Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Is she what?”
“Associated with you?”
I drew in a deep breath. “You’ll have to ask her.”
Mila roused, looking around, startled. I turned my head, ghosting my lips over her temple.
“It’s okay, Shortcake. Everything is fine.”
Andi smiled at her. “No one noticed. Finish your drink, and we’ll go upstairs. Everything is fine.”
“I don’t want it.”
I reached for it and downed it in one gulp, shuddering at the taste, but I needed it. Seeing Mila unconscious did something to me. I hated the feeling of helplessness. I didn’t care what she said; it was scary.
She slid from her seat, plucking the olives from the glass. “I’ll eat these.”
“Good. That was nasty.”
“Not an olive fan?” Andi smirked.
I shook my head. “Nope.”
She directed her attention to Mila. “You okay to walk?”
“Yes. I’m okay.”
I handed Mila her phone. “I’ll say good night.”
Andi snorted. “I don’t think so. You’re coming with us. We all need to talk.”
I had no choice in the matter. I followed them closely, my hand ready to catch Mila if she went over again. In the elevator, she leaned against the wall with a sigh. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
I slipped my arm around her and kissed her temple. Andi already knew, so there was no point in pretending. “It’s fine. Everything is fine.”
Andi looked over her shoulder at us as she walked out of the elevator.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Fuck,” I muttered. But I followed.
Tonight was full of revelations.
What was one more?
In Mila’s room, I sat beside her on the sofa, holding her hand, stroking the skin gently. She was still pale, which bothered me. Andi was busy again on her phone, pacing outside on the balcony.
“Busted,” I mumbled. “That didn’t take long.”
Mila sighed, rubbing her head. “Did they see you? The paps, I mean?”
“Yeah. Called out some slurs and tried to get me to interact, but I didn’t. Luckily, the guard at the gate recognized me, so he got me in fast. They didn’t get a lot of pictures.”
“How did they find you?”
“MJ,” I confirmed. I had called her from the car, and she had been unapologetic about her tip-off. I had cursed and raged. She had laughed and told me to grow up.
“No press at all is the only kind of bad press, Nicky boy,” she had sneered. “We need you out there.”
Then she had hung up, not caring she’d thrown me to the wolves or that I was upset.
“What a bitch,” Mila murmured.
I didn’t reply. She was right. MJ was a bitch, and although that had worked many times in my favor for negotiations, lately, it had become personal. I felt like a piece of meat, my only value the money I brought to her. She used to care about my well-being, but now I wasn’t so sure.
I lifted Mila’s hand and kissed it, just as Andi came in and sat across from us.
“Obviously, you two were out.”
Mila lifted her chin. “Yes.”
“Not running lines either.”
Crossing them was more like it, but I kept that information to myself. “I asked Mila to have dinner with me. She agreed. We went somewhere private.” I flipped my fingers toward the front of the hotel. “I didn’t expect the shitshow out there. I did my best to protect her from it.”
“Who is protecting you?” Andi asked, shocking me with her question.
I blinked at her words, unsure what to say.
“His agent tipped them off,” Mila said, leaning forward. “For publicity.”
Andi frowned. “Sounds like you need a new agent. But that’s beside the point. When did this happen?”
Mila sat back, tilting her head. “Nick was concerned yesterday. He came to check on me, and we talked. Shared dinner.”
“You lied to me, kiddo.”
“You never asked directly.”
Andi waved her hand. “Semantics. We have always been truthful with each other.”
Mila frowned, her voice low. “I didn’t really know what to say. It felt too private to share.”
“No more lies. Tell me what I need to know to protect you.”
Mila reached out and clasped Andi’s hand. “I will. I’m sorry.”
Andi patted her knuckles. “Okay, then.”
I watched in fascination. By now, MJ would have been screaming or telling me off. Making threats. I wondered what it would be like to have an agent you were actual friends with. Someone who cared. It had been too long since I’d had that connection.
Andi sat back, crossing her legs, looking between us. “You two are cute, but I suggest caution.” She pursed her lips. “Should I remind you we’re only here a short while?”
“Should I remind you I’m a grown woman and can make my own choices?” Mila retorted.
Andi’s grin surprised me. “Well, well, there she is. Okay, kiddo, message received.” She stood, brushing off her pants, looking directly at me. “Mila wants to remain invisible for her family’s privacy and her own peace of mind. You want the attention? You do it on your own.”