiot you need to seduce, Chris. I am your colleague, that is all. We have a purely business partnership, but if you want to continue this, you absolutely have to respect my wishes,” I say, my voice firm. “You do not kiss me when I specifically told you not to. That violates my consent, my safety, and my personal space. “
