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Chapter 14: Six Days Remaining (And Things Are Getting Real)
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2023-11-25 14:08:21Related chapters
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 15: I Am So Not Ready For This
Roman's assistant seems to realize that this is his cue to leave. He stacks all of the files in front of him and gathers them up, and he shoots me a strange glance as he leaves the room. I suddenly wonder if I should be worried.When I turn back to Roman, I find him looking me up and down. He frowns slightly."Did you run all the way here?" he asks."Just up the stairs." I grab my hair, suddenly aware of how much of a mess I must look. My hair tends to go frizzy under the best of conditions, and when I reach up, I realize that sprint up the stairs didn't help. I quickly comb my fingers through the strands, trying to tame them and wishing I'd had the foresight to grab a hair tie or at least a couple of bobby pins.Roman has risen from his seat, and he walks slowly over to me while I try to make myself presentable. When he gets to me, he reaches out - and my breath catches as his hand moves past my breast and under my arm, as if he means to draw me toward him.Instead, half a second
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 16: Roman Gives Me A Pep Talk
At any other time, I would've enjoyed that compliment, especially from him. Right now, though, it only makes my panic worse."I can't do this," I say."You can," Roman assures me. "Think of it as a challenge."Why do people always say that when they're trying to convince you to do something you know you can't do? But it's clear that no amount of begging will get me out of this, not on Roman Everet's watch. I throw another glance in the mirror and run my fingers through my hair again. Up ahead, Hallevern's restaurant has already come into view. We definitely made good time.Please, please, please, don't let him be there, I pray. Maybe he's a fast eater. Or maybe Roman's tip was incorrect. I'm due for some good karma from the universe, aren't I?But any hopes I have of escaping this "lesson" are dashed when I see the photographers lingering outside the restaurant's doors. There are only half a dozen of them, but it's clear they're waiting for someone. A couple of them appear to be t
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 17: My First Encounter With A Fontaine In the Wild
Roman's mouth curls up - his first smile of the day - and he gives me a nod. "Lead the way."I turn and head back toward the restaurant before I have a chance to lose my nerve. Roman follows, a shadow on my heels. I'm not sure whether his presence reassures me or makes this harder. I can almost still feel his fingers in my hair, touching me so delicately, so deliberately. Better not to think about that right now or I'll never work up the courage to approach Dante Fontaine.When we get to the front of the restaurant, Roman reaches around me and grabs the door."I thought I'd get us a table," he says in a low voice. "It will be easier to watch you, and you'll have a place to sit if you need a moment to collect yourself. Besides, I haven't eaten since breakfast."I nod, hardly registering his words. My eyes are on the photographers we just passed. One of them is leaning against the wall and smoking a cigarette, and his eyes rise to mine. I quickly look away and follow Roman into the r
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 18: How Do I Recover From THAT?
It's a perfectly executed landing. Hell, a little too perfect - as I start to sit up, stunned and thrilled that I managed to pull this off, I realize that my left hand is right on Dante's crotch.I freeze. Dante Fontaine's cock is right beneath my hand. Dante Fontaine's cock. This is... This is... terrifying. Thrilling. Insanely awkward. Absolutely amazing.And I have no idea what the heck I should do.I'm definitely touching it. Oh, God - it's right beneath my fingers. If I try to get up, I'll be pressing against it. If I move my hand at all, even to pull away, my hand will brush right over it. He'll think I'm trying to feel him up. I'm already feeling him up, even though it's an accident. And now I've been frozen for an ungodly long amount of time and he probably thinks I'm some sort of freak.There are hands on my arms. Dante Fontaine's hands. He's trying to help me up, trying to get me back on my feet."I - I'm so sorry," I say quickly. "I'm so sorry." God, his hands are so...
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 19: Whoa, Boy.
Hope rises in my chest as I turn around. My heart is skipping.Dante is bent over, scooping something up off the ground. In my mad rush to get back up, I must have missed something. I smile as I step forward, already imagining how I might brush my fingers against his as he hands it back to me, but then my eyes fall to the object in his hand.Shit.It's my press badge. My fucking press badge. With "Celebrity Spark" printed in clear letters right on the front.There's a frown on his face now."You're a reporter?" He looks up at me.Oh, shit. Just... shit. I've blown it yet again. But there's no lying. No escaping the truth."I... Yes," I say, shuffling forward and continuing to curse silently at myself. "But obviously not a very good one."Before he can reply - oh, God, I don't want to hear his reply - I snatch my badge out of his grip and turn and run into the bathroom.For the second time in a handful of days, I lock myself in a bathroom stall. I'm shaking, but I can't even bl
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 20: Did I Actually Do Something Right?
I don't know what's gotten into Roman, but I don't like it. He seems angry with me, but I have no idea what I've done. He was the one who dragged me here and told me to flirt with Dante Fontaine. He was the one who, just moments ago, was telling me the whole incident went better than I thought.If there's one thing these last few days have taught me, it's that I really, really don't understand men. And I'm not sure I ever will.Those thoughts circle through my mind as I make one last attempt to fix my hair. When I've finally gotten myself under control, I turn and walk back out into the restaurant.I have to walk right past Dante Fontaine if I want to leave. For a moment, that thought freezes me in my tracks, but then I shake my head and force myself to move. There's no escaping it, and I might as well get it over with. It's not like I can climb out the bathroom window or anything, not with these hips.I walk quickly around his table. Don't look at him, don't look at him, don't loo
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 21: Five Days Remaining (And Apparently It's Time For A Makeover)
I've been at work for six hours and twenty-seven minutes, and Roman hasn't said a word to me.Counting the minutes is a little obsessive, I know. But I sent off the final version of my Emilia interview this morning, and I've had a hard time concentrating on my work ever since. I know we didn't exactly end things on a good foot yesterday, but there's no reason for him to ignore me now. He's walked past my cubicle half a dozen times today - not that I've counted - and he hasn't even acknowledged me.I lean and look around the edge of my cubicle. I can just make him out through the blinds on the conference room window. He's bent over his laptop, and he's got a headset in his ear. He appears to be on a call. After a couple of minutes, he starts shaking his head violently, as if arguing with the person on the other end of the line. He says something to his assistant, and the young man jumps up and dashes out.Maybe it's for the best that he's ignoring me. It doesn't look like he's in a p
Last Updated : 2023-11-25The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 22: Keeping It Unprofessional
The absolute last thing in the world I want to do is drag Roman around with me as I try on a bunch of dresses."I... I was just going to order a couple of options online and return the one I didn't like," I tell him.He frowns. "Felicia, Hollywood Saves! is less than a week away.""And we live in a world where one-day shipping exists.""Do you really want to represent yourself and this magazine in something you ordered off of some discount site?"I know I shouldn't be getting prickly over this, but I can't help myself."Not all of us are billionaires," I hiss, praying my few remaining coworkers around here aren't listening in. "Some of us aren't even sure if we'll have a job next week, and we can't afford to blow our entire savings on a dress. Not if we want to make sure we can eat next month."For a second - a split second - he looks properly admonished. Or maybe that's just my overly optimistic imagination, because just as quickly, his expression is as controlled as it ever wa
Last Updated : 2023-11-25
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The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 54: Two Weeks After the Most Amazing Night of My Life (So Far)
My stomach grumbles at me. I glance down at my watch, and I almost don't believe the time - I should have left work over an hour ago. But I've been so absorbed in polishing my latest piece that I completely lost track of how late it was. My interview with Dante Fontaine is tomorrow, and I've blocked off the whole morning so I can make sure I'm prepared. This is my chance to forge a major connection, to make sure Celebrity Spark is the publication Dante contacts whenever he needs to promote a project or wishes to arrange a "scandal" in the name of a little extra publicity. If I play this right and earn Dante's trust, I might be able to turn that into a working relationship with some of the other Fontaines as well. Tomorrow's interview could make my entire career.A shadow looms over my desk, and I jump - and then look up into the eyes of Roman. My chest flutters. We've only been officially dating for a couple of weeks, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this lightheaded, giggly feeli
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 53: At Last
Roman's wicked promise turns my knees to jelly.I hear myself beg, "Not here. Please."He doesn't wait another moment. He releases his grip on my waist, then grabs my hand and pulls me through the sea of reporters. We're moving against the crowd, but that doesn't stop Roman. He forces his way through, dragging me behind him. I nearly stumble in my heels, but he doesn't let me fall. He leads me away from the carpet.As we go, I hear a new round of shouts go up behind us."Raphael!""Just one picture!""Raphael! A question!"Roman's hand tightens on mine, and his steps quicken. I'm more than happy to leave as fast as possible. I'm not particularly interested in facing Raphael right now. The video of the two of us hasn't gone viral yet - to my knowledge, at least - and I pray it gets buried by juicier celebrity news before more than a handful of people see it. And if it does start spreading... well, I'll deal with that when and if I have to. If the dating history of the Fontaine bo
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 52: Sealing the Deal
Even with the barrier of the dress between us, my body still responds to Roman's touch, still remembers all the ways he caressed - and kissed, and licked - me just two short nights ago. My body doesn't care that my job is on the line, or that we're in the middle of a red carpet with people all around us. But I care, and I force myself to focus on Luca and Dante."If interviews aren't your thing, then what is your thing?" I ask sweetly. My voice is only the tiniest bit strained.Luca's grin turns decidedly devilish. "That's a personal question, isn't it? I don't even know your name."Roman's fingers have nearly moved between my legs from behind, and I suck in a breath and grab onto the barricade so I don't topple over. He's doing this on purpose - tormenting and distracting me while I'm trying to do exactly what I came here to do. But even though I'm barely holding it together, I try not to let it show."I'm Felicia," I say to Luca. "And your brother has already agreed to speak with
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 51: I Make My Move
Dante Fontaine's stare isn't like the ones Roman has been giving me all week - dark and intense and full of desire - but rather one of confusion, and I realize that he recognizes me but can't seem to place how.So I do the only thing I can - I smile and hold up my press badge, hoping he connects the dots. And it works - I practically see the light bulb going off in his head.This is my chance.I pull away from Roman and push my way along the barricade - only elbowing one person in the process - until I'm a little closer to Dante."You owe me an interview!" I call over the people around me.The look he gives me isn't quite a smile, but there's a flicker of something in his eyes - humor? Appreciation? - that gives me hope. And then before I realize what's happening, he says a quick word to his date and walks toward the barricade. Toward me.I'm so surprised that I almost turn and run just out of habit. But I'm not going to miss my chance. And anyway, Roman has just squeezed in behi
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 50: Luca Fontaine
"Luca!"My stomach tightens as the shouts multiply. Luca was my original target, but I was hoping Dante might show up first. I had a moment with Dante back at Hallevern's - a brief moment, but a promising one, and it would have given me a starting point. With Luca, I'm facing the unknown. And he's getting more attention than anyone else in his family these days, so he'll be that much harder to pin down.At least it's not Rafe, I tell myself. I'm not ready for that sort of awkwardness right now - either with one of the Fontaines or with the man behind me. I lean forward again and watch as Luca makes his way toward where I stand.He's a charmer, that he is. And like the rest of his family, he's pretty damn breathtaking in person. His dirty-blond hair has been cropped close for Cataclysm: Earth, enhancing the strong, sharp planes of his face. His body was always athletic, but he's clearly added some more muscle for this latest role - and he definitely has the build to pull it off witho
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 49: The Final Test
Roman's words are like a knife right in my gut. But before I can respond, there's a commotion at the far end of the red carpet and all of the reporters around us start pressing forward. The first limo has arrived.There's no time to have this conversation right now. Members of the press start shouting for attention, calling to the couple that has just stepped out of the car. Camera bulbs flash. People jostle me from all angles, trying to get closer to the barricade. I know I need to fight too if I want any chance of speaking to one of the Fontaines.Roman is right behind me. He's closer than he was a moment ago, pushed against me by the crowd, and the familiar heat of him against my back makes my knees feel weak. His hands fall to my waist, holding me steady, and I realize he's protecting me from the press of reporters, shielding me from the worst of the rush. Suddenly, I feel the heat of his breath against my temple."Move forward," he says right into my ear. "I'll help you get to
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 48: Well, Here Goes Nothing
I've never looked this glamorous in my entire life - or felt as miserable.The gold gown swishes around my legs as I walk, and the beads sparkle like diamonds in the late afternoon sunlight. My makeup is flawless, and my thick hair has been pinned into a flawless French twist. I debated skipping the salon appointment Roman made for me, but he had one of his assistants email me a reminder this morning, and it felt childish to refuse to go. Still, there was a knot in my stomach the entire time I sat in the chair, and while the results look beautiful, I don't feel as much like Cinderella as I expected. I feel a lot more like I'm going to throw up.I've been here for almost three hours already, standing in my place behind the partition that separates the press from the red carpet. I've learned the hard way that they give priority positions to television reporters and the members of the press with cameras or other large equipment, but the crowd of journalists here today isn't nearly as la
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 47: Roman Finds Out
Roman kisses me again, and my legs come up and wrap around his hips. We're pressed together now, bare skin against bare skin, and he groans."Change of plans," he growls. "We're staying here today. And I'm going to fuck you over and over again until you can't walk.""Is that a promise?"He sucks my bottom lip between his teeth in response, and I grab his hair and tighten my legs around him."Pleasthh," I beg him as he continues to suck on my lip. It's torture, being pressed against him without joining.He releases my lip. "Patience, my little seductress."I writhe against him. "Fuck patience."Suddenly he grabs my legs and pulls them away from him, and before I realize what's happening, he's flipped me over onto my belly. He leans toward me, his cock pressing against me from behind. He bends down so that his mouth is right against my ear."You will have more than your share of pleasure today. Don't you worry," he says. "But first, I need to go get a condom."The thought of sto
The Fontaines of Hollywood series: The Secret to Seduction Chapter 46: Screw the Rules
I stare at him. "You're taking me on a date?"Roman laughs. "You say that like you're surprised.""I just... I didn't know how..." I gesture between the two of us, unsure of how to voice it without sounding insecure. "I didn't know where we stood."His hazel eyes search mine, and there's a tenderness there that he hasn't let me see before. He reaches out and touches my cheek."From our very first meeting, you intrigued me," he says. "You were clearly out of your depth, but you fought quite passionately for your job. And when you claimed that you'd seduce Luca Fontaine, I saw a drive, a fire, that I couldn't let slip through my fingers." His thumb sweeps along my jaw. "As I said, for all your determination, you seemed a little lost. And I wanted to be the one who found you."His words are quickly undoing the last of my meager defenses, and his soft caresses aren't helping."I... I thought you just found me entertaining," I said.He smiles. "I did. I do." He leans closer, and his
