A Dangerous Game: Public Perception

A Dangerous Game
By Misha

Disclaimer- Not mine.

Author’s Notes- This chapter took a turn from what I’d originally expected. This is a romance and I do plan on it being a HEA, but there is a long way to get before that and this is not a fluffy romance, instead, there is a lot of dark undertones to this relationship that I need to explore.

Rating- PG-13

Summary- Adam and Lilith discuss her introduction to the public.

Words- 1364

Chapter Eight: Public Perception
(Series Timeline can be found here)

~3rd Person PoV~

Adam glanced at the papers Paul handed him, he had cleared his schedule as much as possible for the next weeks, but he couldn’t ignore work altogether. “Anything urgent here?”

“Some notes on a few upcoming votes,” Paul answered, “also, you’ve had several interview requests, for you and Lilith both, the press is quite curious about your marriage.”

There was a sour note in the other man’s voice as he said that last word and Adam knew his chief-of-staff was still put out about how things had worked out. However, the decision was made and Paul would have to accept that. Or Adam would have to consider finding a new chief-of-staff.

“Pick one and set it up,” Adam said, making a quick decision. One of the many reasons he’d married Lilith was for the public image and part of that meant introducing her to the public. “Pick one that won’t linger on the age difference or ask pointed questions.” His voice was firm. “I won’t have her treated like a whore.”

He’d seen the news stories, the comments on the message boards, and he was sure Lilith had as well, though she’d never mentioned it to him.

Part of his motivation for talking to the press was to change that narrative as quickly as possible. He would not have his wife treated with such disrespect.

“Adam, you married a woman almost half your ‘age’, seemingly out of nowhere, the speculation was natural,” Paul pointed out, “which was why I’d wanted a candidate in her 30s.”

“I wanted Lilith,” Adam stated calmly, but with an edge. “The choice has been made, it’s not your job to question that. It’s your job to make sure the transition goes smoothly.”

After a moment, Paul nodded, obviously getting the message. “I’ll set it up,” he said before leaving the room.

Adam watched him go, wondering if Paul was going to be a problem. He hoped not, he’d been a loyal staff member for many years and it would be a shame to have to make major changes this late in the game, but he would do it if he had to.

He glanced over the paperwork again and then decided it could wait, he had other priorities right now, namely his wife.

Everything was going according to plan with Lilith; she’d come to his bed willingly and that new intimacy was what he needed to get her to open up to him further. This was just the first step.

With that in mind, Adam got up from his desk and strode across the room to the door. He was going to find his wife and whisk her off to bed and keep her there until she was too satisfied to even think about going anywhere.

~Lilith~

“Paul is setting up a television interview for us,” Adam commented casually, his hands trailing across my bare skin as I laid in his arms, basking in the afterglow of yet another fantastic round of sex, too spent to move.

However, his words caught me off-guard and I glanced up at him. “What? Why?”

“To introduce you to the public in a way we control,” Adam told me, his tone infuriatingly calm and placating, as if he was speaking to a child and not his wife. “If we grant a sit-down interview, give them a glimpse into our marriage and let them get to know you better and then they have something legitimate to work with instead of just making up whatever they feel like.”

I made a face, thinking of the stories that were out there. The mainstream news sites were being careful with what they said, of course, but everyone else? They never ran out of things to say and very little of it complimentary. A lot of people had already made a lot of assumptions about my marriage and about me.

I tried not to read, but it was hard not too and while I was trying to ignore it, it wasn’t a ton of fun having total strangers refer to me as a gold-digger. My brother Julian had had to install a website filter on my parents’ computer because they were getting so upset. I hadn’t mentioned it to Adam though.

“I’m sure some of them will keep doing that anyway,” I commented snarkily.

“Probably,” Adam agreed, “But, this will help. It will let us put our story out there, show them the truth and let it contrast with their lies.”

I nodded, though the idea was still overwhelming.

“I’m not exactly prepared to go on national TV,” I said after a moment. “I feel like it’s not the same as being interviewed by the local paper because I made the state spelling bee.”

“Probably not,” Adam agreed in amusement, he smiled at me. “How old were you?”

“11,” I answered, “I was one of the first ones eliminated at the State Championships, though.” Over a decade later, that still stung. At least, I hadn’t been the very first person eliminated. “But that doesn’t have anything to do with how prepared I am, or rather am not, for this interview.”

“No, but I like hearing about your childhood,” Adam told me, placing a kiss on my shoulder. “Besides spelling, what were your other accomplishments?”

“Adam!” I said in exasperation, twisting away from him, or at least attempting to, his arms anchored me securely in place. “Shouldn’t we talk about this interview?”

“Why?” He asked, with a shrug. “What is there to talk about at this moment?”

“How about how who it will be with, what will be expected of me, any of that?” I asked, unable to contain my frustration.

“I don’t know yet, Paul will set it up,” Adam told it yet, “and as for the second question, you can discuss that with Lisa tomorrow.”

“Lisa?” I asked, “Who’s Lisa?”

“Lisa Perkins is part of my press team. Or at least she was, from now on she’s going to be your assistant,” Adam told me, “she specifically requested a transfer to go work with you.”

I frowned, why would a woman I’d never met be so eager to work with me?

“She’s smart, tough and experienced with the press,’ Adam continued, “which was why I agreed to her request. She’ll be able to show you the ropes.”

“It wasn’t that long ago I was the assistant,” I reminded him, “it’s a little weird to think I have ones of my own.” I wondered what Lisa was like. Would she be like Paul? I hoped not. Especially since it was pretty clear that he had not warmed up to me in the time since Adam and I had announced our engagement. In fact, I was pretty sure that he would not go out of his way to help me adjust, probably the opposite.

I wanted to ask Adam if Paul had recommended Lisa for the job, but I stopped myself. Paul might be a jerk, but he seemed competent enough and he would know better than to go against Adam’s wishes and best interests. Or at least I hoped so.

“Besides being a champion speller, what were your other achievements?” Adam asked once more, obviously considering the subject of the interview done. His hands traced slow circles on my skin as his lips trailed across my shoulders. “Did you sing, play sports?”

His tone was light but firm as he changed the subject, and he was watching me expectantly.

“I ran track in high school,” I told him, “and I play the piano, though not particularly well. I didn’t have a lot of time for activities because my parents needed me to help out at home and watch my brothers and sister.”

I couldn’t keep the edge out of my voice as I answered him, a little resentful of the turn the conversation had taken. I still had questions about the interview, and what would be expected of me, but it was pretty clear I’d be waiting until the next day to get answers. I wondered if it would always be like this, Adam setting the tone of all conversations and deciding when information would be disclosed. Probably.

It wasn’t a comforting thought.