“You know, if you quit leaving before dawn, there might be less scandal to report on.” Shiloh doesn’t really care about minimizing fodder for the tabloids. It’s been a month since Hadrian’s faux proposal, and she’s annoyed that I’m still keeping him at arm’s length.
Personally, the time alone has been good for me. I needed to be sure I could stand on my own, and now that I am, I’m ready to entertain something more serious. Hadrian has done a good job proving himself. Besides getting me the job with Jessa, he’s sent flowers and chocolates and got Shiloh and me tickets to a sold-out Broadway hit.
I really do believe he loves me, but I’m still holding out for a grand gesture. I’m not doing another relationship where I’m not a priority, and I’m not sure yet that Hadrian is capable of putting me first.
“I don’t know why I expected this would go away when I left SNC.” I delete the last message and look up so that Shiloh can apply my eyeliner. “I guess I thought Hadrian would make it disappear.”
“Maybe he’s afraid you’ll think he’s just addressing it for publicity.”
“Maybe he’s not addressing it because it’s better publicity to let it ride.” I don’t want to believe that ratings are still so important to him, but I’m not easily trusting these days.
I hear my dressing room door open behind us. I glance to the mirror and see Jessa. She’s probably here to see if I’m ready, since we’re nearing film time. It’s a cake job, part-time, that’s really more online-personality than journalist. The questions are written beforehand for me, and I just have to smile and read them off the prompter. Our interviewees are notable people in the nation, mostly women, usually people not too busy to sit down with one of the smaller streaming platforms. Presidents of big universities, Broadway stars, state-level politicians, prominent businesspeople. Today will be my third interview, and I’m already so comfortable with the format, I’m not nervous anymore. Especially, since none of our shows film live.
“Hey, Jess,” I say. Shiloh lifts her pencil so I can turn my head toward my mentor. “I’m getting hounded by paparazzi. Any advice on how to deal with them?”
She doesn’t even need to think about it. “Easiest way is to address the questions head-on.”
“I was afraid you were going to say that.” I look up again so Shiloh can finish my second eye. “I have no problem talking on air, but I get all itchy when the subject I’m talking about is me. Can’t someone else do it for me?”
I’m kidding, but seriously. It’s the one downside about not having Elvis anymore. He handled my image, which came with both plusses and minuses. I suppose it’s time I learned how to do it myself.
“She wants Hadrian to deal with it.” Shiloh’s such a freaking tattle.
“No, I don’t,” I say too quickly. “I mean, I do, but I don’t want it to be for the wrong reasons.”
“Interesting.” Jessa leans her hip against the makeup counter. “What would you want him to say?”
That’s a fair question that, of course, I haven’t thought about. “I don’t know. Whatever would take the heat off of me.”
Jessa won’t let me leave it at that. “Come on, you’re a journalist. What questions would you ask him?”
I think while Shiloh puts on my l*ps. “I guess I’d want him to admit that he staged our ‘affair’ for the ratings. So I’d ask him questions that would lead to that.”
“Great.” Jessa stands so she’s towering above me. “You have fifteen minutes to come up with those. We’re rolling at two.” With that, she heads toward the door.
“Uh, what?” I nudge Shiloh out of the way, jumping out of my chair to follow Jess into the hallway. “What are you, what are you talking about?”
“There’s been a last-minute schedule change. Mary Barra is on for tomorrow. Hadrian Seymour is filling her spot. As usual, we have questions already prepared, but since you have a personal connection to Hadrian, I’m giving you the opportunity to add some of your own.” She’s about to walk away again, as though this isn’t a big deal when it’s a capital B, Big f**king Deal, and there’s no way she doesn’t know that.
“Wait, wait, wait.”
She’s annoyed when she turns this time, impatience written all over her face.
There are too many questions, I can’t prioritize which to ask first, and I end up standing there with my mouth open.
“Are you going to be able to handle this?” she asks, with no malice. Just someone getting straight to the facts.
For half a second, I’m not sure that I will.
But then I remember how f**king strong I am. “No problem.”
“Good. I’d get to writing those questions unless you’re comfortable on the spot.”
I’m usually very comfortable on the spot, but this is Hadrian. Hadrian, who couldn’t be here coincidentally. Hadrian, who’s trying to prove himself. “One more thing—was this him or was this you?”
“Now you’re asking the right questions.” Her smile is proud. “All him, baby. Make him squirm.”
For all the times he’s made me squirm, this feels like proper payback. I only wish I had more time to prepare.
With my mind whirring, I run back to the dressing room where Shiloh is waiting with a powder brush to set my makeup. “I’m interviewing Hadrian,” I say. “That’s all you’re getting. Don’t say anything because I’m prepping in my head.”
It’s obvious she’s dying, but she clams her l*ps together and doesn’t say a word until she’s done. “Go.”
She follows me out to the studio with her powder and brush, for when I get shiny when we’re filming, which will probably happen sooner rather than later today. Straightening my jacket over my blouse and slacks, I pause as soon as I see Hadrian already sitting on set wearing a designer three-piece that makes him look so good, my th**hs r*b together.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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