Page 14 of The Marriage Narrative
“We immediately closed ranks—no one outside of our trust circle knows,” he said, giving her an unmistakably pointed look. “But public figures don’t get to just disappear without it rapidly turning into a conspiracy. The network thinks the speculation will be great for ratings, but my family is worried someone will cross the line and try to track her down because she’s the most popular. We can’t guarantee they won’t, but we can try to quiet it down with a bigger distraction. Me.”
“The Estranged Son returns,” she guessed.
“With a brand-new wife,” he confirmed. “They’re in talks with an actress to fill the role but I’m not interested in getting into a PR relationship with her. I decided to find someone on my own.”
“Me.” Rancid disappointment curdled in her stomach. She should’ve known he was too good to be true. This was so unfair!
“Your proposal is a perfect fit for my situation,” he explained. “You’re interesting, ambitious, and beautiful. You have the prenup all planned out. I know you’re not trying to use the Zaffre name as a shortcut to being famous. And most importantly, I know you’ll treat my family well because they’re important to me and our partnership will be important to you.”
She’d heard enough.
Standing up, Zinnia straightened her dress and looked down at him. Regretfully, for the last time. “Thanks for considering me for the position, but I’m no longer interested. Good luck and have a nice life.”
Chapter 5
Zinnia
If she werea different person, tears would be stinging her eyes right about now. Bitter indignation, nesting like cuckoo eggs, lived inside her chest instead.
“Wait, where are you going?” Jordan’s long legs had no trouble keeping pace with hers. She only wore heels for special occasions. If she power walked any faster, she’d trip, fall, and probably end up in the hospital.
“Home!”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Whatever you’re trying to do isn’t funny!”
“The only thing I’m trying to do is marry you.”
“You only want to marry me as a joke!”
A bystander gasped loudly, elbowed the person next to them, and pointed at Zinnia. She kept moving, speeding straight past their scandalized stares.
“Whendid I say that?” He sounded frantic.
“You didn’t have to! You’re just trying to make a storytime video about your ‘weird date’ so your store will go viral. You’re not even related to those people!”
Fiona had warned her that this could happen. People withprank channels used dating apps to find unsuspecting hopefuls, solely to embarrass them. There was even arestaurantthat had done that—they set up fake dates, let the person believe they were stood up, and encouraged them to buy food with “sympathy” discounts.
The dating world was monstrously awful, and she wasrightfor wanting nothing to do with it.
“I wouldneverdo something like that.” He spoke with so much conviction that she almost believed him. But she wouldn’t be making that mistake again.
“Well, it’s not like I can take your word for it since I don’t even know you! I’m not stupid, Jordan!”
“GET HIM, GIRL! YOU TELL HIM!”
They both turned to find a patio full of patrons trying to enjoy their Tex-Mex-inspired meals. More than half were glaring directly at Jordan in acome outside, we just wanna talkway. So many strangers having her back made her temper deflate a little…until she spotted a few people recording them.
“Excuse us. Sorry.” Jordan gently took her by the elbow and guided her to the corner.
She ripped her arm away and slapped the crosswalk button. The downtown cops on horses were all too happy to hand out jaywalking tickets. She wasn’t upset enough to risk losing two hundred dollars.
“What happened to meeting me halfway?” He kept his voice low and had the nerve to look offended. “I tell you the biggest secret of my life and you immediately shut me out because youthinkI’m lying?”
“Because you are!”
Presenting his phone screen to her, he swiped through picture after candid picture of him with the Zaffre family.
