Page 63 of Fake It For Glory

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not going to talk about my personal life. It’s bad enough I have to expose this part of me as it is. They have enough information.”

Hattie frowned but pushed play on the video once again. The interview had caught me off guard, that much was clear, but to someone who didn’t know me, I probably looked casual.

I couldn’t help but replay the events of the past few days in my mind. The talk-show host’s probing questions, the audience’s eager anticipation, and Merida’s presence by my side all felt like a whirlwind. I felt like I stepped into someone else’s body.

But watching the interview, I realized I had handled myself fairly well. It was strange how the unexpected revelation about my relationship with Merida had taken center stage, but I had no regrets. It was exactly what Hattie said it would be. People were seeing me in a different light. It would help make people feel more comfortable with my AI. They didn’t see me as a cyborg threatening their way of life.

I watched the interview with the hum of the jet engines providing a soothing backdrop. The host’s questions had been relentless, yet I found myself answering them honestly and with a newfound sense of vulnerability. Merida had become someone very special to me very quickly, and that truth had spilled from my lips without hesitation. It was a strange sensation, talking about my feelings in front of an audience and countless viewers online. But it felt right, as if I had nothing to hide.

“She’s as much a mystery to me as she is to the public,” I’d said, my voice calm but tinged with warmth. “And honestly, I’m enjoying taking things slow and getting to know her. I know it probably sounds trite, but we would really like some privacy as we navigate our new relationship.”

I smiled as I heard those words again. They were true, every single one of them. Merida was a mystery, an enigma wrapped in intelligence and grace. Our relationship was new and I did want privacy.

The flight attendant came by, offering a selection of beverages. I chose a glass of scotch, sipping it slowly as I continued to replay the interview. Hattie provided commentary about my body language and advised when I was supposed to use different voice inflections.

The questions about our relationship, our shared dreams, and our future together had been a revelation, not just to the public but to me as well.

“Over two million views,” Hattie said with a laugh.

I leaned back in my seat, a sense of contentment washing over me. The world now knew about Merida and me, and that truth had brought us closer. She thought it was fake, but I hoped I could convince her otherwise when the contract was over.

I couldn’t help but feel excited about what lay ahead.

Hattie put the tablet away. “You did well!” She laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “One interview and a couple of appearances and you’ve changed your entire image. Damn, I’m good.”

I rolled my eyes. “Next time you can do the interview.”

Hattie offered another satisfied grin, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “You knocked it out of the park, Jensen. Seriously, way to fly by the seat of your pants and give the people what they want to hear. Good job.”

“Thanks.”

She got up and moved to the back of the plane. Merida was smiling at me. “You really did do very well,” she said, nodding. “I saw your interview a couple of weeks ago. Last night was totally different.”

“Let me guess, I looked human.”

She laughed. “You always look human, but last night you sounded human. You really did a great job. Not just about our so-called relationship. You explained the AI really well. I think people understand it better. You were very passionate in the way you talked about it. It sells.”

“Thanks,” I said. I considered telling her how I felt but didn’t want to freak her out. There would be time for that later. I didn’t want to scare her off.

But deep down, as I spoke those words of gratitude about Merida, I realized something important. I wasn’t saying any of that to appease “the people” or to fulfill some celebrity obligation. The words I’d spoken during the interview, about Merida and our relationship, hadn’t been scripted or rehearsed. They had flowed naturally from my heart because they were the truth.

I wasn’t just giving people what they wanted to hear. I was sharing a genuine part of my life, something deeply personal and significant.

My thoughts drifted back to Merida, the woman who had entered my life like a whirlwind, turning it upside down in the best way. My feelings for her weren’t manufactured for the public’s consumption. They were real. I couldn’t wait to see what happened after the media tour and the job was done.

We all worked in silence for a few hours, only stopping to snack or take the offered drinks from the flight attendant.

As the plane touched down and taxied toward the gate, I was actually looking forward to spending another day with Merida. We would get separate rooms, but I had a feeling we would end up in the same bed. We usually did.

As we made our way to the waiting car, Merida went back to the plane to get her phone.

“Hattie, I need to tell you something,” I said.

“What? Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind about the yacht event. I know you don’t like these things, but it’s important.”

“No, not that. I just thought you should know that what I said during the interview, about Merida, it wasn’t just for show. It’s the truth.”

Hattie smiled, her eyes reflecting understanding. “I know, Jensen. And that’s what made it so powerful. Your authenticity came through, and people connected with it. It was real, and that’s what matters most.”