Page 67 of Fake It For Glory

JENSEN

The event by the pier was a spectacle of extravagance that matched the towering yachts that lined the dock. The opulence was overwhelming, even for someone like me. It wasn’t my usual scene, and to be honest, I was as put off by the display as Merida was. But I had to put on a show, a façade of enthusiasm, because that was expected of me.

As we stepped onto yet another yacht, I plastered on a smile, nodding politely to the sea of wealthy men and women who greeted us. They all knew who I was, of course. My reputation as a tech visionary had made me a household name in certain circles. And now, they all wanted a piece of my expertise, a chance to integrate my cutting-edge AI technology into their extravagant yacht computers.

I shook hands with some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. The allure of having the world’s most state-of-the-art AI companion on their yachts was too enticing for them to pass up. They wanted a taste of the future, a taste of what my technology could offer. Everyone wanted to be the first one to have the newest toy. My AI was the coolest thing coming out and they all wanted their hands on it.

“So good to see you, Mr. Loxley!” one man exclaimed, his grip firm and authoritative. “I’ve heard incredible things about your work. We simply must discuss the possibilities of integrating your AI with our yacht systems.”

I nodded, my smile unwavering. “I am interested in discussing that further.”

As we continued through the crowd, the conversations and introductions blurred together. Each person had their vision of what my AI could bring to their world of luxury and excess. They wanted their yachts to be more than just vessels. They wanted them to be marvels of technological innovation. They wanted to look cool. They wanted to be the envy of the rest of the world. They had so much money, they were bored. They lived to spend money. I hoped like hell I never got like that.

Merida walked beside me, her expression mirroring my own discomfort. We exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging the surreal nature of the event. But we soldiered on, putting on a good show for the sake of diplomacy and opportunity. She smiled and shook hands. She said the right things and complimented the arrogant men.

It was in moments like these that I was reminded of the responsibilities that came with my position. I had the power to shape the future, to revolutionize industries and change lives. These people didn’t need my technology—they wanted it. And while the extravagance of this world wasn’t my cup of tea, I needed their investments to make sure I could get my tech into the hands of regular people.

The lavish event continued to unfold around us, a glittering spectacle of wealth. I could feel something was off with Merida. She wasn’t acting her usual self. Whatever had happened, it was weighing on her. Merida was distant. Every chance she could get away from the crowd, her nose was buried in her phone.

I couldn’t help but notice the change in her demeanor ever since she answered the door. Her usual enthusiasm had been replaced by an air of detachment, and it was clear that something was bothering her. I had a hunch it had to do with the conversation she didn’t want me to know about.

At one point, I noticed her grabbing another glass of wine from one of the waiters. I gently touched her arm. “Merida, maybe you should slow down with the wine,” I suggested casually.

She turned to me, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Jensen, you can tell your employees what to do, but you can’t tell me what to do. Got it?”

I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. Just looking out for you, that’s all. Is everything alright?”

“Stop asking me that! You have your own shit to worry about. I’m going to drink my wine and try to get through this, alright?”

I recoiled slightly, taken aback by the sharpness of her response. It was so different. I didn’t want to escalate the situation or cause a scene in front of the influential guests, so I backed off, reluctantly conceding.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

Merida took another sip of her wine, her eyes fixated on something in the distance. I needed to find out what was going on with her, but I didn’t want to push her too far. Instead, I decided to take a walk around the party, hoping to clear my head and find some inspiration for my next project.

As I wandered through the crowd, I couldn’t help but feel out of place. Yes, I had as much or more money than some of the people here, but I still felt less sure without Merida at my side. It was crazy how quickly I had begun to rely on her support at these events. Now I felt alone.

I heard her laughter and looked across the deck of the yacht. Merida had her hand on the arm of a young man. I didn’t remember his name, but I knew he was the son of one of the yacht owners.

I clenched my jaw, biting back my own frustration. Merida was a fiercely independent woman, and I respected that about her. But the distance that had crept between us left me feeling uneasy. She was cold and detached. Usually, she would give me a sweet smile or give me a look that said she was in my corner. I wasn’t getting any of that tonight. She acted like she wanted me to stay as far from her as possible. She was giving her attention to another man. That was one of my strict rules—no flirting with any other men when we were together.

I had to confront her about it, but I didn’t want to cause a scene. I walked over to them, trying to keep my composure.

“Excuse me,” I said, my voice steady. “Merida, can I talk to you for a moment?”

Merida looked at me with a raised eyebrow, as if she was surprised to see me there. “Sure,” she said, her voice cold.

I took a deep breath and led her away from the crowd, toward the side of the yacht. We stood there in silence for a moment, the only sound coming from the waves crashing against the hull of the boat.

Finally, I turned to face her. “Merida, I know you’ve got something going on, but flirting with another man in front of me is crossing a line,” I said, my tone firm.

Merida let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Don’t be so dramatic. We’re at a party. I was just being friendly.” She said it while dismissing me like I didn’t matter.

I shook my head, feeling frustrated. “You know how I feel about this. It’s disrespectful to me and our relationship,” I said, my voice rising slightly.

Merida’s eyes narrowed. “Relationship? What relationship? You’re paying me to pretend to be your girlfriend.”

Her words hurt. I let myself believe it was more than that. I was certain she felt something for me as well, but maybe not. Either way, a deal was a deal. “I’ll remind you of the rules,” I said in a stern voice.