20. James #2
Every camera swung in my direction. I could only be grateful that they were focused on me now and not five minutes earlier, when I’d been having it out with MG.
I didn’t want a media spotlight on me and Heidi, but at least it would look good to the cameras.
She’d chosen her venue well. I couldn’t exactly ignore her here.
Calling her out would just turn this into a scandal that would detract from the launch of the line.
I had to play along to keep the focus where it belonged: on the clothes.
So I had no choice but to cross the room to Heidi.
Thankfully, she was standing in front of the step-and-repeat banner covered with the Branson logo, which meant that every photo of us would result in good press.
The woman knew how to market; I had to hand it to her despite my fury.
“The man of the hour, looking gorgeous, as usual.” Heidi giggled when I reached her. She slid her arm through mine and dropped her head to my shoulder. “Okay, people, do we love my dress or what?”
The dress someone had stolen from us. I punched down the rage bubbling up inside of me. Keep calm, smile, and pretend that this was all part of the plan. Don’t make a scene. Or more of a scene.
A cheer went up around us to answer her dumb question. Of course they loved it; Natalie had designed it. The gown was perfect.
“That’s a wedding gown, right?” a voice called out from the crowd of photographers trained on us.
Heidi giggled and nodded, glancing at me with the faux coquettish expression I was way too familiar with. She used to try it on me whenever she wanted something.
“Hey, James, you got something to tell us?” another reporter called out, and everyone laughed. “Big time reconciliation, or what?”
The stunt was heading in a very wrong direction, but it wasn’t like I could just announce that I’d sooner marry a rattlesnake. Not in front of a media audience that adored Heidi. No, I needed to control this—give an answer that satisfied the mob while not giving anything away.
“Let’s just say we still have some secrets, but you’re going to have to wait until the catwalk to find them out,” I said, with as much fake cheer as I could muster.
My eyes shot to Natalie and her expression was openmouthed shock.
People booed good naturedly at my non-answer.
“My boyfriend likes to keep people guessing, even me!” Heidi giggled and squeezed my arm.
I hoped I didn’t noticeably flinch when she called me her boyfriend. I glanced at her and narrowed my eyes so that only she could see. “Yes, seems we’re all a bit surprised today.”
But even as I said it, I knew it would be good for the company and the new line. The fashion bloggers would be writing about us already, but if we could get the gossip bloggers to spread the word—including pictures—then that could be the spark needed to make this all go viral.
“Hey, James, you got more wedding dresses for us today?” another reporter called out. “Is this your way of telling us you’re launching a full bridal line?”
The crowd applauded and I hid my frown. We’d always considered adding a bridal line but now if we ever did in the future, it would forever be tied to this moment.
Hell, Heidi might even try to take credit for it.
But that was a problem for down the road.
This night still needed to pay off or there wouldn’t be a future for the company, with or without wedding dresses.
“You just have to wait and see,” I teased, pulling out all the stops on my acting abilities. I hoped my expression looked believably happy. Heidi and I locked eyes and I tried to channel my rage so that she was the only one who could sense it.
But she either didn’t notice or didn’t care as she giggled, then leaned closer to give me a kiss on the cheek.
She kept her lips pressed against me while the flashes around us made my vision swim.
What choice did I have but to put on my trademark smirk and hope the paparazzi were getting the scoop they needed to help make the evening a success?
I glanced beyond the crowd to where Natalie was standing.
Her shoulders were hunched and her face looked pinched, no doubt thanks to the way her world had just flipped upside-down within the past five minutes.
Punching that bedbug of a human MG and Heidi crashing our show in Natalie’s finale dress?
How much more would we have to deal with?
I found myself starting to move towards her without any conscious thought.
If it hadn’t been for the hold Heidi had on my arm, I’d have walked away completely.
I gave my head a quick shake to clear it.
That was the second time tonight I’d seen Natalie and just reacted, without thinking it through.
It made me uneasy. Since when was I impulsive?
Since when did I act without thinking? Since when did I lose control?
Since Natalie.
I had to get my head back in the game. I looked around the room and spied Calliope furiously punching at her phone. She grinned at the screen, then glanced around the room. When she spotted me watching her, she hopped up and down and gave me a thumbs-up with an even wider smile.
From what I could decipher, she was letting me know that the world was enjoying the surprise reunion with my ex.
That would put eyeballs on Branson, which was exactly what I wanted.
Exposure like this, fake as it may be, was priceless in a crowded marketplace.
I felt a genuine smile spread across my face at the thought of all of the social media attention we were going to get.
And this was even before the show. Things were looking up.
“Give your girl a kiss, will ya?” a voice shouted at us.
A chant started to kick up around us.
“Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Heidi leaned closer to me with her eyes shut and her plump lips puckered.
Part of me wanted to look over to Natalie—to check in, make sure she was okay—but that was an urge I needed to suppress.
This night wasn’t about making sure Natalie was okay.
It was about saving the company. I had to stay focused on that goal and not let anything distract me, not even Natalie.
When this was all over, she’d understand.
Staring into Heidi’s face, I braced myself to gently grasp her chin and give her the quickest, most brotherly peck imaginable.
When I looked to where Natalie had been, she was gone.