Ten
Vance was leaning against the wall when I let myself out of the room. I didn’t want to go. It was the last thing on this planet I wanted. Surprisingly, I wanted to fight… something I hadn’t been inclined to do for anything recently.
Anything but her.
The fight would have to wait for another day, though, because Violet was tired. The whole point in coming back to her place was so we could chill and take it easy. So much for easy.
Her brother pushed off the wall, staring at me. I wanted to be mad at him for coming here and ratting me out. Hell, in the past I would have gone off, threatening with lawyers and any kind of retribution I could. I’d have gone and grabbed the first bottle of vodka I saw to numb some of the shit whirling around inside me.
I wasn’t mad at Vance. I didn’t want to retaliate or drink myself stupid.
It was an odd realization, knowing deep down something in me changed immeasurably.
I glanced back at the door, knowing the catalyst for that change was inside.
Stuck as a caterpillar, but I want to be a butterfly. Butterfly.
“She okay?” Vance asked.
I blinked, tucking that line away for later. “I don’t know.”
“I’ve always given you the benefit of the doubt, always one of those fans who knows that behind the scenes, everything is a lot harder than it looks.” He shook his head. “But this? Lying to my sister, using her for press. I think that’s the shittiest thing you’ve ever done.”
I stiffened. “I am not using her.”
“Then why’d you lie?”
Because if I told the truth, she wouldn’t have let me near her at all.
I turned and started down the hall. “Take care of her, okay? She needs some rest.”
Vance seemed mildly surprised by my response. The second I stepped out on the sidewalk, a familiar feeling came over me, one that pissed me off. Immediately, I started glancing around, searching among the people walking and the cars nearby for reporters and press.
Someone knew I was here. Someone was likely following me, taking pictures, and selling them to the press.
Whoever it was deserved my fist in their teeth because they just totally fucked up everything.
No, Ten. You fucked up everything. You always do.
Even though I searched as I went to the Jeep, I didn’t see anyone. Inside, I leaned my head back against the seat and let out some cuss words.
How the hell did people find out where I was? How did they know there was a girl? The only thing that made sense was that I was ratted out. Someone had to have tipped off the press to my whereabouts.
But who?
It didn’t take long for the name to pop into my head. For all the calls I ignored this morning to come flooding back. Fishing the cell out of my jeans, I powered it on and waited impatiently for it to start up.
The second the screen blinked to life, the device started buzzing with missed calls, notifications, and texts.
Most of them were from Becca. A couple were from Nate.
Dude, answer your phone. Shit hit the fan, Nate texted.
Then an hour later, I hope you’re with Violet because she’s gonna be pissed.
I didn’t bother listening to the voicemails or reading all the other texts. Instead, I punched in a familiar number and waited as it rang.
“I take it you’re done ignoring me?” Becca said the instant she answered.
“What the fuck did you do?” I growled.
She paused. “Brilliant, wasn’t it? Nothing the world loves more than a tale of star-crossed lovers.”
“You had me followed.” Rage, the likes of which I hadn’t felt in a while, began to consume me. “You had pictures taken of me. Of Violet. You leaked them to press.”
“That’s my job, Ten. To make you look good. Human. People are already frothing at the mouth to forgive you for all you’ve done because you went and—I quote—‘fell in love with someone beneath you.’”
“Violet is not beneath me,” I ground out. “She’s better than you and I will ever be.”
“I hope so,” Becca said, unrepentant. “Her spotless reputation will make you look even better.”
“I’m not using her!” I yelled, my fist pounding against the dash.
Becca paused, surprised. “You like her.”
I laughed. “Like it fucking matters now. You went too far this time, Becca. You never should have crossed me.”
Sensing my deadly and serious mood, it finally seemed to dawn on her that I was not okay with this, and her smooth talk wouldn’t get her out of it. “I’m trying to help you,” she said.
“No. You’re trying to help you. You don’t give two shits about me. I ought to fire you right the fuck now.”
“You can’t fire me!” She gasped. “We have a contract.”
“And I have lots of money and lawyers.”
I felt her panic reach through the phone. The shock that she’d finally pushed me way too far. “It would just be more bad press. You can’t afford that.”
She was right, and I knew it. But I wasn’t giving her an inch. I wasn’t even sure I cared about my career anymore.
Stop being fucking hasty, I told myself. Don’t do anything until you know what you want.
Kneejerk reactions had gotten my career into the place it was. Going forward, I needed to be smarter than that.
“Call off your dogs,” I told her. “If I see one more leaked photo of me or Violet, you’re out, and I don’t give a flying fuck if it takes me out, too.”
She was silent.
“Becca,” I intoned. “I mean it.”
“Yeah,” she responded. “I can tell.”
“Call them off,” I repeated.
“Consider it done. But you know they know where you are. It won’t matter how many calls I make.”
I knew it. It only pissed me off more.
“Ten…” She began.
“I’ll be in touch.” The finality in my voice was nearly chilling as I disconnected the call and tossed the phone in the empty passenger seat. The seat Violet had been riding in earlier.
The seat she might not ever sit in again.