Page 60 of My Forbidden Billionaire
“Oh, yes! Will you be watching?” Clem asks eagerly.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Josephine replies, glancing up at me with a small smile. I can’t help but grin in response.
Josephine looks just as radiant as ever, dressed in a dark green velvet dress that looks stunning against her sunny, blonde hair. I feel as if I haven’t seen her in two years. It’s funny what longing will do to your heart. Simply and elegantly, she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. I find that one gesture more endearing, and beautiful, than anything I’ve ever seen.
“Thank you, Miss Andrews, you’re the best,” Clem says, while practically jumping into Josephine’s arms. The bond these two share is so strong, it warms my heart while simultaneously crushing it into a million pieces because I want so badly for Josephine to be more than just Clem’s teacher.
“I’m going to go backstage now, okay, Daddy?” Clem says, not waiting for my reply before darting off towards the auditorium.
“Okay, darling, break a leg,” I call out before realizing Josephine and I are now alone in the hallway. I take a step closer to her, unable to resist the pull that she has on me.
“Hi,” I say softly, hoping that my voice doesn’t betray the nervousness that I feel.
“Hi,” Josephine replies, her eyes meeting mine once again. There’s a moment of silence between us as we both take each other in.
“Come here often?” I ask.
She laughs and arranges the folds of her dress. “Oh, no … this is my first time.” She jokes. “How about you?”
“My first time as well. My daughter is the lead in one of the skits.”
“The lead? You don’t say.”
“Yes, yes. She plays Anne Boleyn.”
“I know. She asked me about a million questions in the past two weeks including: what Anne Boleyn ate, what kind of skin care she used, what music she listened to, and who was her favorite K-Pop star,” Josephine explains.
“Wow … all very relevant information.” I chuckle.
“And historically accurate.” She laughs. “And you? How was it living with the star of the show these past two weeks? I’m guessing there must have been a lot of rehearsals?”
I pass a hand across my face as Josephine watches me and starts to laugh.
“That bad, huh? Well … at least she’s dedicated.”
“You have no idea,” I say. “She scared the ladies who clean the house half to death. She started bossing around the butler and yelling nonsense at him until I actually had to put her in time out! And then she pouted and yelled at me because she’s a queen and I had no right to do that.”
“Wow … I see those pre-teen hormones are kicking in. What about the lines? Did you help her rehearse?”
“Yes, and she didn’t hesitate to boss me around, as well. I played Henry, of course. And by played, I mean that I sat there while she got up on every piece of furniture and pretended to have her head cut off.”
“Sounds like a fun couple of weeks,” Josephine says with a laugh.
I chuckle along with her, noticing how easily we fall into comfortable conversation. The chemistry between us is palpable, and I have to fight the urge to lean in and kiss her.
Josephine notices my glances, and her cheeks flush a bright red.
“I think we should make our way to the auditorium,” she says.
“Right. The show must go on!” I reply quickly before leading the way down the hallway.
As we walk together, I can’t help but marvel at how surreal this moment feels. I had no expectations for what might happen tonight—but just getting to talk to Josephine was more than I could have hoped for.
I’m amazed at how we’re both able to pick up right where we left off. In spite of the devastating three weeks apart, it feels as though nothing has changed between us.
So, I’m going to continue to follow her lead and enjoy this moment for what it is. We’re both here to support Clem and her classmates.
As we reach the auditorium doors, Josephine stops to grab a program. She’s so beautiful in this light, illuminated by the fading rays of sunlight that are streaming through the windows as if they were painting a portrait of us together.