sees what Gabriel wants him to see.
“Gabriel,” Chip says, pausing to chuckle as Harry reaches toward him from Gabriel’s lap. I can only assume Harry thinks Chip is a life-sized Ken doll. That’s certainly what he looks like. “You have always been known as a very private individual. Our viewers have never gotten so much as a peek into your world outside of business, and your life has been the subject of much speculation. Now, all of a sudden, you have a family that you want to share with the world. Can you tell us why now?”
Gabriel’s arm comes around my shoulder. “Why not now?” he volleys. “I have a wonderful family and I’m proud of the person they have encouraged me to become. I’m turning over a new leaf for the company and for myself, and I think it’s important that I publicly demonstrate the kind of values that are going to be important for myself and Belluci Inc in the years to come.”
Chip nods sagely. “You say turn over a new leaf …” He trails off, grinning at me. “Alexis, can you shed some light on the kind of man this doting father was when you first met him?”
Oh boy do I want to. I picture myself airing Gabriel’s dirty laundry in front of the cameras, telling them about the filthy sex in the VIP booth when we first met, the cold dismissal, the arrogant way he didn’t even remember who I was when our paths crossed again two years later.
But, alas, we’re feeding a different kind of narrative.
“I had never met someone so devoted to their work,” I say, chuckling at the memory. “I remember wondering if he ever slept, or if he just plugged into the wall for a couple hours every day to boost his batteries.” I playfully dig an elbow into Gabriel’s side. “He checked his phone so many times during our first date that I walked out on him.”
This is at least partially true. The first date story is a lie, and of course, I am telling Chip this as a way to contrast the person Gabriel supposedly is now when in reality, he’s still a massive workaholic.
Chip laughs. “I hope he doesn’t still do that.”
“He works a lot, but he always makes time for us,” I answer.
Chip’s attention swings to Gabriel. “What turned it around for you?”
Gabriel looks over, clasping my hand and smiling warmly. “Well, the love of a good woman will always melt the hardest of hearts,” he says, and my chest tightens.
I fall headfirst into his gaze, letting his dreamy smile and the promise of his words carry me away even though I know it’s not real.
Gabriel looks down at Harry and I screech haltingly back to the present. “But what really changed me was this little guy right here.”
“I can see why.” Chip leans over, offering Harry his hand. Harry squeezes his fist around Chip’s index finger and tugs it toward his mouth, which elicits a delighted laugh from the reporter.
“He’s certainly a cheeky one,” Chip says, pulling his finger away. “No doubt he’s going to get into all sorts of trouble when he’s older.”
“With a mother like Alexis, it wouldn’t surprise me,” Gabriel ribs.
Chip grins approvingly. “You’re one happy little family, aren’t you?”
Gabriel looks at me again with the same warm encouragement as before. “We sure are.”
For a second, I believe it. I believe that when the cameras shut off, Gabriel will love me just as much as he does now, and all the hard ridges in our relationship will soften, and everything will be okay. But while that is true for Harry, it’s not true for me. Gabriel is flaunting me like a prized jewel now, but once Chip and his cloud of spicy cologne waft out of the house, Gabriel will toss me away like I’m just a lump of plastic.
We bat questions and answers back and forth for a little while longer, and then Chip announces that he’s got everything he needs and thanks us for our time. The crew de-mics us, and we keep up the façade right to the front door, where we see them out and wave as they drive off.
Once they are gone, Gabriel closes the door and releases a sigh. I hold Harry a little tighter, needing the comfort after my draining performance.
I think Gabriel will leave then since I know he has a lot to do, and the interview went on longer than he anticipated, but he turns