I stick my hand out, locking eyes with him. “Oh, don’t you worry about that; it’s on me, babe.” I smirk.
With a tight-lipped smile, he shoves his wallet back in its place. “All right, can we get the hell out of here then?”
He doesn’t wait for my response, just stalks off to the car. I follow behind like a puppy, ready for the flashes to attack me the second my foot is out the door.
“Smile and wave, babe,” I whisper in his ear as I catch up to him before we walk out of the restaurant.
And right on cue, the cameras go off, trying to capture a perfect date night withtheBecca Chambers.
I miss my parents most in these moments. They always led the publicity, keeping me in the shadows. But now, I’m thrown to the wolves, just hoping they don’t hit an artery.
Trent slumps into my car, and I roll my eyes, following suit.
I thought tonight would’ve been much worse or that it would have taken more convincing. But I am thankful for the small blessing I got. Now, let’s just get this stupid football player back to the hotel.
As I pull into the parking lot of my hotel, Trent finally says something. “Out of curiosity, how would you slander my name? I could easily prove it was false. I could take you to court and then I’d be the rich one.”
I leave him in silence as I park in my parking spot and grab my phone. Keanu forwarded the file to me at dinner. I could’ve used this then, but I just didn’t need it at the time.
Well, he’s not going to like this, but … I sure am.
Opening the file, I read what Keanu wrote, “Coleman, Trent. Twenty years old. Born and raised in New York, New York. After getting kicked out of his all-boys boarding school for intentionally burning down the English hall…” I pause, glancing up to his murderous gaze. Giggling, I say, “Wow, a pyro, huh? Anyway,Coleman was sent to juvie for two years at fourteen years old. He was released at fifteen on good behavior. Record sealed at eighteen. Oops. Looks like I unsealed it. Shall I continue with the part where you tied up and locked a teacher in a broom closet?”
I fully look at him, and a sharp shiver shoots down my spine. His shoulders are locked back, jaw clenched, and his breaths are huffing in and out, nostrils flaring.
What did I expect from him?
To freak out a little, then submit and go along with my plan.
What didn’t I expect?
Trent Coleman snapping.
His hands fly to my throat, squeezing unbearably tight. “You stupid bitch!”
Brady. Brady. Brady.
I try to gasp in a breath, but air won’t flow. My lungs begin burning, begging for oxygen.
A second later, both car doors fly open, and Keanu rips Trent off of me. I take the deepest breath I ever have, feeling the hot burn trail down my throat. Max crouches beside me, sliding a hand behind my back and straightening my posture for better air intake.
Keanu says something to Trent, but I can’t hear anything over the blood pounding in my ears.
But I do hear what Trent says, “She’s fucking crazy! How can you work for such a bitch?”
I’ve never seen Keanu act cruel—until this moment. A bloodcurdling crack reverberates through the air, traveling straight to my stomach.
Trent cries out, and I fly out of the car, taking in the scene on the other side.
Trent is now holding his arm that is sitting at an unnatural angle, tears streaming down his face.
Keanu grabs Trent’s jaw. “Unless you want a matching one and an assault charge on your ass, you will comply with her terms, you will apologize tomorrow, and you will not tell a soul about what really happened here tonight. You broke your arm while saving an old lady from getting hit by a car. If you want, I’ll release the statement myself. And one more thing”—he throws Trent’s jaw out of his hand—“get the fuck out of my face.”
Trent doesn’t bother glancing my way as he takes off running for the hotel. I’m sure he’s wondering what his career will look like after that. Keanu broke at least one bone in his arm, maybe two.
Keanu slowly approaches me, and I can see the anger rolling off him in waves. His eyes are locked on the ground.
“He shouldn’t have been able to lay a finger on you. I should have gotten to him first. I’m sorry, Becca. If you let me go, I understand.”
