Page 46 of Baby Surprise for my Brother's Best Friend

“Something real. Public. Controlled. A moment that says this guy isn’t just a pretty face with a PR team. They want proof he’s not a risk.”

“And if we can’t give them that?”

There’s a pause.

“We could lose them, Soph. And the merger will most likely fail.”

The words hit like ice water. My stomach knots.

I’ve been in this position before, reputation hanging by a thread, future dependent on the narrative I can sell.

But this time? It’s not just about optics.

It’s about him.

I’m already opening a fresh document. “Alright. Let’s give them something real.”

I stay glued to the screen for a moment, rereading my notes while tension coils low in my spine.

There’s only one move left if we want to salvage this. A tightly controlled interview. One that hits every beat investors are desperate for. Reliability, remorse, transformation.

The real problem? Getting Alessio to agree to it.

Before I can fully flesh out the strategy, there’s another knock at my office door, softer this time.

He peeks his head in again, brows raised like he’s expecting me to throw something.

“Still mad?”

“Undecided.” I motion him in.

He walks in cautiously, then eyes the open doc on my screen. “What’s that?”

“A lifeline. We need to do an investor-focused interview. Controlled. Safe. If we want to stabilize the narrative, this is it.”

I pause, the words hanging in the air longer than they should.

My voice sounds calm, decisive, but inside, doubt simmers.

What if this is the wrong move? What if asking him to bare himself for cameras only exposes the cracks we’re barely holding together?

He nods slowly, settling into the armchair across from me. “Fine. But I’ve got one condition.”

“Of course, you do.” I lean back. “Let’s hear it.”

“I want you to be the one to interview me.”

I blink. “You’re joking.”

He shakes his head. “I trust you. You already know what the public needs to hear. And you’ll know when I’m full of shit.”

“That’s a terrible idea.”

“That’s not a no.” He smirks.

I exhale hard, watching him.

There’s no cockiness behind his grin this time. Just challenge. And trust.

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