The Fake Fiancé and the Grumpy Billionaire: An Enemies to Lovers Age Gap Romance by Lizzie Lake

Author:Lizzie Lake [Lake, Lizzie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Enzo

“These look great,” Tina says, peering over my shoulder as I look through my official engagement photos. She’s too close to be utterly professional.

“Yes, they do,” I agree. “My fiancé is quite photogenic, it turns out.”

“Indeed,” she says, and I can hear her rolling her eyes without even turning around.

“Are there exclusives for press?”

“There are,” she says, stepping back. “People wants the exclusive, of course.”

“What are the other options?”

“USA Today, the Today Show, Good Morning America.”

“Nothing serious?”

“Serious like…what?”

“Political, or at least real journalism.”

“Look, the more journalistic outlets will smell a pile of shit a mile away, Enzo. You need to use the fluff. This engagement is designed to make people look at you differently, and people don’t read the serious stuff.”

“Then which has the most reach?”

“I’d suggest we do a People spread with the photos and then go straight on the television tour.”

“Fine,” I say with a sigh as I close out the photo link.

Tina heads off to make the deal and I sit, stewing. I open the link again, pausing on a particularly crisp photo of Penelope, in full focus while I perch on a park bench behind her, slightly blurry. It’s meant to be a sort of emergence photo, a photo that introduces her to the world and makes her the star, rather than me. People will be curious about her, the photographer said. Let her take the spotlight for just a moment, in just the right way.

She is beautiful. Her hair is long around her shoulders, the natural, sunny highlights glinting in the natural light. Her eyes are bright beacons, slightly more green thanks to the lovely, bright, grass-colored sheath dress they have her wearing. I have noticed Hassan’s tendency to dress her in shades of green and when I asked him why not blue – which would make sense politically – he says the green makes very clear her focus on environmental issues, which should be important to all citizens, not just Democrats.

I cannot say I disagree. And she looks lovely in the color. Perfect, really. In every photo, she looks young and fresh and flawless and while I have been attracted to her since our first meeting, even in those silly clothes, I find myself nearly obsessed with her now.

Which is exactly why I have taken great pains to avoid her over the past four days.

After our intimate encounter, I felt too connected to her. I was shaken and it was a distraction. This “relationship” is only supposed to get me votes. I need to stay focused on the task, which is winning this election. Penelope is one tool in the toolbox. I cannot lose sight of that.

Tina steps back into my office. “The exclusive is set. They’re sending over some questions for you and Penelope to answer. I’ll work on answers and run them by the two of you to get your voice inserted.”

“Thank you,” I say, peering out my office door at a conversation happening between Penelope and one of my economic policy advisers.

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