Page 242 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

I blinked at him. “What did you say?”

“I said, the power of love.”

“And?”

Brian scoffed at me. “Now is when you should start acting all embarrassed over being in love. That’s what happens in the sitcoms.”

I smiled. “Unlike the immature characters on most TV shows, I’m ready to settle down and live my life. Yes, I’m doing this for Megyn because I love her and there’s nothing weird or laughable about it.”

“You’re no fun.”

I started dialing the number of the news agency into my phone. “I haven’t said it to her yet.”

“Why not? Maggie practically blurted it out to me the first time we met at the party.”

“Maggie is very sure and confident of herself,” I said, laughing. “But I don’t want Megyn to feel pressured into saying it back.”

“Maybe she’s waiting on you to say it so she won’t feel presumptuous.”

“Well, at this rate, I guess we still won’t have said it by our twentieth anniversary. And that’s fine with me. I can feel it.” I touched my phone to my chest to prove it. A buzzing ringing sound startled me. I’d accidentally pushed the call button. I jerked the phone up and put it to my ear.

Brian opened his mouth to say something.

I lifted my finger to my lips to silence him as the ringing stopped and an unfamiliar voice came on the line. “You’ve reached the offices of Channel 13 News, the most accurate and up-to-date news network in the state of New York. Iris speaking. How may I help you?”

“Hello, Iris,” I said. “My name is Carter Bryant.”

I had more to say but something happened on the other end of the line that prevented me from talking: a huge crash. I stared at Brian and he stared back, not knowing anything was wrong.

“Iris?” I asked. “Everything okay?”

Iris cleared her throat. “Yes, sir, Mr. Carter. Mr. Bryant! Ah, um, what can I help you with?”

“I would like to schedule an interview with your channel, for myself and my princess Cinderella.”

“We would-We would be glad to come talk to you!”

“That’s good. I hope you’re ready, because it has to be today. You will come out to Cinderella’s address—I know you have it—and we’ll hold the whole thing there.”

I heard a lot of shuffling and then a frenzy of scribbling. “Absolutely, sir. Of course. Today. Cinderella’s castle. House, I mean. Do you—”

“6 p.m.,” I answered, predicting what she would ask. Brian was laughing at my braze attitude. I ignored his silent guffaws. “You’ll send only two people. A reporter and a cameraman.”

“I, well, we need to send along a producer—”

“Two people,” I said firmly. “Thank you for being patient and putting up with me, Iris. I know that you aren’t the one in charge of all this and might take some flak as the messenger. But I must insist that there only be two people. This interview will take place in a house that belongs to my Cinderella and I don’t want it to be filled up with news people.”

Iris scribbled more. “Will you hold while I go confirm this with my superior?”

I decided to take it easy on the poor girl and agreed.

She did forget to put the phone actually on hold and so I was able to hear most of the conversation, though not the specific words. Whoever she spoke to seemed extremely unhappy and did a lot of moaning and yelling. Iris, for her part, seemed to take the whole thing in stride. When she came back on the line, her voice was steady and professional.

“6 p.m. it is. We’re sending a reporter and a cameraman only, as per your request.”

“Thank you. Take care.” I hung up.

Brian started laughing aloud again. “If you were always so swift and professional, we could get things accomplished so much faster.”

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