Chapter 12
T reason’s plan was working. Admitting it to my subconscious made me want to vomit, but numbers didn’t lie.
Social media consumed everything we posted.
According to Fallon, visibility helped because politics was a game of brand awareness.
Our relationship had become the brand, shifting the momentum in Treason’s favor.
That made him attractive to donors and PACs, meaning money for both of us.
For every five stories labeling us couple goals, there was a crusty ass person behind a keyboard bringing up Lorenzo.
I prayed his family was as good as they claimed.
People were digging, and there was a lot to find.
Things I tried to warn Treason about, but he was too arrogant to listen.
It didn’t help that his plan was working.
Every rally and town hall meeting was packed to capacity, showing support.
So I smiled through the apprehension, in a soft gray skirt suit tailored to perfection.
The real star of my outfit was Treason’s tie, a deep navy with a lightly textured finish.
His grandfather gifted it to him for his swearing-in ceremony.
Since I was such an amateur , I borrowed it from his closet, waiting for him to notice the silk fabric complementing my outfit.
He hadn’t noticed before we left the house, or now, standing backstage waiting for our cue.
“Stop fidgeting,” Treason whispered in my ear, tapping my ass. “Don’t fail me now, Pippen. Lock in, I need you.”
His eyes were so convincing, I swallowed my nerves. Taking his hand, the crowd cheered so loud I could barely hear myself think as I walked onto the stage.
We took a seat, hands still locked because I was too nervous to let go. The camera couldn’t tell, and neither could the host, Tamera. I was too good at pretending, while she smiled like we were old friends.
“Navie, you never come to play! The outfits are always on point,” she said with a wink. “We’re dying to know who you’re wearing today?”
“Suit is by Marcotte, a local designer, Black-owned, of course. Heels are vintage Stuart Weitzman.” I gave a slight tug, just enough to draw attention. “The tie is from Treason’s closet.”
I felt him shift beside me while the audience found the gesture romantic. They gasped, laughed, while Tamera lived for the chaos.
“You stole my shit,” he whispered.
I nodded, leaning into him for a romantic shot. “Guess you’re not as observant as you think.”
“You have to admit, Treason, it looks good on her,” Tamera complimented.
He smirked, flashing his palms. “I have no complaints. I can’t wait to take it off later.”
Treason looked at me, wearing that unreadable expression he reserved for interviews. It was a good mask, but I could see his irritation bubbling beneath it. He was more curious and frustrated that he didn’t notice sooner.
“Let’s get right to it. Navie, your relationship with Treason seems to have come out of nowhere. What would you like to say to those who now question your presence in Treason’s life?”
“There’s nothing for us to say. It’s news for the city, but it’s just another day for us.”
“Rumors of Navie’s past association with Lorenzo Strathmore are swirling. Then there’s Thandie Moyo, who claims to be your ex, stating she was with you recently. Intimately. Are you concerned that this compromises the integrity of your platform?”
The heat from Treason’s irritation had me looking for the nearest vent. He was fuming, and while I wanted answers about Thandie, too, I had to take over.
“Treason is a public servant, but I am not. I’m actually an incredibly private person.
I needed time to adjust and make sure I could handle this before going public .
You don’t invite every man you date to meet the family.
You feel him out first, right?” Tamera laughed but looked like the type to take a nigga home on the first link.
“A very wise and handsome man once told me everything isn’t for everyone’s eyes and ears. I think it’s important to keep some things in life for yourself. Our relationship is one of them.”
Impressed that I’d recalled what he told me in his bathroom, Treason leaned forward with a perfectly timed kiss as Tamera tossed out another question.
“Thandie Moyo was quoted as saying the relationship announcement blindsided her. For the people at home, what was your relationship status with Miss Moyo?”
“I can’t answer that on daytime television, but if it were all that, she’d be here,” he said, bluntly catching Tamera off guard.
My eyes ballooned quickly, covering his mouth.
I had learned the signs - his lips pressed thin, slightly curled at the corner in a cold smirk, with that damn predatory gaze that forced my stomach to turn over.
That face told me he was no longer a savvy politician but a man who didn’t tolerate disrespect.
“Miss Moyo was asked if she thought the relationship was genuine, and she replied, Genuine? I think it’s convenient, and sometimes convenient can feel real until it isn’t . What do you have to say about that?”
I turned to Treason, wearing a smile that reminded him to behave.
“The boss said I have to tone it down, but Thandie is speaking her peace. I just wouldn’t call it mine. We were seeing each other. Past tense, but she’s good at PR. I’m not trippin’ off anything said about me, but when it comes to Navie, I don’t play like that.”
I hated him for making me revel in his open admiration. His arm draped around me, gently rubbing my arm, was the cherry on top. Then again, there’s a thin line between love and hate, and right now I felt both coursing through my veins.
“Assembly hopeful, community activist, and now protective boyfriend?” Her tone danced somewhere between respect and flirtation. “You were very vocal about how the arrest was mishandled.”
Treason's smile didn’t falter. “They had nothing but the words of an anonymous tip. That should be the headline that people are upset about. Not my relationship.”
Damn, he was good.
“Any truth to the rumors about Lorenzo Strathmore Jr.?” She asked, leaving no fuckin’ stone unturned.
My mind was congested with anger and fear at hearing his name. I wasn’t even sure how my smile was holding up. Sensing the shift, Treason pulled me closer.
“We don’t live in the past. She’s in good hands now. We’re looking forward to the future, together.” He stole a kiss as a diversion to whisper in my ear, “Breathe, Blue. I got you.”
They delivered an encrypted message, encouraging me to speak up.
“I’m happy. The only man I’m concerned with is the one right here.”
“I heard that. We have been flooded with questions from the moment we announced your appearance. The people want answers, and have been threatening me if I don’t get them,” she laughed playfully, tapping my leg before continuing, “We’ve all seen the chemistry between you two.
Tell us, how did it start? Was it love at first sight, or more like, Who's this person interrupting my life?”
Fallon drilled the answer into our heads. Each time we repeated, meeting at an education reform summit, it felt less authentic.
Calling an audible, I replied, “We met at the Avery West African Art Museum. I was minding my business and enjoying the local art wing when one piece caught my attention. I was talking to someone else, and the next thing I knew, Treason was standing next to me, like actually ,” I replied, mimicking his baritone voice that made him laugh harder than he wanted to.
“We have to give a shout-out to the artist who’s responsible for this love story. Who was it?”
That was the danger of deviating from the script. The crowd was eating it up, but I didn’t have an answer for Tamera’s question.
“I can’t remember. It was a while ago and turned into a long night,” I lied, with a coy smile to sell it.
Treason refused to let me be the only chef in the kitchen, adding his own flair to the story.
“She can’t remember because she was too busy pretending to look at it, praying I would walk over.”
“I was not!”
His brows hiked, “Okay, Blue.”
Tamera leaned in, perching her chin on her hands. “So what happened next?”
“We bet on it. She lost by the way and had to let me take her dinner,” Treason replied.
“Sounds like a very competitive household,” Tamera egged on.
“Very competitive,” Treason agreed.
“Despite your reservations, dinner must’ve gone well because you’re sitting here today.”
“After dinner, we spent the night talking. Finally, I asked if I could tell him something.”
Treason’s smile dissolved, while Tamera’s eyes grew wide, hanging on the edge of her seat for more details.
“And what was that?”
“That one of his ears is bigger than the other.”
Tamera and the crowd laughed while I gave an exaggerated shrug before Treason grabbed my neck, pulling me into his kiss.
“I was trying to lighten the mood because he was extremely nervous, believe it or not. At first, I thought it was an act. There was no way Mr. Popularity was nervous sitting across from little ‘ole me. I mean, look at this face.”
I grabbed his chin, but he didn’t pull away when I squeezed it either. The little demon was enjoying our back and forth while Fallon was on the verge of a heart attack. This wasn’t the romantic meeting she had crafted, but it was fun.
“No way!” Tamera yelped, eating up the bullshit Navie served like Filet Mignon. “What made you so nervous, Treason?”
“She’s hard to forget. Look at her. I still remember her hair was curled and pinned up with those swirly things the girls love, but her smile sold me. I was ready to call Mom and tell her I found my wife.”
The story was fake, but the intensity was real. My cheeks grew warm as I eased into a smile that made my eyes disappear.
“So after she clowned your ears, what did you say back? By the way, they look pretty even from here.”