Page 29 of The Boss I Can't Stand
“Wait, what?” I said at the same time as Sierra.
Jillian pulled up a news article, showing me the headline.Sexy CEO Strikes Again, but Could This One Be the Real Deal?“You and Violet declared your affair a couple months beforeEvery Day’s preproduction started.”
“It wasn’t an affair,” I growled, just making that clear to Sierra. “It was a friends-with-benefits situation. If we weren’t seeing anyone else and our schedules lined up, we’d have a good time together—that’s it.”
“So romantic,” Sierra muttered sarcastically.
“Exactly,” I shot back. “It wasn’t romantic at all, because neither one of us wanted it to be. No stress, no drama, no strings. Anything you’ve heard to the contrary is tabloid bullshit. And anyway,Violet and I had stopped seeing each other months before we made an official statement because we hated seeing ourselves in the tabloids.”
“But the point is, we made that statement publicly, and now that thisimage has surfaced, the media is backtracking and drawing its own conclusions about the timing. And Milli?—”
That gossip-hungry influencer needed a new career!
“—is covering the news of the proposal like this is a significant change for you.”
“Oh, yes,” I snapped. “Because I’ve seen the error of my ways? We arenotrunning with that. We’re clearing this up. Tomorrow.”
“I actually don’t think we should,” Jillian said. “Milli has had nothing but good things to say so far. She’s already dug into Sierra and decided she’s nothing like the other A-listers you’ve been seen with.”
Sierra made a face, huffing at me likeI’doffended her. I hadn’t done anything!
“And this proposal is being taken as a real sign that you’re settling down,” Jillian explained. “You haven’t been seen at the clubs since preproduction started.”
“Because I’ve been too busy!” And I was usually only there to smooth over some deal for financing or to lock down a big name for a film. I hated clubbing. “This is ridiculous.”
“Well, this is the narrative that’s currently taking off: You’re a reformed bad boy who met a nice, normal girl and fell head-over-heels in love.”
Sierra scoffed loudly. “Who really believes that stuff?”
“People who like love stories,” Jillian stated dryly. “Which, not coincidentally, is the same group of people who might want to buy tickets to our movie. It’s a PR boon like I’ve never seen before, and we need to chase it. If for nothing else, then for the good of this production. I really think the two of you need to pretend to be engaged until this movie comes out.”
“Absolutely not!” Sierra cried, shaking her head vehemently. “Trust me, you don’t want me on this. I am the worst liar. I could never pull off a PR relationship and pretend I’m in love with Finn.”
I swallowed hard, surprised by how much her response stung. It wasn’t just the response but the speed at which she hurled it. But ultimately, I agreed. PR relationships only worked when they were believable. It required two people who were committed to selling it.
“No one will actually buy that we’re together,” I said. “Come up with a new angle.”
I stared at the blank screen in front of me, trying to put my words in order so I could send off this damn email already. But I was still distracted by this proposal nonsense and how it was catching on with the public. I’d sent Liam and Connor links to the press, and they had messaged to commiserate.
I see why you ran off, Liam had written.
Yikes, was all Connor wrote.
Yikes, indeed.
I tried to shove it from my mind, but no sooner had I distracted myself with work than Jillian had sent a follow-up email, trying once again to change my mind.
A knock sounded on my office door, and I glanced up. “Come in!” I barked, eager for another distraction.
Sierra popped her head in.Dammit, not that kind of distraction, I directed at the universe.
“Have a minute?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, turning away from my computer as she slipped through the door and closed it behind her. She leaned against the door like she meant to flee the moment she could.
My eyes skittered up and down her body. I couldn’t help it. I was mesmerized by the flowy cardigan she wore and the way it whispered over her curves. I was…I couldn’t be thinking like this. Especially not after today.
“What is it?” I said, gruffer than I’d intended.
