A Marriage of His Convenience

ught them in a clumsy clay pot, the whole plant. Anna supposed that was part of his charm, little things like that seemed to evade him. Where others got jewe

her, he would often stumble over his words and end up doing things like bringing a whole pot of orchids i

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

er face to inspect the rest of her reflection. 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

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

y jealous of you. Yo

ore opening the door for them both. Anna saw his first smile of the evening as he

n it was probably worth more than her family made in a half a year. She glanced at her off-the-rack dress before smooth

, silly. Jack, you know you're h

e back door to the black luxury car. Annabelle could never tell what they were but the Bailey family seemed to own a fleet of neverending lu

rvous expecting reporters, cameras. Minutes drew out their distance from another until it was unsettling. Her thumb went to her

event tonight." Anna tempted, trying to

's important." Jaxon responde

ks for inviting me. I h

he spokr had been practiced until they bored him, "You look like a model.

would approach her to ask about Maddie or Jaxon's dating life. Secret, sordid gossip, even a sneeze could be reported as "evasive tactics

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

s bounced to her vision as he casually tapped a photograph of a smiling bikini clad woman. Then another. Anna's breath stopped and before she could even inhale again - and so

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

from her face. Even the shock and confusion that were waving red flags moments before were all sto

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

ly was it brighter but it was suddenly louder. People speaking everywhere. Strangers demanding answers to questi

nuckler. Jaxon was a showman, he knew exactly what to do and say. The sweethearts of the press, the Bailey Twins. The young millionaire heirs to the Bailey Family fortune. They ha

nna's mother placed 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 scholarship. Every last cent was spent at

ome poverty glow-up project. But as the years went on the two developed a deep and meanungful relationship. Anna loved Maddie, who had been nothing but generous, lively, and acceptin

ddison looked picturesque in a gown that was colored as if reminiscent of a peacock. Rich blues and greens in a sea of patterns that swirled round her legs and feet. Her

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