Chapter 34
Garrett
The last place I want to be right now is standing in the field of Saturday Bons on a Wednesday afternoon, getting ready to air my personal business to the public, but the way I see it, it’s the right thing to do.
So far, it’s come out that Ali has been dropped from one movie and removed from consideration from five. Every day articles come out showcasing, ‘The fall of Ali Kat Carter,’ each of them with pictures from her night at the bar or throwing the wine cooler bottle at Rose.
It’s not fair, and if anyone can set the records straight, it’s me, so as much as I hate what’s about to go down, I have no other choice.
Hillary Basion is positioning her film crew, snapping commands and threatening their livelihoods. I could never run a shop like that, where people basically walk on eggshells the entire time. She doesn’t seem to care.
Brett and Rose are walking around like movie stars, new clothes, maverick sunglasses, and a breath away from asking people if they want their autograph.
“We’re doing the right thing,” Irene says in a sullen tone.
“Are you sure?”
“Ali’s team is playing it safe. They’re doing a great job of making her look relatable, but they haven’t refuted any of the claims made about her the night of Bons.”
“Why do you think that is?”
Irene smirks a rather peculiar grin, but our attention is drawn to the slamming of a car door.
There couldn’t be a worse person sauntering towards us from across the field.
What the hell is she doing here?
“Oh, good! It’s Eva!” Hillary exclaims, rushing to greet her.
And somehow, the situation manages to get worse…
“If I were you, I wouldn’t be too worried,” Irene says confidently.
You’re doing the right thing—the only thing that can help Ali. The public isn’t interested in forgiveness, and if things get really bad, she could end up on one of those celebrity reality shows, not the Dancing with the Stars one, something like Flava of Love.
Don’t ask me how I know about that one.
“Garrett,” Eva says, her voice low and sensual. “It’s good to see you here.”
My body tenses as she approaches, a reaction I’ve never had with a woman before. I remind myself that I’d never hit a lady, but it’s a little hard for me to see her as a lady.
Her lips curling into a wily smile, not at all warm and with entirely too much mischief. When she finally reaches me, her arms snake around my shoulders, pulling me close, like we are friends that haven’t seen each other in a while.
Don’t you go hittin' a woman, no matter how badly she deserves it.
“Wha-da-you doing here?” I spit out.
“It’s good to see you too, Garrett. I must say, I didn’t think it would take you so long to accept the offer.”
“Accept the offer?”
“Yeah, originally, I was hoping it would be you beside me giving an interview after it all went down, but after you refused Hillary’s offer, it didn’t make much sense that I’d be in the piece, so we got Brett and Rose.” Her serpent’s smile widens. “But money talks, especially to those in desperate need, so here we are.”
Before I can reply back, she walks away, and my sister places a hand on my chest. “Not now, Garrett.”
“Did you just hear—”
“Yes, but you have to trust me.”
