Married at First Sight – Episode 07
Penny’s smile remained fixed as she congratulated Summer on securing the interview, but nothing in her voice sounded pleased. She lifted the assignment file and tapped its edge against her desk, studying Summer as though recalculating an opponent she had badly underestimated. If Christian Norton had agreed, Penny could no longer fire Summer for failing to reach him. She would simply have to make the interview itself impossible to survive.
Summer returned to her desk beneath the stares of her coworkers. Jess caught her arm and demanded to know how she had accomplished in minutes what seasoned journalists could not manage in months. Summer offered the safest fragment of truth: she had met Christian recently, and he owed her a favor. Calling their marriage a favor felt absurd, but announcing it to the office would be worse.
Jess’s eyes narrowed with delighted suspicion, yet Penny summoned Summer before she could ask another question. A revised list of interview topics waited on the desk. Penny claimed the publication needed bold reporting, not another flattering portrait of a billionaire. Her expression made it clear that Summer would use the supplied questions exactly as written.
The first questions concerned failed acquisitions, private family disputes, and rumors that Christian used charitable donations to conceal ruthless business practices. The last one was worse: an anonymous source supposedly claimed he avoided romantic relationships because he was incapable of intimacy. Summer looked up in disbelief. None of the accusations came with evidence, and asking them could turn an exclusive into a lawsuit.
Penny dismissed her concern as cowardice. If Summer softened a single question, she would be accused of compromising editorial integrity and fired. If Christian ended the interview in anger, Penny could blame Summer’s lack of professionalism and fire her anyway. The trap had two doors, both opening onto the same result.
Summer carried the list back to her desk, fighting the urge to tear it in half. Jess read it and went pale. She advised Summer to warn Christian, but that solution felt uncomfortably close to asking him to protect her again. He had trusted her with his reputation, and she had rewarded that trust by bringing him into an ambush.
At noon, a convoy of dark cars stopped outside the modest office building. Conversation vanished as Christian entered with his assistant, his tailored suit and quiet authority transforming the reception area. He did not need to demand attention; the room seemed to organize itself around him. Penny hurried forward with a welcome so warm it bordered on worship.
Christian accepted her greeting with distant courtesy, then looked past her. His gaze found Summer almost immediately, and the severity in his expression softened. It lasted only a second, but Jess noticed. So did Penny, whose smile tightened before she directed everyone toward the prepared interview room.
Summer’s pulse climbed as Christian took the chair opposite hers. Cameras stood ready, lights burned against her skin, and Penny watched from behind the glass partition. Christian appeared entirely at ease. When Summer quietly thanked him for coming, he replied that he had promised his wife he would be there.
The word was low enough that the microphones might not have caught it, but Summer certainly did. Heat rushed into her face. She reminded him through a warning look that no one knew about their marriage. Christian’s faint smile suggested that her discomfort only entertained him.
The recording began with safe questions about Norton Enterprises and Christian’s early career. Summer found her rhythm, drawing thoughtful answers from a man reputed to despise interviews. He spoke to her rather than the camera, and the intensity of his attention made the room beyond the glass disappear. For several minutes, she almost forgot the poisoned pages waiting beneath her notes.
Penny tapped sharply on the partition and pointed to the revised list. Summer’s confidence faltered. Christian followed her glance, taking in Penny’s impatience and the tension in Summer’s shoulders. His eyes cooled, though his voice remained calm when he invited her to continue.
Summer asked about the failed acquisition first, carefully distinguishing documented fact from rumor. Christian answered without offense, explaining that he had withdrawn when the deal threatened hundreds of employees. His response transformed an alleged failure into evidence of restraint, and Penny’s expression darkened.
The next question accused him of using philanthropy to improve his image. Christian did not flinch. He listed programs funded without his name attached and said charity performed for applause was merely advertising. Then he asked whether Summer believed generosity lost its value when the giver remained anonymous, turning the exchange into a thoughtful discussion rather than a scandal.
With each answer, Summer understood that he had recognized the ambush and chosen not to abandon her. He could have ended the interview, humiliated the publication, or demanded Penny’s dismissal. Instead, he gave Summer material strong enough to build the best article of her career. Gratitude mingled with an emotion she was not ready to name.
Only the final question remained. Summer stared at the line about his private life, wishing she could make the ink vanish. Penny gestured furiously from behind the glass. Christian leaned forward and told Summer to ask whatever she needed to ask, his steady gaze offering permission and perhaps a challenge.
She read the allegation as professionally as possible: some observers believed his avoidance of public relationships suggested he was incapable of emotional commitment. The room became painfully still. Christian could answer without revealing their marriage, but the amusement returning to his eyes warned Summer that he had chosen a more dangerous response.
“That rumor is outdated,” Christian said, never looking away from her. He explained that a man could change his mind after meeting the right woman, even if the meeting happened under unusual circumstances. Then he lifted his left hand onto the table, revealing a wedding band Summer had never seen before. Behind the glass, Penny stared at the ring while Christian calmly announced, “I’m married.”
