Page 31 of Never To Be Mine

Her smile somehow got wider and more fake. “Oh my God, you’re a child.”

“But am I right?” I kept my voice low enough that only she could hear. “Because you barged into my life, not the other way around. All I did was hold up a mirror for you. It’s not my fault you didn’t like what you saw in the reflection.”

“You’re the one who convinced my dad to partner up with you.”

“It made business sense. I didn’t know you would be part of the deal.”

“Smiles, please!” the photographer called out. “You’re looking a little tense.”

We both immediately brightened our expressions, leaning in slightly like we were sharing a joke. Anyone looking at these photos would think we were the best of friends.

Hell, maybe I had inherited some of Mom’s acting talent after all.

“Perfect!” Patricia clapped her hands together. “I think we’ve got what we need. Let’s move on to the interview portion.”

I stepped away from Juno, putting some much-needed distance between us. We returned to our chairs. Patricia positioned herself just off camera, holding a tablet with her questions.

“Remember,” she said. “This is a conversation between colleagues who respect each other and are excited about this partnership. Other than that, just be natural.”

I glanced at Juno. She was smoothing her blouse, not meeting my eyes. Natural. Right.

Patricia counted down. “In three, two, one… So, Hollis, Juno. Tell me how this partnership came about.”

I let Juno take the lead, watching as she transformed. The irritation melted away.

“Well, Patricia, when we first encountered each other at the wellness expo, there was definitely some… spirited discussion about health products and industry standards.” Her smile was self-deprecating.

I did my part and chuckled.

“But what started as a disagreement actually revealed how much we both care about the same things,” Juno went on. “We both want to help people make better health choices.”

I picked up where she left off. “Exactly. Juno challenged me, which honestly was refreshing. She didn’t just accept my claims at face value. And that’s exactly the kind of rigor Young at Heart is known for.”

“So the viral video was actually the beginning of something positive?” Patricia prompted.

Juno laughed, and it sounded genuine. “I wouldn’t go that far. But it did get us talking. And once we sat down and actually had a real conversation about our goals, we realized we were aligned on what matters most.”

We continued the conversation, which was about the fakest thing I’d ever been a part of.

Patricia held up a finger, indicating we were almost done. “So you’ve both grown from this experience?”

“Absolutely,” Juno said. “This partnership has taught me the importance of looking past first impressions and really digging into the substance of what someone is offering.”

“And I’ve learned that having someone challenge you, push back, ask the hard questions—that’s not an attack. That’s how you get better.”

By the time Patricia called, “Cut,” I was exhausted from the performance.

“That was perfect,” Patricia gushed. “Absolutely perfect. The chemistry between you two really came through.”

I almost laughed. Chemistry. Sure. If by chemistry she meant hostility strong enough to make my skin itch.

“We’ll get this edited and out by end of week,” Patricia said. “This is going to do wonders for both your brands.”

Toby lowered his camera, grinning. “That was sick, man. You guys looked great together.”

Juno stood up, immediately putting distance between us. “If that’s everything, I have a meeting.”

“Of course, of course.” Patricia waved us off. “Thank you both so much.”