Page 110 of Fake It For Glory

MERIDA

Six Months Later

As I sat in my new studio, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of my podcast setup, a sense of accomplishment filled me. It had been a whirlwind journey, but here I was, recording the twentieth episode of “Merida’s Musings.”

My show was a little bit of everything—hard-hitting news stories, discussions on world events, and whatever else caught my interest. After all, it was my show, and I reveled in the freedom to explore any topic that piqued my curiosity.

The podcast had been Jensen’s idea. It was a way for me to still be involved with the news without worrying about getting an article approved or having an editor take a red pen to the whole thing. I was still doing some writing, but it was for me. One day, I thought about writing a book, but not now. I was enjoying my new life with Jensen. We were happy and I didn’t see any reason to change anything.

I adjusted the microphone and took a sip of water, glancing at the notes for today’s episode. My loyal and ever-growing listeners had been tuning in regularly, and I had even set up subscription tiers on platforms like Patreon. It was safe to say that I was making better money than I ever had in my life. I had recently bought my first car, a modest but reliable vehicle, and it felt like a symbol of my newfound independence.

Yes, I lived with a billionaire, but it still mattered that I could make my own money. I needed that independence. I knew Jensen liked it as well. We supported each other.

Today’s episode was centered around the theme of resilience, a topic that resonated deeply with me. I began the episode by sharing a personal story about facing adversity and the lessons I had learned along the way. It was important to me that my listeners could connect with the material on a personal level, and I always aimed to strike that balance between informative and relatable.

As I delved into the various aspects of resilience, I received live comments and questions from my audience. It was one of the things I loved most about the podcast—the ability to engage directly with my listeners, to hear their stories and provide insights, and to build a sense of community.

During a short break, I checked my Patreon page and was pleasantly surprised to see new subscribers signing up for exclusive content. It was gratifying to know that people valued my work enough to support it financially. It allowed me to keep my podcast independent and free from external influences. I did not have to bend to anyone’s will. If people didn’t want to listen, they just had to turn it off.

After the break, I transitioned to a segment where I answered listeners’ questions on a range of topics. It was always fascinating to see the diversity of inquiries that came in, from relationship advice to world affairs. It was pretty cool that people actually wanted to hear my opinion.

I concluded the episode by expressing my gratitude for my listeners and the incredible journey we had embarked upon together.

I pressed the stop button on the recording software and leaned back in my chair, taking a moment to savor the sense of fulfillment that washed over me.

My assistant approached me with a curious look on her face, and I raised an eyebrow, wondering what had caught her attention. “Merida, there’s a car waiting for you outside,” she said, her voice tinged with intrigue.

I furrowed my brow, not quite sure what to make of it. “Jensen?”

Her lips curved into a smile. “It’s from Mr. Loxley.”

After the Lox launch, we had both been swept up in a whirlwind of events, but now things had settled down, and he had been making an effort to spend more time with me. I couldn’t deny that I had never been happier.

“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll be right there.”

Jensen was a romantic. He usually let me know when he was going to stop by, but I liked the element of surprise. I made my way outside to find the waiting car. The driver held the door open for me. As I settled into the comfortable leather seats, I couldn’t help but wonder what awaited me.

The car began to move, and I watched the city pass by through the tinted windows. Thoughts raced through my mind. Had Jensen planned a surprise for us? I was expecting a romantic dinner at one of the restaurants he loved. The man had good taste.

The car carried me to his private airport hangar. I laughed, shaking my head. Sometimes, being with a billionaire was a little overwhelming. Whenever he got an urge to go to the beach in San Diego or to the Bahamas, he made a call and off we went. I should have been used to his surprise getaways, but they would never get old.

As I boarded the jet, I was greeted by Hattie. “What’s going on, Hattie?” I asked, a playful smile tugging at my lips.

Hattie chuckled. “All in good time, Merida. But first, we need to find the perfect outfit for you.”

She stretched out an arm, gesturing to the many, many dresses she had draped over seats and hanging from hooks.

“I’m getting dressed?” I asked.

“Yes. We have a few hours, but you know me. It takes me that long to put together a single outfit.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” she said, smiling.

During the flight, I tried on several dresses, each more stunning than the last. Hattie helped me style each one, her expertise evident in every choice. It felt like we were preparing for something truly special, and I couldn’t help but wonder where Jensen was taking me.

Hattie remained tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any hints about our destination. Her playful secrecy only added to the sense of anticipation that was building inside me. It wasn’t like I could read the clouds to know where we were going. I assumed we were over the Atlantic, but that didn’t exactly give me any real information.