Page 77 of Pretend To Be Mine

“And you’ve been having trouble finding work in the industry?”

There was no judgment in her tone, just curiosity, but I still felt defensive. “It’s competitive. Lots of qualified people, not as many positions.”

“Mm.” Mimi delicately cut her chicken. “And now my son is giving you a job. How convenient.”

“Mom,” Adrian said, warning in his voice.

“I’m not criticizing. I’m observing.” Mimi looked at me directly. “You’re doing us a favor with this arrangement. It’s only fair we do something for you in return.”

The bluntness of it made me flinch. But she wasn’t wrong. That was the deal.

“I appreciate the opportunity,” I said carefully.

“Do you have family, Elizabeth? Besides your brother?”

“Parents in New Jersey. We’re not as close as you and your sons.”

Something in Mimi’s expression softened slightly. “That’s a shame. Family is everything.”

We ate in silence for a moment, and I felt the weight of being evaluated, measured. “You know, when Adrian first told me about this engagement, I thought it was the worst idea the PR team had ever had. And they’ve had some truly terrible ideas, like Blackwell fanny packs and the time they wanted us to make fedoras cool.”

“Mom, there are no bad ideas in brainstorming⁠—”

“But watching you two together last night, seeing the way he looks at you?” She set down her fork. “Either you’re both exceptional actors, or something’s changed.”

Adrian and I exchanged glances.

“It’s still fake,” Adrian said, but he didn’t sound entirely convincing. “We’re just comfortable with each other now.”

“Comfortable.” Mimi smiled, and it reached her eyes for the first time. “Is that what you’re calling it?”

“Mom, don’t.”

“I’m not teasing. I’m pleased.”

He shook his head at her. “It sure doesn’t sound like it.”

She looked at me with new warmth, ignoring his statement. “My son has been married to his work for a year. It’s nice to see him remember he’s human.”

The conversation shifted after that, Mimi asking me genuine questions about myself. The professional distance melted slightly, replaced by something that felt almost like approval.

After dinner, Mimi excused herself to sleep in one of the back rows. “We have a long day tomorrow. I suggest you both rest as well.”

But Adrian pulled out his laptop and got right to work.

“You should sleep,” I said.

“I will. Just want to double-check a few things for London.”

I meant to stay awake and keep him company. But the combination of the flight, the full stomach, and sheer exhaustion pulled me under.

I woke briefly at some point, disoriented, and realized my head was in Adrian’s lap. His laptop was still open on the small table in front of him, but one of his hands rested gently in my hair, his fingers occasionally moving in a soothing rhythm.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”

“Shh. It’s fine. Go back to sleep.”

I should have sat up, but his hand in my hair felt too good. The gentle pressure of his touch was too comforting.