For the Camera

11. Lights, Camera, Action.

RUBY.

"Good afternoon, lovely audience! Welcome back to your favourite show of the week, the one and only Celebrity Love Show. I'm your host, Rose Alo, and if you missed our spectacular episode last week featuring the incredible celebrity couple, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, don't worry! You can catch up on all the juicy details in our latest issue of Celebrity Love Magazine. But hold on tight because this week, we've got the talk of the town, the newest power couple that has everyone buzzing. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the heir to Daniels Industries, Mr Toby Daniels, and his stunning wife, Ruby Coker, now Mrs Ruby Daniels!"

As Rose mentioned our names, the camera focused on us, and Toby and I offered our best smiles. I was certain that I couldn't entirely hide my nervousness.

"Hey there, Mr Toby Daniels! How are you doing today?" Rose cheerfully inquired.

"I'm doing great, Rose," Toby responded.

"And how about you, Mrs. Daniels?"

"I'm fine," I replied simply.

"Fantastic! Now, there have been rumours circulating about your marriage. Some claim it's an arrangement, while others say it's based on love, and a few even suggest it's forced. Can you help us set the record straight, Mr Toby Daniels?"

"Well, Rose, as celebrities, rumours tend to circulate us. Some people thrive on knowing every detail about their lives. People find it hard to believe that a player like me could contemplate settling down. It's quite surprising, you know. But let me answer your question. Our marriage is based on love, and yes, it was arranged, but not forced. When I first laid eyes on Ruby, it was love at first sight. So, when my father asked if I would like to marry her, my joy knew no bounds. Although our relationship was kept a secret before the arrangement, it was a special bond we shared," Toby smoothly responded.

I was tempted to applaud him. How could he effortlessly spill out those lies without even a stutter?

"Alright, first off, why would your father arrange a marriage for you? Couldn't you have chosen your wife? Or do you not have a say in whom you marry?" Rose posed another question.

"If we pretend not to know that arranged marriages still exist, particularly in extremely wealthy families, we would be deceiving ourselves. As I mentioned earlier, my father asked if I would like to marry Ruby, which implies that I had a choice, and I chose to marry her. Even though the arrangement was facilitated by my father, I do have a say in selecting my life partner," Toby explained.

"Hmm, okay then. But what about the secrecy surrounding your relationship before the wedding? I can't help but wonder why the esteemed Toby Daniels would keep his love affair hidden. Could you shed some light on that as well?" Rose inquired curiously.

"I wasn't ready to expose the love of my life to the harsh public eye. They might not have taken her seriously, and the attention would have been overwhelming for her. Ruby preferred our relationship to remain private, and it was easier for her to be known after we got married. She's a very private person who dislikes excessive attention," Toby spun yet another tale.

"Wow! That's truly touching! Now, what about that popular actress everyone assumes you're dating? What was her name again? Yasmin Blake? You two have been spotted together numerous times over the years. Was there ever a serious relationship between you two?" Rose pressed on.

"Those are mere speculations and rumours. Yasmin Blake is nothing more than a friend. We've been friends since high school. There's nothing romantic between us. People just love to stir up gossip," Toby answered, though Rose didn't seem entirely convinced, she decided to let it go.

"Whoa! So, when and where did you both meet, Mrs Ruby Daniels?" Rose finally turned her attention to me.

"Um... I... I met Toby again at my university about two months ago, specifically on the 12th of March. We bumped into each other in the library, and he persistently pursued me for a few days until he finally asked me out. He's not the type to give up easily," I stammered repeatedly but managed to muster a convincing smile. It felt as if I were reciting rehearsed lines, but when the show host responded with what appeared to be a genuine smile, I concluded that I had successfully deceived her.

"Beautiful! So, you two only dated for two months? That's quite an accomplishment. But I must admit, I'm a bit puzzled. It says here that you both attended Daniels Private School together, and your fathers are close friends. How is it possible that your paths never crossed until that fateful library encounter?" Rose persistently probed.

Wow! These individuals certainly have a knack for digging up information. I never anticipated that, so I left it for Toby to handle.

"Alright, Rose. I must say I'm surprised. But honestly, I didn't expect such a foolish question from you. Ruby and I have known each other since we were kids. We never claimed to be strangers or anything of the sort. We've been friends for as long as I can remember, we just never explored a romantic relationship. Then, we reconnected two months ago after losing touch for years. As you may know, I pursued my degree in England and returned for my master's degree," Toby rudely replied, though a smug smile graced his face.

"But..." Rose began, only to be politely interrupted by Toby as if he hadn't just made her look foolish on live television.

"I believe I have cleared up any confusion for you, Rose," Toby interjected.

Rose composed herself and wore her widest smile. "Alright then, Mr Toby Daniels. I'm sure you're aware of the rumours circulating about your beloved wife. Many people believe she doesn't meet the expected standard for someone of your stature, being a high-profile individual and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Furthermore, considering your history of dating beauty queens, models, and fashionistas, they find it hard to believe that you would settle for what they perceive as 'less,' no offence to Mrs Daniels. How do you respond to that?"

Suddenly, I felt sweaty and nervous. I glanced down at my covered lap, wondering if she truly had to humiliate me on live TV or if she was just trying to get back at Toby.

"What people say or think about my wife has no impact on me whatsoever. As long as I see her as the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on, the..." Toby paused, taking a moment to hold my hands while gazing lovingly into my eyes, "the woman I plan to spend eternity with. She has shown me a love I never thought possible and has made me view commitment as something so simple. Everything feels beautiful and effortless with her. If anything, I believe I'm the one who falls short of her standards. I will love her now and always," Toby concluded, looking utterly infatuated. I must admit, his acting skills had me fooled at certain points. If he could deceive me, then I was certain everyone else was already sipping from his cup of lies.

Even Rose appeared envious of the love that Toby led her to believe we shared. "Awww, that is incredibly sweet. People really ought to learn to mind their own business and allow celebrities to make their own choices, right? I'm confident that this will diminish the hate. Thank you so much for clearing things up, Mr Toby Daniels..."

We concluded the show with a few more questions, and then we took some professional photos for the magazine cover.

And that's how I became an actress who doesn't even star in movies if you catch my drift.