8. Jaxon
Jaxon
"Look directly at each other, not at the camera," Luke instructs, pacing around us like a film director. "Jaxon, your hand should be at the small of her back. Vivienne, lean into him slightly—you're in love, not posing for a corporate headshot."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes as Luke continues micromanaging our body language.
We're in my living room, preparing for the Entertainment Tonight interview that starts in twenty minutes.
What should be a simple conversation has turned into a full production, with Luke treating it like we're staging a Broadway show.
"We know how to act like a couple," I say, more irritation in my voice than intended. "We're not teenagers at a school dance."
"The camera picks up inauthenticity," Luke counters. "And since this relationship isn't actually authentic—"
"We get it," Vivienne interrupts smoothly. She stands beside me in a royal blue dress that brings out the amber flecks in her eyes. "Genuine affection, natural closeness, besotted gazes. Anything else?"
Luke studies us critically. "Jaxon, remember to soften your expression when looking at her. You tend to default to intensity, which reads as brooding on camera."
"That's just my face," I mutter.
"Well, make it your in-love face," he retorts. "And Vivienne, touch him occasionally—his arm, his hand. Little gestures that show comfort and familiarity."
She nods, taking this coaching session far more seriously than I am. Then again, she has her own reasons for making this convincing—reasons that became clearer after her conversation with her boss yesterday.
"What about Lily?" I ask. "I want her kept out of this as much as possible."
"Agreed," Luke says. "Mrs. Patterson will keep her upstairs during the interview. The official line is that we're being respectful of her privacy while she adjusts to your engagement."
Vivienne's hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "We should mention that immediately," she suggests. "It establishes our priorities from the outset."
I look down at her, momentarily forgetting Luke's presence. Since she moved in for the weekend, something has shifted between us. The performance of couple hood bleeding into private moments. Small touches that aren't for show. Conversations that stretch late into the night after Lily's asleep.
"You're a natural at this," I tell her.
She smiles—that genuine smile that reaches her eyes, not the polished one she uses for cameras. "I've handled my share of difficult interviews. The trick is controlling the narrative from the first question."
"Exactly," Luke agrees. "Now, about the ring—"
"I have it," I interrupt. Grandmother's ring, which I mentioned to Vivienne, has been burning a hole in my pocket since yesterday. I've been waiting for the right moment, conscious of the significance despite our arrangement's temporary nature.
"Perfect. Present it during the interview," Luke instructs. "It'll make for excellent footage."
"No," I say firmly. "Some things aren't for public consumption."
Luke looks ready to argue, but something in my expression stops him. "Fine. But have it on her finger before you leave for the charity dinner tonight."
He checks his watch, then gestures to the hair and makeup team hovering nearby. "Final touches. Five minutes until they arrive."
As the stylists descend on us, I find myself watching Vivienne.
She's remarkably calm, answering emails on her phone while someone touches up her already flawless makeup.
There's something compelling about her efficiency, her ability to navigate both our charade and her demanding career without missing a beat.
The makeup artist finally steps away, and Vivienne glances up, catching me watching her. "What?" she asks, a hint of self-consciousness in her voice.
"Nothing," I reply. "Just... you're good at this. The multitasking, the planning."
"Necessary skill when you're a woman in business," she says with a slight shrug. "Especially with people like Richard constantly waiting for you to drop the ball."
Her boss's attempt to sideline her still rankles. I've seen how hard she works, how brilliant her ideas are. The injustice of it feeds my determination to make our arrangement benefit her as much as it does me.
"Any word from Gerald about the campaign launch?" I ask.
Her expression brightens. "It's official. We start production next week. Derek's still technically co-lead, but Gerald keeps directing all questions to me."
"As he should," I say. The pride in my voice surprises us both.
Luke clears his throat. "They're here. Remember: natural, affectionate, united front."
As the Entertainment Tonight crew sets up in my living room, Vivienne suddenly reaches for her neck. "My necklace," she murmurs. "The clasp is loose."
She's wearing a delicate gold pendant—something simple but elegant that complements her dress without overwhelming it.
"Here," I say, stepping behind her. "Let me."
She lifts her hair, exposing the nape of her neck. Something about the vulnerable gesture sends heat coursing through me. I take the fine chain between my fingers, my knuckles brushing against her warm skin.
"Thank you," she says softly, a slight catch in her voice that tells me she's not immune to our proximity either.
I secure the clasp, but my fingers linger, tracing the chain where it rests against her collarbone. "Beautiful," I murmur, not entirely referring to the necklace.
She turns her head slightly, our faces inches apart. For a moment, I'm tempted to close that distance, to taste the lips I've been thinking about since the Met steps. Her pupils dilate slightly, and I wonder if she's considering the same thing.
"Mr. Hart? Ms. Clarke? We're ready for you."
The producer's voice breaks the spell. Vivienne takes a steadying breath, her professional mask sliding back into place. But as we move toward the interview setup, her hand finds mine again, our fingers interlacing with surprising naturalness.
"Ready for this?" I ask.
She gives me a look that's equal parts determination and mischief. "Born ready. Follow my lead if things get dicey."
The interview starts predictably enough. Jessica Chen, the ET correspondent, asks about our "whirlwind romance"—when we met, how quickly things progressed, whether Andrew's memory played a role in our connection.
"Actually, Jaxon and I met briefly years ago, through Andrew," Vivienne explains smoothly. "But we reconnected recently at the Children's Hospital Benefit. Sometimes life brings people together exactly when they need each other."
"And was it love at first sight?" Jessica asks, leaning forward eagerly.
I suppress my instinct to scoff at the cliché. "More like recognition," I say instead, surprising myself with the truth in the answer. "Something about Vivienne felt... familiar. Like finding a melody I'd been trying to remember."
It's not the answer Luke coached, but Vivienne's hand tightens on mine, approving of the deviation.
"That's beautifully put," Jessica gushes. "Now, your engagement has generated quite a lot of media attention. How are you handling that as a family, especially with young Lily adjusting to so many changes?"
"Lily's privacy is our absolute priority," Vivienne answers before I can. "She's experienced tremendous loss, and while she's been wonderfully accepting of our relationship, we're very protective of her space and her adjustment process."
I look at Vivienne with genuine gratitude. "Exactly. We're focused on creating stability for her. That's what matters most."
Jessica nods sympathetically, but I catch the calculating gleam in her eye. "Speaking of stability, there's been some speculation about the timing of your engagement, coming so soon after Zackery Dean filed for temporary guardianship of Lily. Would you care to address those rumors?"
And there it is—the real reason for this interview. Not our love story, but the custody battle brewing beneath the headlines.
"There's no connection," I say firmly. "My relationship with Vivienne and Mr. Dean's inappropriate legal maneuvers are entirely separate matters."
"Although," Vivienne adds, her tone deceptively light, "it does seem strange that a man who met Lily exactly once at her father's funeral would suddenly develop such concern for her welfare. Especially when that concern coincides with major business negotiations involving her father's company."
Jessica's eyes widen at this direct challenge. "Are you suggesting Mr. Dean's petition is financially motivated?"
"I'm not suggesting anything," Vivienne replies with elegant dismissal. "I'm simply noting the timing. Jaxon has been Lily's devoted guardian since Andrew's passing, while Mr. Dean was, at best, a business acquaintance of her father's."
I squeeze her hand in silent appreciation. She's managed to call out Dean's motivations without making me look defensive or bitter.
"And how is Lily adapting to your presence in the household, Ms. Clarke?" Jessica pivots, clearly sensing better material.
"Beautifully," Vivienne says, her expression softening genuinely. "She's an extraordinary child—intelligent, perceptive, kind. We've bonded over French braids and unicorn collections."
The interview continues, touching on my music career, Vivienne's work with Lumina, our future plans. Throughout it all, we maintain the careful dance of authentic-seeming affection—casual touches, fond glances, the occasional private smile.
By the time Jessica wraps up, I'm mentally exhausted from the performance. But as the crew packs up their equipment, Luke gives us a subtle thumbs-up. We've passed the first test.
"That went well," Vivienne says once we're alone in the kitchen, both of us reaching for coffee at the same time. "Especially the Dean question."
"Thanks to you," I acknowledge. "That was...impressive. The way you redirected without attacking."
She shrugs, but looks pleased by the compliment. "Marketing 101. Control the narrative without seeming controlling."
"Is that what we're doing? Marketing ourselves as a couple?"