Page 72 of My Italian Love Affair

“Here’s another - ‘I’ve never seen two people so obviously into each other while pretending they don’t even like each other.’”

Heat crawls up my neck.

I can’t believe people are actuallythinkingthese things, let alone commenting about it.

“That isnot- Richard, I was just trying to do my job!”

“Of course you were,” he says easily. “And I don’t care why it’s happening. I just care that it’s working.”

“You…what?”

“Like I said, the numbers are good,” he says simply. “The video is getting engagement, shares,views. That’s what pays. That’s what matters.”

Oh.

Ohno.

I suddenly have a terrible, sinking feeling in my stomach.

“So,” Richard continues, clasping his hands together. “I’ve told Mark to set up more opportunities for you and Rossi to do on-camera work together.”

I gape at him.

“No.”

“Ease up, Sinclair,” he says, sounding amused. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Keep asking good questions, keep getting reactions. And hey - if the audience just so happens to love the weird little dynamic that you two have going on - even better.”

I open my mouth, ready to argue, but what can I even say?

That there isn’t tension?

That the viewers are imagining it?

EvenI’mnot sure that I believe that anymore.

And after what he said when he cornered me after the interview, I know Matteo feels the same.

“Anyway, I’ve got to run. Keep up the good work, Sinclair. And whatever you’re doing -don’t change.”

The call ends abruptly, and I just sit there, staring at the now-empty screen with my heart pounding in my chest.

More interviews.

More time on camera with Matteo.

I drop my head into my hands.

I amsoscrewed.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Matteo

"This is all your fault."

I barely have time to process the words before Daphne Sinclair appears in front of me, green eyes flashing, her auburn hair catching in the late afternoon light as she marches straight onto the training pitch.

I glance around. Some of my teammates are still hanging back after training, stretching and chatting, but the moment they spot us, they know better than to linger.

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