Page 14 of Fiancée for the Cameras

Andrea felt that same lazy thrum again. His gaze traversed her length, greedy, and all-consuming.

In four years, he had never seen her dressed so casually. In denim shorts that showed off her legs that went on forever and a tiny, tight V-neck crop top that bared her shoulders and a strip of her midriff, she looked like the gelato he used to be eagerfor on a hot summer day. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, highlighting the angular gauntness of her features.

“I know it looks bad but—”

He finally responded to her. “It’s not just that someone recorded the entirety of me undressing you and carrying you to my car or that the short clip has been edited with salacious commentary. Today, some investigative reporter decided to inquire after your well-being at Valentini headquarters and she was told that you’d not only been sent off somewhere no one knew by me, but she’s now also saying that I abused my power and then when I got bored, fired you.”

Monica pressed her fingers to her mouth. “That’s...awful.”

“The best version is where they speculate that we’ve been sleeping with each other for a while and that day, I came to sweep you off your feet at the city hall and that you’re now a very satisfied but secretive bride. There are memes being made about me.”

“This is my fault,” Monica said, rubbing her temple.

“I’m not arguing that point,” Andrea said dryly, more than irritated by how she leaned automatically toward Romeo, when he was the one who had actually come to her rescue.

“Andrea!” Romeo said, a quick flash of anger in his eyes. “You can’t blame Monica for this. She was unwell. Where wasyourhead?”

“No, Romeo. He’s right.” She moved toward Andrea like a doe walking into the lion’s den, shoulders painfully rigid. “I’ll do whatever you need to fix it.”

Andrea extended his arm, and she licked her lips, considering it as if it were a snake. “Come. I have a plan in mind.”

“Why can’t we discuss it here?”

“There is the very real danger of my own family coming after me with pitchforks, if I put one step wrong with you, Ms.D’Souza. I did not think you so much of a coward that you would hide behind them.”

“I’m not hiding behind anyone,” she said, rushing around Romeo, cheeks red, ponytail flying around, gloriously indignant. “You ordered that I stay here, transferred me to a different department and...don’t even answer my calls. You decided I was a headache, a pathetic loser, and shuffled me off.”

Andrea stilled, watching the finger she poked into his chest. Hurt and something more flashed in her beautiful eyes. “And if I admit that I had more reasons than your so-called flaws—all your words, by the way—to have you transferred?”

“Did you?”

“Si.”

“Oh,” she said, color rising to her cheeks. “But you think I can help fix this...mess?”

“Si.”

“Fine. Tell me what I need to do.”

A surge of desire wrapped its fingers around Andrea’s muscles. “Go wait for me in my suite. I need a moment with my brother.”

She nodded, squeezed Romeo’s hand one more time and then left.

“Do you know that Mama wishes you were together?” he said to his brother, once Monica was out of earshot.

Romeo’s face tightened. “Mama has many wishes, Andrea. Pity we can’t make them all true,si?”

Feeling as powerless as he did years ago, Andrea shook his head. “Romeo—”

“You’re not stealing my chance with her.”

“She makes you laugh, like before,” Andrea said, repeating his mother’s words, knowing the precious truth of them.

“She does. She has reminded me of all the things I’m still capable of. She’s been a wonderful friend to have in my life. Butneither of us is drawn to the other in that way. In the way you’re drawn to her.”

“That’s not what I want to discuss.”

“And yet you interfere inmylife? Keep track of all the waitresses I hook up with? I’m not some fragile princess whose virginity you’ve been tasked to protect, Andrea.”

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