Chapter 48 The Smile They Want

• The disappointment is immediate, a ripple that passes through the room. A few people exchange glances, their expressions ranging from subtle irritation to barely masked frustration.
• “Not ideal,” someone murmurs under their breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
• My cheeks burn, but I refuse to let it show. Straightening in my seat, I force a smile, plastering on the kind of fake confidence that’s gotten me through countless red carpets and press interviews.