Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
I release the tension in my shoulders at Felicity’s dismissal of Beau being my fake boyfriend. I wouldn’t do that to him. If I hadn’t become successful, I’m pretty sure Matt and I would still be together. Fame can change people. Distort who they are at their core. It’s like the flashbulbs have DNA-altering qualities or something. As much as I hate Matt for betraying me, I blame my fame for turning him into the man who would do that. That’s not the man he was before I got famous. I won’t ruin Beau like I ruined Matt.
“Unless…” Felicity says. “Unless you’ve fallen hard and it’s a whirlwind romance that you’ve been keeping under wraps since you flew to England after the break up. What if you were to get married?”
“Married?” I realize I’ve stood up at the desk and can no longer seen the screen of my phone properly. I sit back down. “I’m not marrying a near-stranger just because some guy with a camera jumped out of a bush and took a picture of me!”
“But it’s not just that. It’s to help with the fallout from Matt. It will be good publicity generally around the album. And it will be good for Beau, too. Obviously there’ll be an iron-clad pre-nup in place, but he’ll be compensated. He’ll be very comfortable. Doctors don’t earn much in the UK, you know? You’ll be doing him a favor.”
“I’m not marrying Beau, and I really don’t want to talk about this anymore.” This conversation has gone from ridiculous to completely unhinged.
“Just ask him,” Tommy says. “Like Felicity says, this could change the man’s life with what we’d be prepared to pay him.”
I press the heels of my hands over my eyes. Why is life so darn complicated? Why didn’t I just invite Beau for coffee at my place? Why didn’t I skip Coffee Confidential this morning?
“Just give me his number, Viv. I’ll sound him out about it. If he doesn’t want to do it, then at least we know. We can rule it out. But if he does…it could work really well for you.”
I already know Beau will say yes to fake dating me. He’s offered twice now.
I can see how this would work for me. It would look authentic and Beau is a nice guy. I’d enjoy the time we’re together, which isn’t a foregone conclusion with most of the people on Tommy’s list. Being in another serious relationship—at least, appearing to be in another serious relationship—would take the heat off me when it comes to promoting the album.
It just isn’t fair on Beau.
“He’s a nice guy,” I say. “He doesn’t know how damaging fame can be.”
Felicity purses her lips. “Don’t you start thinking all men are like Matt. Matt was a child when you got famous—he grew up in your shadow, and I say ‘grew up’ only for lack of a better term. This Beau sounds like a man. He’s got his own career, his own identity. He’s not going to be consumed by the attention. After I talk to him, if I think he’s that kind of man, I’ll tell you and we’ll pull the plug.”
I groan. “No you won’t. Beau fixes your problem. If he says yes, you’re not going to blackball him.”
“Yes, I will,” Felicity says, her accent growing clipped like it always does when she wants me to know she’s serious. “As much as I care about your fortune and your career, I care about your heart more.” She blows me a kiss through the screen. “We’ve all been worried sick about you, Viv. It’s good to see your sweet face, my darling. Even if it is in the midst of an emergency.”
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll ask him. But not about the marriage thing. That’s ridiculous.”
I see them both go to speak—I know they want me to hand his number over, but I won’t do that. I want to gauge Beau’s reaction for myself. And I want to list every potential downside of a fake relationship with me.
“If he says no, he says no and that’s the case closed,” I say. “I’ll let you know what he says. And now that I’ve turned my phone back on, do me a favor? I want to know if Matt’s side starts planting stories. I want to know if I’ve got leaks in the team. I want to hear about suspicions you have about the people I’m working with or spending time with. You two are the people I trust to give me the information I need. Tommy, you’ve known me since I was a kid, but I’m not sixteen anymore. I don’t want you curating what you tell me. I need to know everything.” Looking back, I’d been going around with blinders on while I was with Matt. Now they’re firmly off and I’m determined to see everything with fresh eyes.