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Ariana stands up and takes my hand. “You may wish you were home with your intern, but that doesn’t mean that you get to hide on your phone. Walk with me. Show me some of the art. Introduce me to people. Then we can both go home feeling like it wasn’t a waste of a night.”
I smile, even though that sounds miserable. She’s right that there’s a reason we’re both here, and it doesn’t involve my phone or Madison. I need people to see us together, and she needs to meet people that can help her career.
“That sounds like a plan.” She puts the fake smile on her face and hooks her arm so I can take it in mine. I’m glad I’m wearing my tux, so I don’t have to feel her skin touch mine.
There’s no reason I should want to push every other woman away, but I do. I may be obsessed with Madison right now, but we’ve known each other for less than two weeks. I shouldn’t have changed this much in such a short time.
Somethinghaschanged, though.
As we walk, people glance at us, their eyes beginning on Ariana’s body and then moving to me, realizing who I am. This is what I’m here for. To be watched and envied. To make people think I can have anything I want. Emery Brooks is a spectacle in everything he does.
Even if it’s the last thing I want to do.
Ariana knows the act as well as I do, though. She whispers in my ear, and we both begin laughing even though all she said was, “Laugh now, please.” No one wants the man they know and understand. They want the mystery. The secret.
We pretend like the world barely exists beyond the two of us, each of us playing a part in this façade. Both of us doing our best to tease the world with what they don’t have, with what they don’t know.
Ariana Russo may be gorgeous, but beauty alone doesn’t let you become as famous as her. If I were wearing a hat, I’d tip it to her because she’s the perfect match in this act.
As we’re talking to a director about a piece of art, and Ariana’s tinkling laugh fills the air after a terrible joke, I realize that no matter how well someone like Ariana fits me in this setting, I won’t want her.
Because the man that thrives in being the spectacle is Emery Brooks. Not Em.
The flash of a camera has me grinning as Ariana leans her head on my shoulder. Tonight is a success, probably more successful than if I’d brought Madison. At what point does success stop mattering as much as being happy?
Chapter 30
Madison
I should be happier today. I’m standing in front of the private airport to go to Barcelona. My latest ChitChat video just hit a hundred thousand views. That should turn into a nice little chunk of change. I’m about to shoot my first real life advertising campaign.
But all I can think of is a picture of Emery last night with one of the hottest super models in the world hanging on his arm. They’re both grinning from ear to ear. He said he didn’t want anyone else, but that definitely looked like they were both wanting each other. I certainly wouldn’t hang all over a guy like that unless he was going to take me home with him.
A part of me isn’t surprised. I’ve known who he was since the very first day. I’m just now realizing that the entire world seems to be a part of the Cult of Emery instead of just the office.
He also promised me I was the only woman he wanted. Maybe he’s telling me the truth and the rest of the world a lie. I said that he’s the world’s biggest liar, but it’s just so hard to believe it right now. There are millions of men that would do nearly anything to fuck Ariana Russo.
I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. I should be focused on getting to Barcelona, on doing all the things I’d have been ecstatic about doing two weeks ago.
I don’t even know for sure if Emery did anything wrong. The only thing I’m sure of is how it made me feel. How it still makes me feel.
The best thing I can do is put the whole thing out of my mind. Just think of Emery as my boss. Focus on the work. I have a career to stabilize, and this trip to Barcelona is the most important part of it. After this weekend, I could be Aspire’s most valuable employee, but that won’t happen if I don’t keep my eyes on the prize.
So I take a deep breath and pull my suitcase up the steps to the airport doors. I will talk to Emery when it’s time to talk to him. Until then, I’m going to do my best to focus on this amazing trip.
The front of the airport is elegant in a way that no commercial airports can be. Catering to the most elite men and women in the world, there are dozens of employees waiting at the doors, ready to help with anything that their passengers need.
I may not be one of the elite, but I’m working for one, and they treat me the same as they would treat the Queen if she were visiting. Wearing a wide smile, a woman in a crisp flight attendant’s outfit asks me where I’m going, and as soon as I say that I work for Aspire, she’s whisking me toward the right hanger. It’s incredible how personalized the service is here. I’m used to the misery of the massive commercial airports, but this is so fast that I’m literally on the jet five minutes after walking into the airport.
The rest of the team is already drinking and relaxing on the couches. Freaking couches. There are two massive screens on either side of the cabin. One’s playing ad after ad after ad while the other is showing an action-comedy movie that’s still in theaters.
“Madison!” Stephanie says as she scoots over on the couch. “Get some champagne and hang out with us.”
I give her a grin. All three members of the team are excited, and I don’t blame them. This is not what I’d expected. I guess I’m not used to the idea of private jets or billionaires. Especially when the only billionaire I know hasn’t really shown me what he spends his money on.
I pick up a champagne flute and Stephanie holds out the bottle for me to take as I sit down next to her. “Emery never does international shoots anymore,” Brandon says. “I don’t know how you convinced him to, but I’m thankful. This is my first international trip.”
“It’s my third,” Shonda says from beside him on the other couch.
