“Damn,” she mumbled as she spun around on her heels.
“Mother, I was looking for you!”
“There she is!” she beamed, looking her daughter over proudly. “Stunning as always.”
Jacqueline was such a good liar, she swore she couldn’t help it.
They air kissed and hugged, which was fake because they were not a touchy family, but anything for the cameras.
“You didn’t walk the red carpet, darling,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Is it mandatory?”
Jacqueline gave her a plastered smile that told her yes the fuck it was. She looped her arm into hers, “Come on.”
They took a few photos together before Mrs. Marcelle moved to the side to let her princess shine like the star she’d made her into. Nina was a gorgeous young woman and her being as educated as she was made the wholeBrains and Beautything come to life even more. But if she were an airhead, she still could’ve made a living off her good looks and cheekbones alone.
For her to be fake camera shy, one couldn’t tell. She posed to the left and to the right like a natural. But shit, what did they expect? She was a Marcelle. Their family had been gracing magazine covers since before she could talk. This was the only life that she’d ever known.
“Can we get you taking a sip from one of the Sprite cans?” a PR rep asked. Nina was about to take the can until her mother slapped her wrist.
“Are you all prepared to sign a check?” Jacqueline didn’t play that free promo shit.
“I’ll have my people call your people,” the lady said and walked off.
“Come here, baby, I have some folks I want to introduce you to.” Jacqueline was ready to parade her around.
Nina adjusted her glove. “I said thirty minutes,” she mumbled.
“Yes sweet pea I’m aware.”
“Where’s Kobie?”
“You want to see him? I knew it!” her mother teased.
Nina rolled her eyes. “No, just trying to get it out the way.”
“Miss Marcelle and Mrs. Marcelle….” Kobie’s voice carried over the music before she even saw him.
When she turned, he was approaching them with that easy athlete confidence people seemed to naturally gravitate toward… everyone except her.
She wouldn’t downplay his good looks and boyish manner. Kobie was annoyingly handsome, but he would never be JIO.
“Nina Marcelle in the flesh,” he grinned, pulling her into a quick hug.
“Congrats sir!”
Nina hugged him back, but it didn’t last long. She knew without a doubt that she was most likely being monitored.
“Mrs. Marcelle you’re looking lovely as ever,” he praised her.
She blushed. “Kobie stop it!” She said before excusing herself after she spotted an old friend who’d been dodging her calls. Mrs. Marcelle needed her yearly donation for the foundation.
He turned his attention back to the woman of his dreams. “I’m shocked to see you.”
“You should be,” she teased.
He laughed loudly. “Well damn, I’m honored.”
