Deceptive Vows

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

QUENTIN POV

'This can't be happening!' The thought blazed in my mind as I stood, rooted to the spot. What was supposed to be a simple tour of 'The Steelhart Love Gallery' had spiraled into something far more complicated.

"Alright, Mr. Steelhart, Miss Prescott, let’s have you two stand a bit closer. Quentin, can you put your arm around Victoria’s waist? And Victoria, darling, tilt your head slightly towards Quentin. Perfect!" The photographer's instructions were precise, almost mechanical.

Last night, Victoria's message had been straightforward: she wanted to explore my family's renowned love museum. I hadn’t anticipated her showing up with an entire camera crew. How on earth did she even get my number?

Reluctantly, I placed my arm around Victoria’s waist. She leaned in closer, a faint smile playing on her lips. Was she actually enjoying this?

My frown deepened as I processed the absurdity of the situation. This was beyond ridiculous. The next time I saw Marcus, I’d—

“Quentin, could you give us a smile?” the photographer interjected, his voice tinged with desperation. “Just a little one?”

My lips twitched, but I couldn't muster the enthusiasm. I stared into the camera, my expression was a mixture of defiance and boredom.

"Um... Mr. Steelhart, just a tiny bit more," the photographer pleaded placing his two palms together.

"This is the best you’re going to get," I responded coldly. Suddenly, I felt a tight squeeze on my hand. It was a silent plea from Victoria, urging me to cooperate. I sighed.

"Fine," I muttered, forcing a smile for the camera. The photographer snapped the shot quickly.

"Thank you," Victoria said, her smile bright and genuine.

"Now, let's resume the tour," the cameraman instructed, leading us deeper into the museum. We stumbled upon an artistic sculpture depicting Cupid kissing his bow.

"This is the famous Cupid artwork, crafted by the world-renowned sculptor Aurelius Amoretti," the cameraman explained, smiling.

"Why don't we take a nice picture of the two of you in front of it?" the photographer suggested, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. “It’ll be a great addition to the gallery’s promotional materials.”

Victoria nodded eagerly, her excitement palpable. “That sounds perfect! Come on, Quentin, let’s make this memorable.”

Suppressing a groan, I reminded myself to breathe. This was just another ordeal to endure.

I plastered on a half-hearted smile and positioned myself beside Victoria, who leaned into me with a familiarity that caught me off guard. Her hips were so distracting that, for a moment, I almost forgot the absurdity of the situation. No way was I catching feelings for her.

As the camera flashed, I couldn’t help but steal a glance at Victoria. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself, and there was something oddly comforting about her presence.

“Beautiful,” the photographer declared, checking the display on his camera.

“Thanks for agreeing to this,” Victoria said softly, her voice just above a whisper. “I know it’s not what you expected.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not exactly how I pictured my day either,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. “But I guess it’s not the worst way to spend an afternoon.”

Victoria’s laughter was both melodic and unexpectedly charming. I finally noticed just how bright red her lips were now. She smelled nice too—what was that scent? Strawberry? Citrus? I couldn't quite place it.

We continued through the gallery, each exhibit more elaborate and ornate than the last. As we stopped in front of an intricate mosaic depicting a mythological love story, Victoria turned to me, her curiosity evident.

“So, Quentin, what’s your favorite piece in the gallery?”

I thought for a moment, scanning the room. “Honestly, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Heart of Eternity sculpture."

“That’s the grand finale, isn’t it?” Victoria asked, her eyes lighting up with interest. “I can’t wait to see it.”

Seems like she did her homework.

“Yeah, it is,” I confirmed. “It’s one of the few pieces that really captures the essence of what this place is all about.”

Victoria’s smile widened. “I’m looking forward to it."

As we moved on, we finally arrived at the Heart of Eternity, the grand golden sculpture of two swans entwined with a golden heart-shaped artwork in the center.

“This is incredible,” Victoria whispered, her gaze fixed on the sculpture.

“It really is,” I agreed, watching her reaction. “It’s one of the few pieces that still manages to move me, despite how many times I’ve seen it.”

Victoria turned to me, her eyes bright with admiration. “I’m so glad we got to see it together."

I couldn’t look at her—her lips were so distracting.

"Ye-yeah," I answered nonchalantly.

“This will be a great way to end the tour. Let’s capture the essence of this moment,” the photographer suggested, sensing the moment and proposing we take one final photo.

*Finally,* I thought, *this ordeal is coming to an end.* I could grade myself fairly and say I did a good job today; I was cooperative and tolerant.

Victoria and I positioned ourselves next to the sculpture. As the cameraman was about to take the picture, but he stopped.

Why did he stop? What’s going on?

The photographer reached into his pocket as his phone vibrated. "One moment, please. It's your father," he said, bowing his head in apology before stepping aside to answer the call.

"Oh, yes... we are almost done with the shooting," the photographer said, his voice trailing off as he moved a few steps away.

I could see him nodding and occasionally glancing our way, but I couldn’t make out the specifics of his conversation.

My curiosity piqued as I watched him, wondering what Marcus could be saying. The photographer's expression changed, and suddenly, he looked enthusiastic.

He exclaimed, "That's a wonderful idea!" before continuing his conversation in hushed tones.

Before I could form any coherent thoughts or guesses about their exchange, the photographer returned, looking apologetic.

"I’m sorry for the wait," he said, pocketing his phone. "I’ve just had a suggestion from Mr. Prescott. Why don’t we add a touch of romance? How about a kiss?"

Wait, what?!