Silent Strangers

TWENTY TWO

AN:
Hi lovelies, sorry for just disappearing from the face of the Earth. I am back for the moment, but I make no promises, since I have major exams coming up early next year. Kindly bear with me lovelies. To the new readers, welcome and I'm so glad you've joined this endeavour of mine. And to the old readers, thank you from the bottom of my heart for still sticking with this story 🫶🏻. And to the readers from India, Happy Diwali ✨, may all your future prospects be auspicious and bright. Now coming back to the story..

Chapter TWENTY TWO:

Tobias

The morning sun was already high when my phone's insistent buzz dragged me from sleep. I rolled over, squinting at the screen. Anya's name flashed across it—calls from her this early never boded well. I braced myself and picked up."Tobias, we have a situation," she began, her tone sharp, all-business. "You and Grace are going public. The team's planning a press conference this evening to announce the engagement. I'll brief you both in person soon. Get up."A thrill of nerves shot through me. We'd discussed announcing our engagement at some point, but now that it was happening, the weight of it felt real. We'd managed to keep things private so far, but with our wedding set for just five months away, keeping it under wraps any longer wasn't an option.
A couple of hours later, Grace and I met in Anya's office. She stood by her desk, hands on her hips, clipboard in hand. Her look was equal parts calculated and fierce, like she was going into battle.

"Alright, let's get right to it," she said, motioning for us to sit. "Tonight's press conference is about controlling the story. The engagement will make waves, but we need to be the ones steering the ship before the media gets too creative. They're ready to run with speculation, so we're going to get ahead of them."Grace and I exchanged glances. I could see a mixture of apprehension and resolve in her eyes. This wasn't exactly the kind of publicity we'd imagined, but here we were.

Anya continued, her gaze intense. "First rule: no unnecessary details. Keep it simple, straightforward. You're engaged, planning a wedding in five months, and that's it. The more you open up, the more they'll dig. Stick to the basics."Grace nodded, her shoulders stiffening slightly as she straightened in her seat."Second," Anya added, her tone crisp, "you're a united front. They might try to single one of you out, twist questions to cause friction. Don't fall for it. Keep eye contact, support each other's responses. The goal here is to show the world that Tobias and Grace are a team."
By evening, the venue was buzzing with anticipation. Grace and I took our seats at the front of the room as cameras flashed and reporters leaned forward, poised to catch every word. I glanced over at Grace, and she gave me a slight, reassuring nod. We were in this together.I leaned into the microphone, meeting the gaze of the crowd, and began with a calm voice.

"Thank you all for being here tonight. Grace and I wanted to personally share the news with everyone, rather than let rumors run wild. Yes, we're engaged. It was a decision we made together, and we're looking forward to our wedding in five months."

Grace took over, her voice steady. "We appreciate your respect for our privacy as we prepare for this new chapter. We're excited to celebrate with those close to us and to keep supporting each other."The questions began soon after, and just as Anya predicted, they probed into every possible corner of our lives. But with each answer, we stuck to the plan, keeping our responses brief and united.

Until, the journalist from Variety leaned forward from her chair, her glasses and name tag glinting in the hall's light. 

I instinctively narrowed my eyes, the name tag reading "Emma Swan", a moment of confusion filled my body but was replaced by realization when I figured she was the journalist who had written the article about my career flatlining. 

Ah, well. This is going to be interesting. 

Emma leaned forward with a glint of calculated curiosity in her eyes. "Grace," she began, her tone smooth but probing, "you've stayed out of the spotlight until now. How does it feel stepping into Tobias's world, where every move is scrutinized?"

Grace's smile didn't falter, but I could sense the faint tension in the way she adjusted her posture. Her gaze was steady, her voice poised, but her fingers, clasped together in her lap, were a bit tighter than usual."It's definitely a change," she replied, her voice calm and thoughtful. "But I'm prepared for it. I knew what I was stepping into, and Tobias and I are committed to supporting each other through everything, including the public side of things." She glanced at me, her smile softening slightly, but I could see a flicker of something more vulnerable beneath her practiced demeanor.

Emma smiled politely, yet I noticed the slight smirk tugging at her lips. She followed up, her voice silkier, "There are rumors that the timing of this engagement was more about deflecting attention from Tobias's recent competitor scandals. What would you say to those who think this is all for PR?"Grace's smile didn't waver, but I could feel her bristle just a bit. I gave her a gentle, reassuring touch on her thigh, grounding her. She took a breath, glancing at me before responding, her voice level."Tobias and I aren't defined by rumors," she replied confidently, looking directly at Emma. "Our relationship is our own, and anyone who knows us understands that. This engagement wasn't about timing; it was about finding the right person. We're not here to prove anything to anyone else."

Emma's eyes flicked to me. "Are you both ready for the pressures of a high-profile marriage?"Before Grace could respond, I jumped in, my hand still resting on her thigh. "Absolutely," I said with quiet confidence. "Grace and I understand that public life comes with its challenges, but we're ready for it. We'll face everything together, as a team." I gave Grace a small, encouraging smile, a silent reminder that I was there, solidly by her side.Grace returned my smile, her composure fully restored in that moment, bolstered by my presence.

As my last answer hung in the air, I noticed Anya out of the corner of my eye, stepping forward with that controlled authority she wielded like a shield. She scanned the journalists with a polite but unmistakably firm smile, the kind that promised she meant business.

"Thank you all for joining us today and for your questions," she began, her tone smooth, leaving no room for negotiation. "We're thrilled to have you here to celebrate this important moment for Tobias and Grace. However, they've provided the answers they're comfortable with, and I trust we can respect their privacy from here on out."

Her gaze settled on the lead journalist, who looked like he was about to press for one more question, but Anya's expression cut that short. "I'll make sure you receive any updates through the proper channels. But for now, let's give these two some space. There was a brief pause, a few mics lowering reluctantly. The journalists finally began to shuffle their things together, murmuring as they accepted the end of the conference. Anya moved over to us, her voice soft but clear. "You both handled that perfectly. Let's get you out of here now."

She glanced at Grace, a silent reassurance in her expression, and I felt a rush of gratitude for her as she had our backs in a way only she could. Giving Anya a nod, I reached out and put a comforting hand on Grace's thigh as we rose to leave, hoping she knew I saw her strength even in this challenging moment.