Page 84 of Reputation (Tempt)

Just like that? Ha! He willed it, so it was done?

“What if I wanted to hire my own person?” I asked.

“Trust me. She’s the best in the business. You want her.”

“Fine,” I sighed and turned my back to him so I could start preparing myself for the interview. “Now, can you please let me get ready?”

I didn’t have the energy to argue, especially not if I was going to make it through our interview. Dad had already been hassling me about my splits for yesterday and suggesting ideas for improving my times. I was jet-lagged, and I couldn’t deal with any more drama.

Nate sighed and placed my phone on the counter before turning away and heading for the bedroom. The tension between us was so thick, I worried we wouldn’t be able to pull this off. But that wasn’t an option, so I needed to find a way to shift my thoughts.

Nate was pissing me off, but I wasn’t doing this for him; I was doing it for Brooklyn. And like anything in life, the pain would be temporary.

I kept my thoughts on her as I got ready. I focused on Brooklyn and all the reasons we were doing this as the film crew set up in the living room. And when it was finally showtime, I smiled, and it felt genuine.

“Sweetheart?” Nate called loudly, probably for someone else’s benefit, as he entered the bathroom. “Em,” he said, and I was taken back to this morning in bed. When he’d whispered my name in the darkness and promised me the world, only to take it away from me. To embarrass me. “They’re ready for us.”

I nodded and smoothed my hands down my pants. “Is this okay?”

“You look perfect.” He held out his hand.

I told myself he was only saying that because someone might overhear. Just like he’d called me “sweetheart” earlier. It was all part of the act.

I nodded and allowed him to lead me out to the living room, where the space had been transformed. There were lights and camera equipment, and the furniture had been moved.

“I’m sure Graham would love this,” I mused.

Nate chuckled. “Actually, I’m sure he will. He’s such a publicity whore when it comes to the Huxley empire.”

A woman in a pale-blue suit stood as we entered, smiling at our joined hands. Brooklyn was hanging out with Jackson and his team from Hudson. I was glad she was relaxing and having fun, even if I’d rather be hanging out with her than suffering through this interrogation.

“Emerson,” she said. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Bridget withVogue.”

Vogue?Nate hadn’t told me that. I mean, holy shit. This wasVoguewe were talking about. I knew they’d branched out into video, but I’d thought it was limited to their popular73 Questionsseries, where they asked a celebrity seventy-three questions rapid-fire.

“Nice to meet you.”

“We’ll take a few pictures and then move on to the interview.”

The photographer posed Nate and me, telling us to look into each other’s eyes. Having us move different ways. It all felt so…stiff. So choreographed, and I couldn’t possibly imagine how everyone didn’t see right through us.

As if this situation weren’t stressful enough, I was embarrassed about what had happened with Nate this morning. He knew I’d wanted him, and he’d gotten me all… My body heated just thinking about it. The buildup. The anticipation. And then…well, it was as if someone had let all the air out of a balloon.

“Smile for the camera,” Nate murmured. “Act like you like me.”

“Maybe it would be easier,” I gritted out. “If you stopped bossing me around.” And if I weren’t horny as well.

So much for focusing on my reasons for doing this.

We moved into a different pose, his grip tightening on my waist. The lights were hot, and a makeup artist jumped in to touch up our faces. It felt as if we’d been here for hours, but it could’ve been minutes for all I knew.

In the background, the photographer said something to Bridget. They both shook their heads, and I worried I was fucking it all up.

Get it together! You’re staying in a palace. With your childhood celebrity crush. Everyone thinks you’re engaged.

Sometimes I still couldn’t believe this was my life.

When we returned to our positions, I slid my hand up Nate’s chest, and Nate pulled me to him. He grasped my chin, bringing my gaze to his, his lips hovering less than an inch from mine. “Eyes on me, Em,” he said under his breath.

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