Page 19 of First Look Fiancé

“I just can’t wrap my head around a fake engagement,” Dad said. It was like seeing myself in a mirror in a couple of decades when I looked at him. His hair was gray, but we had the same face shape and the same nose. I wondered if he’d ever done something as crazy as this in his life. “I mean, there are so many other ways to rehabilitate your image, Bryce. This seems extreme. And, like I said, risky. If people find out it’s fake, you could be in an even worse spot.”

Dad’s eyebrows pulled together. He was genuinely concerned, and I realized I was very appreciative of the concern.

But instead of saying that, I shrugged.

“My PR team thought it was the best, and most simple, solution.”

"Maybe I've taught you about business too well. Life isn't always business. Don't stop feeling, Bryce. Maybe you need to train yourself to start feeling again. The world, and life, isn't just about business and logic. You may have been operating too long in the business part of your life that you've forgotten how to really live with feeling." He paused, while I stayed silent. "Your mother and I will have to meet this…Reyna, was it?”

I rolled my eyes and loudly, probably annoyingly, exhaled.

“Again, Reyna and I are not actually together.”

“So you say. But how believable will it be if your parents aren’t involved at all? Or if we don't even know her or can say anything about her?”

I let out a sigh, knowing that my dad was right. The success of this plan depended on it being convincing to the public.

"Okay, fine." I finally relented. "You can meet her."

"When?"

“I’ll call Mom and we’ll pick a date for dinner,” I grumbled, knowing I solidly lost this round and just silently prayed Reyna would agree to dinner with my parents. Family involvement wasn’t something we’d discussed.

“Great. Sooner rather than later would be ideal.”

Another eye roll, but Dad dropped the topic as soon as we landed in New York. Meetings and new faces occupied the rest of the day, which was a welcomed relief from talking about Reyna. We might have stopped talking about her, but I couldn't stop thinking about her.

I wanted to tell myself that we were just playing a role. We were actors putting on a show for everyone else's amusement or curiosity. It was nothing more than fake smiles plastered onto our faces as cameras flashed around us.

And yet…the kiss from the night before, well, more accurately, the making out from the night before, was possibly the most erotic experience I’d had with my clothes on. There was something about Reyna that just brought everything up a notch. She agreed to this plan, but she wasn’t just a pawn. She commanded respect.

My dad might have been right. This entire plan might just be a little more than I’d bargained for.

Let's just hope we don't get to the "blowing up in your face" part.

Chapter 9

Reyna

Ihadn’tseenBrycesince the engagement photos, but he had called to discuss when we should both post on our social media about the engagement. He mentioned that he had set up an interview with a friend of his. Surprisingly, he had filled out his questionnaire and said he enjoyed reading my answers. I was a little shocked he’d actually gone through the effort.

In the days since, I had thousands of new followers on Instagram and had spent thousands of minutes going over every detail with Bryce.

“Tell me everything,” Nia said, walking into my condo. She had promised to help me choose an outfit for the interview. A photoshoot would be scheduled separately, but I still wanted to look my best. “Let’s start with the ring.”

I laughed as she grabbed my hand.

“She’s a beauty, Reyna. So he actually planned a whole proposal? Like down on one knee and everything?” Nia’s eyes were far too wide and too bright. She knew the truth and was still buying into the fantasy.

“Yes, but it didn’t mean anything. It was for the camera and the Instagram shot, Nia.”

It was a helpful reminder for me, too.

“But still, that’s a lot of planning and he really went out of his way. He could have done something way more simple.” Nia threw open my closet door.

“It has to be believable, and effort looks believable.”

“Sure, sure. So, have you had sex with him yet?”

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