Page 35 of The Wedding Pact

‘And you’re clearly proud of that.’

‘Well, yeah, sure. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Darian and I just have different priorities in life.’

‘And you choose to prioritise a big pile of cash over your relationship with your family?’

I let out a deep sigh. ‘When you put it like that, you make me sound like a total arsehole.’

She holds up both hands in surrender. ‘Hey, that’s your word, not mine. I’m not here to judge. I’m just an innocent bystander.’

I can’t help but smile at that. ‘I’m not sure “innocent” or “bystander” are words I’d use about you.’

‘No, well, I’m not a wallflower, that’s true.’

She’s still looking at me intently with that intelligent gaze of hers and I feel a deep, swooping sensation in my stomach.

It’s like she’s trying to see inside my head and it’s making me nervous.

This is such a crazy situation. It’s no wonder I’m feeling messed up.

Especially since we’re both clearly attracted to each other, but I’m guessing, like me, she probably thinks we should keep things simple and not complicate this week with sex.

Which is sensible.

Sitting up straighter in my seat, I say, ‘Anyway, enough about my family. Tell me more about your show. What’s your USP?’

She sits up a bit straighter in her seat. ‘Games. I get my interviewees to play a game – usually a computer game of their choice – against me while I interview them. We’re playing to win, so the adrenaline is up, which seems to make people open up to me when we’re chatting. It’s like they’re not entirely focussed on what’s coming out of their mouth because they’re concentrating on the game, so conversation flows more easily. They often tell me things they wouldn’t normally say to a journalist. I’ve got some pretty good scoops that way.’

‘Sounds dangerous for anyone being interviewed.’

‘I’m really kind with it though. My aim isn’t to make anyone look stupid. I just want to see flashes of them as real people because they’re often hiding behind a wall of privacy.’

‘And their publicists are okay with this?’

‘Mostly. The show’s got big and popular enough for them to actually want to get their clients onto it now, so I have free rein. They trust me not to do any damage to my interviewees’ careers and I make a point never to do that. It’s a fun, bouncy, enlightening show. It’s two people having a laugh and a bit of banter while they game. I say right up front that I never let anything too damaging to that person go out on the show. I’m not a monster. I’m in this for the fun of it, not for nefarious purposes. My interviewees would dry up pretty quickly if I was.’

‘So you’re getting some big names onto it then?’

‘Yeah, I am now. I got lucky about six months ago when Calum Farrell, the actor who got famous for being in Rage of the Machines⁠—’

‘Yeah, I’ve heard of him. He was in pretty much every film that came out last year.’

‘Exactly. He got in contact to say he was a fan of my show and asked if he could come on it. I said yes, of course, once I’d peeled myself off the ceiling. We had great chemistry and it turned out to be a really funny interview that went viral. After that I started getting loads of requests from publicists and the rest is history.’

‘That’s amazing. Kudos.’ I take a breath before saying, ‘You know, if I’d known I was bringing such a “cool celebrity” with me I’d have made more of an effort to bring my A-game to this wedding.’

Her eyebrows pinch together with mirth. ‘Are you jealous that I’m more famous than you?’

I snort with amusement. ‘No.’

‘So you actually want to be seen as this enigmatic billionaire who’s just beyond everyone’s reach, whilst secretly basking in their attention and adoration?’

Closing my eyes, I shake my head and give a stilted laugh, a little uncomfortable about how that observation makes me feel. ‘Wow. That’s a bold accusation.’

‘But I’m right, aren’t I? You don’t want their attention outwardly, but inside, the lonely, black sheep child in you is craving their love, attention and respect?’

My smile drops away and takes my stomach with it. ‘You know what, I’m not really up for talking about this any more right now,’ I say.

‘Why not? Because I’ve hit a nerve?’