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“I have some calls to make.” Talia stands, a gleam in her eyes. “Can you two give me an hour to work up a strategy? In the meantime, maybe grab coffee downstairs? Start getting comfortable being seen together?”

Before I can protest, she's ushering us toward the door, the gleam in her eye making it clear she's already ten steps ahead.

In the elevator, Sean and I stand in awkward silence. I risk a glance at him.

“You don't have to do this.”

“I know.”

“It's going to be uncomfortable.”

“Maybe.”

I study his profile, searching for regret or reluctance. “Why did you agree?”

The elevator stops, doors sliding open to the lobby. He turns to me now, dark blue eyes meeting mine.

“Because you need this win, Wren. And I?—”

He stops, something shifting in his expression. The air between us changes, and thickens. His gaze drops to my lips for just a second, then back to my eyes.

My heart slams against my ribs.

Now, I’m not thinking about optics or strategy.

I’m thinking about the way he looked at me that night, his hand pressed to the small of my back, the way his body felt so solid next to mine. So safe.

I tear my gaze away.

It’s not real. It’s not real. He’s only doing his job.

This is pretend, I remind myself. Just for show. Just until the launch.

But as we step out of the elevator together, his hand finding the small of my back with natural ease, I'm not so sure either of us is pretending anymore.

12

SEAN

Ikeep it professional. At least, I tell myself I do.

Our fake relationship goes public with a strategic article fromPeople. High-quality pictures of us are taken. Wren and I walk inside a restaurant, hands entwined. Sunlight catching in her hair. Her fingers are small in mine. I whisper something to her about the paparazzi thinking we can’t spot them. But just as I say that, they whip out their cameras and start taking pictures of us, calling out questions. Wren laughs, whispering that I jinxed it.

The moment of our laughter is pure magic. It goes viral as soon as it hits the internet. The attention is staggering. Wren and Talia have always trustedPeoplemagazine when it comes to official releases, and this time is no different. The article includes a brief profile about me and my daughter being supermodel, Jen Langston, Wren’s best friend.

Talia sends them the first official statement concerning our romance.

“Wren is in a healthy, happy place in her life surrounded by people who care deeply for her and enjoying the company of someone who has been a steady source of strength and support.She’s grateful to have a strong support system as she continues to build Lemon LLC’s future.”

Short. Sweet. Just suggestive enough to spark romance rumours but careful enough that we can deny it if we ever need to.

The media eats it up. Jen being involved in the story somehow makes it even more intriguing and interesting to the public. She gets asked by reporters at a fashion event about the news of I and Wren’s dating rumors. Jen jokes, “My father and Wren are dating? Wow, who would’ve thought? Not me!”

Almost overnight, the story changes. Headlines shift from “Thief or Trendsetter?” to “Who's the Silver Fox in Wren Sinclair's Life?”

I become the mystery the internet wants to solve. Her social media surges with engagement. Thousands of comments. Millions of views. Her team rallies around the energy boost.

“We're trending in three categories,” Talia announces during their morning meeting, her voice light with relief. “The plagiarism accusations have dropped to page three of search results.”