After Evie had finished her shower, she stepped back into the luxurious room assigned to her. Her gaze landed on the phone ringing on the bed, and she swiftly walked across the smooth tiles to answer it. The caller ID showed Ruby's name, and Evie took a steadying breath before picking up the call.
"Evie! Damn you!" Ruby's voice erupted from the other end, causing Evie to wince slightly.
"You mean to tell me that you and Ezra are a thing, and I had to find out from the media!?" Ruby continued.
"I'm sorry you had to hear it that way, but I wasn't in a position to disclose it beforehand," Evie replied, her fingers fidgeting with the ties of her robe.
"Oh really?" Ruby shot back sarcastically. "Am I just anyone you can't confide in? This is so unfair. I was genuinely worried about you. After what happened at the grocery store, your number wouldn't connect, and when I tried to visit, your door was locked. It was clear you weren't home." She paused, clearly frustrated. "Is this how you treat a concerned friend?"
Evie took a breath, allowing herself a moment of contemplation. "I truly apologize, Ruby. I had every intention of telling you."
Ruby rolled her eyes dramatically. "But you didn't. I'm not going to forgive you for this"
"Alright, I'm truly... Truly sorry," Evie chuckled as she took a seat on her bed, preparing for the long conversation ahead. "So, what's going on with you? How are things?"
Ruby shrugged. "Eh. Just handling client calls here and there. You know how it is, but I'm fine." She leaned back on her couch and then drew closer as if demanding more details. "So, Evie… You and Ezra? Seriously? How long has this been going on?"
"For two months now," Evie stated firmly, sticking to what she and Ezra had agreed upon.
"Two months? How could that be? You were still dating Derek just a week ago! Are you hiding something from me?" Ruby's tone was sharp.
"Calm down, Ruby. It has been two months," Evie insisted.
"I don't buy that!" Ruby shot back.
"And If I find out you're lying to me again, things will get serious," Ruby replied, her teeth clenched.
Evie held her ground, she couldn't afford to reveal anything right now.
"But how did you manage to pull Ezra? Seriously, how did this start? Ezra Thorne!? Don't you realize how big he is? How come no one knew until the red carpet event?" Ruby continued, her questions relentless.
Evie's forehead creased, "Asking how I managed to pull him is quite insulting, Ruby."
"It suggests I'm not attractive," Evie said with a teasing undertone.
"No, of course not! I didn't mean that," Ruby hurried to clarify. "You're the most beautiful woman on all the planet! I've never seen anyone like you."
Evie scoffed dismissively. "Now you're just flattering me."
"I'm being completely serious. Anyone with red hair and blue eyes is rare. You're ethereal… like a goddess. Didn't Ezra tell you that?" Ruby raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment.
Evie almost choked. "W-what?" she said, her cheeks coloring.
"Come on, he should have complimented you!" Ruby continued to tease. "How is your relationship with him? Are you really in love?"
"Yeah, well…" Evie began, but was interrupted by a knock at the door. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I think he's at the door."
"What's he doing here at this hour? Don't tell me you two are already getting serious, doing couple things" Ruby teased, her tone mischievous.
"I have to go, Ruby," Evie said, hearing another knock. She cleared her throat and called out, "Just a few minutes!"
"You still didn't answer my questions. Should I come over so we can talk more?You are at Ezra's right?" Ruby asked.
Evie frowned, her brows furrowing. "Yes, I'm at his place but...uhmm, Ruby, it's not possible for you to visit."
Ruby's expression shifted to disbelief. "Why not? Did he forbid you from having visitors? That's a massive red flag," she said, pretending to gag.
"He didn't forbid anything. You know what, I'll call you later," Evie asserted.
"Sure, whatever," Ruby replied dismissively. "Seems like your boyfriend is waiting for too long."
"Goodbye now," Evie said firmly, hoping that Ruby would drop it.
"Bye, I love you!" Ruby giggled over the phone.
"Me too," Evie replied, and when the call ended, she took a deep breath. Standing up from the bed, she strode toward the door, her heart racing. What did he want at this hour?
She assessed herself, adjusting her robe and smoothing her hair before pressing her lips together to enhance their color.
She reached for the door handle and swung it open. Ezra stood there, his eyebrows knitted together, clearly impatient—it was her fault as she had kept him waiting.
His dark eyes held her gaze, and his hand trying to knock again but he retracted it, sliding his hand into his pocket.
Evie stepped out and closed the door behind her. "I was on a call. I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?" she inquired.
"No," he replied curtly. "I'm here to inform you that there's an interview scheduled for tomorrow morning. You need to prepare."
Evie blinked. An interview? Following the red carpet event, she was expected to face the cameras again and answer questions? She fiddled with her robe.
But was this her new reality now that she had agreed to date Ezra? Was this the pace of his everyday life? Everything felt like it was unfolding far too quickly.
Ezra tilted his head, gauging her thoughts. "This is in response to a comment that's gone viral online. We need to address it for our benefit," he stated.
Oh, so this was about them and not his work.
"Do we really need to interview because of one comment?" she inquired.
"That comment has over a million likes in less than forty minutes," he countered. "We both know that's problematic."
Evie wet her lips and nodded. "Fine... I'll be ready," she said, forcing a half-smile.
There was a brief pause before Ezra added, "You don't have to worry. As long as I'm here, we'll handle this together." She nodded again, feeling slightly reassured.
"Get some sleep now," he instructed, turning on his heels to head to his room. Just before he reached the door, Evie called after him.
"Ezra," she said, her voice small yet firm, prompting him to turn his head, a brow raised. She hesitated, wanting to ask if Ruby could come visit, but she felt it might be too soon and could irritate him.
Instead, she said, "I apologize for the slip. I know it annoyed you." She straightened her posture, addressing him directly. "I promise to do better moving forward," she vowed, raising her hand as if making a scout's oath.
A smirk curled the corner of his lips. "I'll hold you to that," he replied, briefly appraising her before averting his gaze and making his way into his room.
Evie turned away, a smile emerging on her face without her fully understanding why, before she entered her room.
****
The next morning...
Sunlight streamed into the glass-panelled living room as Evie sat upright on the velvet couch, dressed in soft neutral tones and sporting natural, flawless makeup. Beside her, Ezra adjusted his cufflinks, composed and unreadable. Though she struggled to believe they were about to interview a comment online, she recognized its necessity; someone spreading such rumors could be a potential enemy. The headline echoed in her mind: "Ezra Thorne and Evie Quinn, a PR stunt or a loveless deal?"
Straightening her spine, she braced herself for the interviewer's arrival.
When the interviewer entered, she greeted them with a warm smile and a courteous bow, which Evie mirrored.
The lights adjusted, and the camera began rolling.
"So, Ezra... Evie... It's wonderful to have you both here. The internet is obsessed with you right now," the interviewer began.
Ezra's response was smooth and composed. "We've noticed."
"Some people claim this relationship feels too clean," the interviewer remarked, squinting slightly, "too scripted. What's your take on that?"
Evie seized the opportunity to respond, her voice steady and assertive. "Relationships aren't always loud and dramatic. Often, they're simply a comforting presence," she declared, a smile breaking across her face.
Ezra's gaze shifted to her, a small approving smile emerging before he redirected his attention to the interviewer.
"Interesting," the interviewer noted. "However, there's a clip circulating from last night's red carpet—people are calling it The Freeze Frame. Ezra, you didn't even glance at Evie when she smiled. Cold, no?"
Evie stiffened.
Ezra turned his head toward her, eyebrows raised in playful disbelief. "You smiled at me?" His expression was so convincingly staged that one might think he belonged in the industry, flawless as ever, yet perfectly composed.
Evie met his gaze. "I did," she confirmed. It must have happened while he was being questioned by the paparazzi.
Then he leaned in closer, his voice a commanding whisper. "Clearly, I've missed something worth witnessing."
Evie bit her lower lip, her cheeks flushed, yet she fought to compose herself amidst the chaos of her racing heart.
The interviewer watched intently, recognizing that Ezra was closing the distance between them while Evie looked as if she might swoon at any moment. She cleared her throat and asked with a hint of mischief, "So is this real love or just a PR stunt?"
Ezra shot back, "Does this look like PR to you?" Without hesitation, he pulled Evie into his embrace and leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that left her eyes wide with surprise. Her cheeks burned with heat.
The kiss was not hurried; it was purposeful and lasting, effectively silencing the interviewer.
Evie's heart raced as Ezra's lips claimed hers.
When he finally broke the kiss, he held her gaze for a moment, a confident smirk playing at the corners of his mouth before he redirected his focus to the camera, unfazed. "There's your answer," he declared with certainty.
Evie pressed her lips together, feeling heat rush to her cheeks as she straightened up, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest.
The interviewer, taken aback, cleared her throat. "Well... That certainly didn't look staged," she acknowledged, clearly impressed.