Alpha Billionaire Series
Valentine’s Day Proposal Chapter 17

CHARLES

The studio wasn't as bright as I thought it would be, but the lights shining down on Willow and me were hot. I had sweat beading on my forehead before the interview even got started. We sat side by side on a white leather sofa, angled to face the host of the show who sat in a matching leather armchair. The setting was meant to look like a living room, complete with a window behind us that viewed the city from high up in a skyrise. "Congratulations on the wedding," Bethany Timilt said, the show host responsible for today's recorded interview. I was grateful that it was a pre-recorded bit, not in front of a live audience.

I offered a genuine smile, thankful for the opportunity to share my views with the voters who would be watching the broadcast later this week. Willow smiled too, but her smile was more polite and professional than genuine. She had protested the interview, saying it was a bit over the top for her to lie to everyone like this. Peter had convinced her by reminding her of the payout.

That part had frustrated me, because I had hoped that at some point, we could put the entire "arrangement" to the side and at least be friends through this. Her reaction to Peter had only confirmed to me again that she was only interested in the money and nothing more. Still, I remained friendly or at least cordial at all times. No sense in stirring up strife where it was not necessary.

"Thanks, Bethany. We are quite happy." I grabbed Willow's hand and held it, a move Peter had encouraged multiple times. Willow's hand was clammy and stiff. I could feel her reluctance to engage in public displays of affection despite her facial expression to the contrary.

"Yes, thanks, Bethany. It's been a whirlwind." Willow patted my hand and leaned into me, again a little stiffly.

"So, we've been told that you bumped into each other at a fundraiser event. Tell us the story. How did we end up here in matrimony?"

I cringed, wondering if this was a gossip piece or a political piece, but in the interest of keeping things positive, I played along. Besides the fact that Peter had hammered it home a number of times that the voters wanted the romance between us, the real-life love story.

"Well, we just ran into each other and started talking. It was like no time had passed since we were kids. We had dinner, and caught up, and here we are." I hoped that explanation, complete with cheesy grin, was enough for the bit so we could move on to my platform items.

"I hear there may be a bun in the oven?" Bethany grinned and leaned in, like she had a hot secret she needed to have unveiled on her show for ratings.

"Oh, nothing like that." Willow shook her head, waving her hand in the air. "We can't imagine having a child so soon. Not with the race and the traveling we have to do."

Bethany frowned and clicked her tongue. I saw Peter standing in the distance behind the cameras, covering his face. I hated the way things started off too, but there was nothing I could do about it. I squeezed Willow's hand, hoping she understood my gesture and changed the subject.

"It's great for you to have us on the show. I'm excited to talk about education reform, and what it will mean for students across the state."

"Yes!" Bethany grinned brightly. "I've heard a lot of great things about your proposed changes to education, but I'm particularly interested in your ideas for universities and inclusion. You both went to Harvard, right? That's not really in Maryland, but there are prestigious universities here that could use your attention. Tell us a little about your college experience and how that affected your thoughts about education reform."

I felt Willow squirm, her body leaning back away from me slightly, almost imperceptibly. I wondered if Bethany or the camera men noticed it. "Well, yes, we attended the same college, and that experience was mostly a pleasant one. The challenges we faced definitely informed my ideas about how we can improve our education system starting in grade school."

"Do you feel like you were underprepared for your college experience? Or maybe it was because you attended one of the most prestigious schools in the country and the standards were higher." Bethany folded her hands in her lap, leaning on one arm of the chair. Her dark red lipstick puckered as she pursed her lips.

I didn't want to talk about college because I could tell it was dredging up emotion inside of Willow that I'd have to deal with later. I'd hoped to just talk about the ticket issues and leave our past out of it, but I was in the thick of it now.

"I feel that all schools could prepare students for their college experience better. I also believe having two tracks for students to follow would benefit the workforce entirely. We need skilled laborers as much as we need scholars and-"

"So, it's true that you feel our current system needs an upgrade in more ways than one." Bethany raised her eyebrows and leaned forward, not waiting for me to respond. "Is this because your wife struggled in college? Did her academic issues make you rethink the current system? And if so, do you believe it was because the university was-"

"Ms. Timilt, I'm here to discuss my party's ticket issues, not my education or that of my wife." I tried not to let my frustration show, but Peter saw through me. I noticed his glare and the way he swiped his hand across his throat as if he were telling me to knock it off. "I was just thinking that, if your wife struggled in college as we know she did, then likely others do too. Is this the reason you want to reform education? To empower more students, particularly women, to perform better and attain higher-paying jobs?" Her wording made my chest tighten. I would never have expected such misogyny from a woman, least of all a talk show host. I glanced at Willow, whose face had fallen. Her shoulders drooped and she stared at our interlocked hands. If I read her correctly, she was getting just as angry as I was, which was not a good thing at all.

"Struggling students everywhere need to be supported and encouraged. My education reform has nothing to do with my wife or myself. We live in a society of no child left behind, but that has pushed teachers to teach to the child who excels at their studies, while simultaneously ignoring the ones who struggle. Those struggling children then get herded along without knowing the essentials, and before you know it you have a high-school student who can't multiply."

I took a deep breath, ready to jump on my soapbox and go off on her, when she smiled brightly and changed the subject, asking about the state minimum wage. Every question after that seemed to poke another nerve, baiting me into more frustration. It took everything in me not to snap at her with a nasty retort, and I could tell Willow was frustrated too. When the top of women's health came up, I had to grab her knee and squeeze it to keep her silent.

By the time the interview was over we were nearly at each other's throats-Bethany and I-and Willow's calm expression had soured to a scowl. Peter couldn't get us out of there fast enough. The minute the cameras stopped rolling, Willow stormed away from me into the greenroom and grabbed her purse. I followed her to the car where the argument started.

"I can't believe you let her trash me like that." Willow's face was red, her arms crossed in a fury.

"What do you mean?" I thought back to what Bethany had said, insulting Willow's academic performance. "She wasn't even that rude."

"Fuck you, Charles. You have no clue." She could have spat in my face.

Peter held his hands out and tried to calm us, but we both ignored him.

"Why are you being so hostile? I didn't bring up college. She did." I fumed, staring out the window. She was obstinate and loud, and I wanted out of this car with her.

"I struggled in college, okay? I had to get a freshman to tutor me in a few classes. How the f**k did they replace that shit out? And drag me through the mud on public television? How will that look for my accounting firm!"

I felt the smack in the face that didn't come but should have. Willow ranted, yelling and spitting even, but I held my tongue. I had no clue she had struggled with her grades. I had no knowledge of her having a tutor but thinking back it made sense. She had pulled away from me, or at least I thought she had. But what if that was not her pulling away from me? What if it was her digging deeper into her studies and I had read the entire thing wrong?

The shouting continued all the way home and up to my apartment. Peter washed his hands of us, leaving in the car and not joining us inside. The fury only got worse when we were alone too.

I was in for a horrible night.