His Marriage of Convenience

had brought it a clumsy pot. Anna supposed that was part of his charm, little things like that seemed to evade him. Where others got jewelry or vacatu

omen. But around her he would often stumble over his words and end up doing things like bringi

m?" Jaxon asked,

heavy round plant aside at an entryway table, "I

ed me. They didn't h

made her smile. Madison Bailey, Jaxon's younger twin

flection. She was healthy, but told herself in that moment she was probably a few burgers short of the plus-size section. Anna could only see this version of herself in the mirror. As she fetched her coat. She missed the light gold highlights her hair. She ig

uat past his full eyebrows and whiskey brown eyes. The entire Bailey family except their father Brent, looked this way, as if some arti

y jealous of you. Yo

mself in the mirror before opening the door for the

over his suit. By Anna's estimation it was probably worth more than her family made

, silly. Jack, you know you're h

r. Annabelle could never tell what they were but the Bailey family seemed to own a fleet of neverending luxury sedans. They

nutes drew out their distance from another until it was unsettling. Her thumb went to her lips and she remind

e much. There's bi

's important." Jaxon responde

ks for inviting me. I h

ung lines practiced until they bored him, "You look like a model. Th

t, but had cost her over a thousand dollars. The most expensive garment she ever owned. She checked her jewelry in the reflection. She wore her au

l insecure. She rarely voiced this except to her journal and sometimes Maddie. Anna took a breath and

there. Inverted names and images bounced to her vision as he casually tapped a photograph of a smiling bikini clad woman and a her breath sto

the phone inside his tailored jacket. Anna shook

new what she must have seen, but played stupid any

at her, as if he was genuinely confused by her questi

e of confidence drained from her face. Even the shock and confusion that wer

sted his suit and smiled in particular at a group of young women bouncing near the crowd barriers. Anna felt a vertigo, she wasn't told about this. Sh

car. Not only was it brighter but louder. People speaking everywhere. Strangers demanding answers to questions

owman, he knew exactly what to do and say. The sweethearts of the press, the Bailey Twins. The young millionaire

laced the money into trusts for their children. Anna had used her trust for a private tuition for school to gave her the best shot at a full

two developed a deep and meanungful relationship. Anna loved Maddie, who had been nothing but generous, lively, and accepting of Anna. Even the Bailey F

e in a gown that was colored as if reminiscent of a peacock. Rich blues and greens in a sea of pattern that swirled round her feet. Her petite stature st

ands who returned the gesture and added and enthusiastic smile. Soon all courtesy was dropped as Maddie enveloped Anna in a

die, "Something just happened in the

maintained that brilliant smile. She managed through he