13. Vivienne
Vivienne
"Are we going to talk about what happened last night, in front of, I don’t know how many people?"
I stand at the kitchen island, coffee mug clutched between my hands like a shield. Across from me, Jaxon freezes momentarily before continuing to pour cereal for Lily, who's due downstairs any minute.
"Good morning to you too," he replies, not meeting my eyes.
"Jaxon." My voice comes out sharper than intended. I soften it, conscious of little ears that might appear. "The song. The kiss. The media explosion that's happening right now."
He finally looks up, dark eyes unreadable. "What do you want me to say, Vivienne?"
That's the question, isn't it? What explanation could possibly make sense of the moment his lips met mine on that stage—a kiss that felt nothing like performance and everything like necessity? The way my entire body responded, like a tuning fork struck at exactly the right frequency.
Before I can formulate an answer, my phone buzzes with yet another notification. Since last night, social media has been in meltdown over video footage of Jaxon pulling me on stage, dedicating a song to me, then kissing me with an intensity that translated even through shaky fan videos.
"Luke called at five this morning," Jaxon says, pushing Lily's cereal bowl into place with precise movements. "Said the video's already hit two million views."
"Laura sent me eight different articles about it," I add. "People are calling it 'the most romantic moment in music since John and Yoko.'"
The comparison makes his lips quirk in a ghost of a smile. "Slightly dramatic."
"You wrote me a song, Jaxon," I say quietly. "That's not part of our arrangement."
His eyes meet mine, challenge and vulnerability mixing in their depths. "No. It wasn't."
The simple admission hangs between us, pregnant with implications neither of us is ready to address.
"Morning!" Lily's cheerful voice breaks the tension as she bounces into the kitchen, already dressed for school in jeans and a unicorn sweatshirt. "Is that Lucky Charms? Uncle Jaxon never lets me have Lucky Charms on weekdays!"
"Special occasion," Jaxon says, ruffling her hair as she climbs onto a stool. "You aced your science test."
"And Vivienne played princess on stage," Lily adds with a grin. "Mrs. Patterson showed me the videos. You looked so pretty in your blue dress!"
I smile despite the emotional tangle inside me. "Thank you, sweetheart."
"Are you going to be in all of Uncle Jaxon's concerts now?" she asks through a mouthful of cereal. "Like a singing partner?"
"No, that was—" I begin.
"A one-time special thing," Jaxon finishes, meeting my eyes over Lily's head. Something charged passes between us—acknowledgment, question, challenge.
My phone buzzes again. This time it's a text from my mother:
I expect to see you and Jaxon for tea this afternoon. 3 pm. Non-negotiable.
I sigh, showing Jaxon the message. "Looks like we have a command performance."
"After what your father said at dinner last night?" His expression darkens. "Are you sure that's wise?"
Last night's dinner with my parents had been every bit the ambush I'd expected—thinly veiled threats about my career, pointed comments about Jaxon's "suitability," and finally, Father's ultimatum: end the engagement or lose my trust fund, apartment, and family connections permanently.
I'd left before dessert, fury and resentment propelling me to the concert venue where Jaxon was waiting, where his music and that devastating kiss had temporarily made me forget my father's threats.
"Mother doesn't usually issue ultimatums," I say thoughtfully. "And she specifically included you this time. I'm curious what changed."
"Can I come too?" Lily asks, clearly following our conversation. "I've never had tea with a real society lady before."
Jaxon and I exchange glances. Including Lily in a potentially volatile situation with my parents seems unwise. But before either of us can respond, Mrs. Patterson appears in the doorway.
"School bus in five minutes, Miss Lily," she announces. "And don't forget, you have Kayla's birthday party after school. I'll pick you up at six."
In the flurry of backpack-checking and lunch-packing that follows, our conversation is temporarily shelved. Once Lily leaves, however, the kitchen feels suddenly too quiet, too intimate.
"About the song," Jaxon says finally, leaning against the counter. "I've been working on it since that night in my studio."
"When I first heard you playing it," I recall softly.
He nods. "It was always about you. Nothing to do with our arrangement or public image or any of it."
The confession makes my pulse quicken. "Then what was it about?"
His gaze holds mine, unflinching despite the vulnerability in his voice. "I think you know."
The problem is, I do know. And it terrifies me. Because somewhere between fake engagement and shared domesticity, between staged photos and genuine laughter, I've developed feelings for Jaxon Hart that have nothing to do with our mutually beneficial arrangement.
"This is dangerous," I whisper, giving voice to the fear. "For both of us. For Lily."
"I know." His expression is grave. "But pretending last night didn't happen isn't the answer either."
He's right. The kiss on stage wasn't just a performance for cameras—it was a moment of truth breaking through the carefully constructed facade of our arrangement. And now we have to deal with the consequences.
"Let's get through this meeting with my parents first," I suggest, needing time to process. "Then we can figure out... whatever this is."
He studies me for a moment, then nods. "Fair enough. Three o'clock at your parents', then honest conversation afterward."
"Thank you," I say, relieved at the temporary reprieve. "I should head to the office. Laura's expecting me for the Lumina international presentation."
As I turn to leave, his voice stops me. "Vivienne?"
I glance back, heart stuttering at the intensity in his gaze.
"For what it's worth, I don't regret it. Not a single moment."
The simple declaration follows me all the way to the office, where Laura pounces before I've even set down my bag.
"Spill. Everything. Now." She drags me into the nearest empty conference room. "That kiss! That song! The entire internet is shipping you two so hard they've already given you a couple name."
"Please tell me you're joking," I groan.
"Nope. You're officially 'Jaxienne' now." Her eyes narrow at my expression. "Okay, what's wrong? This is good publicity, right? Exactly what the arrangement was supposed to achieve."
"It's not that simple anymore," I admit, dropping into a chair. "Laura, I think I'm actually falling for him. For real."
Her triumphant "Ha!" echoes off the glass walls. "I knew it! The fake dating trope never stays fake."
"This isn't a romance novel," I snap, frustration bleeding through. "There are real consequences. Lily's already attached to me. Jaxon's custody hearing is coming up. My parents are threatening to cut me off completely. This isn't just about feelings."
Laura's expression softens. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know." I stare at the conference table, tracing wood grain patterns with my fingertip. "Our arrangement had clear parameters, an expiration date. If we blur those lines..."
"Maybe the parameters were always artificial," Laura suggests gently. "Maybe what's developing is what was meant to happen all along."
Before I can respond, my phone buzzes with an email notification from Gerald Lumina. I glance at it, then do a double-take, reading more carefully.
"What?" Laura asks, noting my expression.
"Gerald wants me to lead the London office," I say, still processing. "Full relocation. Starting next month."
London. Five thousand miles from New York. From Jaxon. From Lily.
"Wow." Laura takes the phone, reading the email. "This is a huge opportunity. Director-level position, major salary bump, international portfolio."
"It's everything I've worked for," I say numbly.
"But?"
"But it's in London. And Jaxon and Lily are here." The simple truth of it hits me with unexpected force. "How could I take this now? Especially after last night?"
Laura returns my phone, expression thoughtful. "Maybe that's exactly why you should consider it. A clean break before things get even more complicated."
"They're already complicated," I sigh. "I'm having tea with my parents this afternoon. With Jaxon."
"Ooh, meeting the parents officially." She grimaces. "Good luck with that. Henry Clarke isn't exactly known for welcoming new additions to the family fold."
"Which reminds me—will you cover the Lumina call with Tokyo today? I need to prepare for this tea from hell."
Laura agrees, and I spend the morning buried in work, trying to focus on spreadsheets and marketing projections instead of Jaxon's kiss or Gerald's London offer. By two-thirty, I'm no closer to clarity on either front, but duty calls in the form of my mother's non-negotiable tea invitation.
Jaxon meets me in front of my parents' building, looking unfairly handsome in a navy sport coat and dark jeans. The sight of him sends my pulse racing in a way that has nothing to do with anxiety about my parents.
"Ready for this?" he asks, offering his arm.
"Not remotely," I admit, taking it anyway. The solid warmth of him steadies me. "But I appreciate you coming."
"Partners, remember?" His eyes hold mine, loaded with meaning beyond our original agreement.
The penthouse is eerily quiet when Henderson lets us in. Usually Mother has staff buzzing around, maintaining the perfect environment for her social performances. Today, only my parents wait in the formal living room, twin expressions of disapproval on their faces.
"Vivienne. Mr. Hart." Father's greeting is cold as we enter. "Prompt, at least."
"Henry." Mother's tone holds a warning. She turns to us with a tight smile. "Thank you both for coming. Please, sit."