Page 33

Now could be the perfect time to put Dad’s plan into motion.
My stomach rolls as I say, “Actually, I wanted to talk to you—”
I cut myself off as the photographer approaches from the end of the hallway, asking, “Can we get some more shots?”
Connor lets out a sigh and turns to him. “I think we’re done here. You had to have taken at least one good one already.”
The man visibly wilts, but Connor seems to be past the point of caring. “I have another meeting soon.”
“Of course,” Tiffany says, seeming to materialize from behind me at the other end of the corridor. How long has she been there? “Thanks so much for agreeing to this. And Emma, I loved chatting with you. Here’s my card if you’d like to talk more.”
She hands me her business card, the creamy white cardstock heavy in my hand as I politely accept it. Was there subtext to her statement? Like she wants something juicy on Connor? What makes her think I’d be so disloyal?
But didn’t I just remind myself this job is temporary? I should be looking out for myself. What’s in my best interest?
Ugh, this is too much to think about right now. I’m starting to get a headache.
“Do you really have another meeting?” I ask Connor as we exit. “Or was that an excuse to leave?”
“Both.” He holds the door open for me but doesn’t move toward the curb. “I got a text from Gabriel. He and Archer are at a wedding venue a couple of blocks up and I said I’d stop by. Want to go with? It should be quick.”
“Um, yeah, sure.” We head down the sidewalk and it’s not until a minute later that his words register. “Wait, a wedding venue? Is your brother engaged?” Not that I’ve been looking in the tabloids for anything about Connor or his family. Not at all.
“It’s for Archer.”
“Isn’t he married?” You know, to my secret half-sister?
He glances around, not that there’s anyone near enough to overhear, but lowers his voice anyway. “Okay, don’t repeat this because it’s not public knowledge, but he and Serena aren’t technically married. So they’re having an official wedding, but just telling people it’s a smaller celebration for close friends and family.”
They’re not really married? Dad never said anything about that. Not that he talks to me about her. “Wait, so she’ll be there? Serena, I mean?”
He scratches at his jaw, sidestepping a woman pushing a stroller to the left of us. “Yeah, I guess. I can’t imagine he’d choose something without her. The guy’s seriously gone for her.”
Well, why wouldn’t he be? She’s beautiful and kind and amazing. At least, the fantasy version I have of her in my head is.
Am I actually going to meet my sister? Dad would flip.
Then again, he doesn’t have to know…
“Have you met her?”
“What?” I blink, getting out of my own thoughts. “Oh, no. I just…” Oh, God. How do I explain my interest without admitting the reason why? “I, um, remember all the media surrounding her, is all. When she and Archer married. Or fake married, I guess.”
A smirk curves over his mouth. “You’re starstruck?”
Yes. Just not the way he thinks. I always pictured us meeting one day and instantly becoming best friends ever since Mom spilled the beans about Dad’srealdaughter. But that was when I was seven, not twenty-four. “She just seems cool,” I tell him lamely. With her being four years older than me, she always seemed the epitome of cool. “The kind of person I’d want to be friends with.”
“You want me to introduce you?”
I wipe my palms on my skirt, hoping he doesn’t notice. “You’d do that?”
He shrugs, his smile growing wider. “Sure. She’s not a celebrity. She’s my sister-in-law.”
Oh my God, does that mean he and I are related?
By marriage, I remind myself.Not blood.
Right. Maybe this isn’t a good idea after all. I don’t know what to say to her, how to act. I need time to prepare.