She sees the disbelief on my face.“They want Gage Hawthorne.They think I’m the only one who can bring him back.Ask Mateo, his agent—he’ll confirm everything.”
Gage has an agent?I thought he was through with acting.I shove the doubts down.Doesn’t matter.I’m still not leaving him.If this thing between us ends, it’ll be because he leaves me.Not the other way around.
The other stall door opens.
Someone was in here with us?
Nicola and I gawk at the person who steps out—Beryl Crake.The reporter.She has on a beautiful off-the-shoulder purple gown.Her long, black braids are piled high on her head in a way that shows off the blue and purple tips.
“Carry on,” Beryl says with a grin.“Sorry to interrupt.”
“I—who the fuck are you?”Nicola asks.“You should know better than to listen to a private conversation.”
“Oh, my bad.”Beryl holds up her phone.“I’m a reporter.And I wasn’t just listening—I was recording.See, I came in here for the quiet.I was trying to record some of my own observations, live at this benefit hosting San Esteban’s finest.”
“Wait.”Nicola’s eyes bulge.“Liveat the benefit?”
Beryl nods.
“That—that was a private conversation.”Nicola jabs a finger at Beryl’s phone.“Delete it now.Right now.”
“Sure, I can delete it.”Beryl’s voice is casual.“But it was streaming live.Oops.”
“I swear, I will sue you for everything you’re worth.”
“I’ll take it down immediately.”Beryl presses a few buttons on her device.“There we go.Sorry about that.”
But all three of us know the damage has already been done.Sure, Nicola’s PR team might be able to bury it.But either way, the truth is out there for anyone who wants to find it.As I learned when Nicola doxxed me, the internet is forever.
“I can’t fucking believe this.”Nicola doesn’t seem to be acting anymore.No polished, serene expression, no generic smile.She points at me.“You’re nothing but a money-grabbing whore.He’ll leave you.He’ll hurt you and leave you and everyone willfucking laugh.”
She spins on her heel and marches to the door.When she tries to fling it open, though, it doesn’t budge.
The dumbass forgot she locked us in.
She growls at the lock until she’s finally able to twist it free, then she yanks it open and steps through.
The door hasn’t even swung shut when two tall forms converge on her.“Miss Johnson,” one of them says.“I’m from Ironwood, and we’re here to escort you from the hotel.”
“I—you can’t!”she shrieks.
I stand, frozen, as the door closes, blocking off the loudest of Nicola’s angry tirade.My legs are shaking, my heart pounding with adrenaline.Is it truly over?Did Nicola leave for good?
Beryl smiles, a satisfied gleam in her eyes.
“Did you really record that conversation live?”I’m not sure if I want her answer to be no, or yes.I wouldn’t mind being vindicated in the public’s mind.But at the same time, I’m not keen on giving the “public” any more of my emotional energy.
She winks.“A lady never tells.”
I guess we’ll find out if the news explodes.
“Well?”Beryl reaches for the door.“Are you coming?Or are you going to spend the rest of Olivia Santiago’s biggest party sulking in the ladies’ room?”
I square my shoulders although my legs continue to shake.Getting through the rest of the party will be tough, but I have to try.Fuck, I can barely walk.My adrenaline seems to have run its course, and now I feel faint.“I’m coming.”
No sooner am I out of the bathroom than two tall, dark figures converge on me.
20
