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Ellen has always pushed me to be the best I can be in the industry, and the fact that she approves leaves me feeling fulfilled. "Yeah, well, I figured it was about time I did something about it. The rumor mill was getting out of control."
"I have to admit, I never thought I'd see the day when you actually cared about what people were saying about you."
There's a hint of surprise in her voice as she responds, and I don't blame her. I've always acted tough, like nothing could ever get to me. But I think it is time to actually address stuff.
"Well, you know me, always full of surprises."
But even as I joke with Ellen, a small part of me still feels annoyed at the thought of those rumors. It's not just the presumption about my personal life that bothers me, though. It was the way those men kept gawking at Marissa, the way their eyes kept darting to her breasts.
But I push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the conversation at hand. Ellen is still talking, her voice buzzing with excitement as she goes on about the potential impact of my actions today.
As I listen to her words, my mind drifts back to Marissa. The way she looked tonight, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed at my jokes ... it's getting harder and harder to ignore the wayshe makes me feel. I'm not sure what to do with my growing feelings for Marissa.
But I can't let myself get carried away. This arrangement is temporary, a means to an end. I have to keep my feelings in check, no matter how much my heart may yearn for something more.
Chapter 15
Marissa
I lie in bed, the early morning light filtering in through the curtains, radiating a soft glow on the room. But despite the peacefulness of my surroundings, my mind is anything but calm. I toss and turn, my thoughts consumed by one thing and one thing only: Bryce.
The events of the previous day whirl around in my mind, leaving me feeling dizzy and disoriented. The fake marriage plan, the ground rules, the innuendoes ... it's all too much to process, especially since I'm harboring feelings for Bryce that I can't seem to shake.
I groan, burying my face in my pillow as frustration bubbles up inside me. Why did I agree to this insane plan in the first place? What was I thinking? I know I should have put my foot down and refused, but something about the desperation in Bryce'seyes, the susceptibility in his voice, made it impossible for me to say no.
But now, as I lie here in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I think that maybe I've made a huge mistake.
The notion of pretending to be married to Bryce, of putting on a charade for the world to see, fills me with a sense of dread, unlike anything I've ever experienced.
And then there's the other issue: my feelings for Bryce. It's no secret that I've always had a crush on him, ever since we were kids. But now, with this fake marriage hanging over my head, those emotions have amplified, morphing into something deeper and more complex than I ever thought possible.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. Why does the heart have to be so damn complicated? Why can't I just shut off my feelings and pretend that Bryce is just a movie star who happens to be my best friend’s brother and nothing more?
How did I let myself get into this mess? And more importantly, how am I ever going to get out of it?
As I close my eyes and try to push aside my worries, the ringing of the doorbell pierces through the fog of my sleep-deprived mind.
Dragging myself out of bed, I stumble towards the door, my limbs heavy with exhaustion. It's a Saturday. Who in their right mind would be ringing my doorbell at this ungodly hour?
Swinging the door open, I'm met with the sight of Cindy standing on my doorstep, her arms crossed, and a look of concern etched across her face.
"Cindy? What are you doing here?" I mutter, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
She fixes me with a stern gaze, her expression indistinct. "I saw the news, Marissa. It's all over social media. You're getting married to my brother."
Oh dear.
My heart skips a beat, a ripple of panic streaming through my veins. "What? No, that's not ... I mean, it's not what it looks like," I stammer, my mind racing with a gazillion thoughts at once.
Cindy raises an eyebrow, her lips pursed in a disapproving frown. "Oh, really? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're about to make the biggest mistake of your life."
I shake my head, feeling the frustration welling up inside me. "You don't understand, Cindy. All of this is just a plan to help restore his image."
"Really? And you agreed to be involved in this craziness? What has gotten into you?"
"Nothing. I just want to help. Bryce is just ... he's misunderstood. He's not the person everyone thinks he is."
She scoffs, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, please. Spare me the sob story, Marissa. I've heard it all before. My brother is a grade-A jerk, and you're just setting yourself up for heartbreak if you think otherwise."