“What?” I stopped pacing mid-stride, my bare feet sliding slightly on Axel’s hardwood floor.
The words took a second to register. My mind had been elsewhere. Not just replaying Mathew’s harsh words, but stuck on that crawling sensation that had followed me all day. Ever since leaving my parents’ house, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
Which made sense actually. Jace had insisted on sending a bodyguard with me. The guy kept his distance, professional and discreet, but he was still there. Watching. That had to be why my skin kept prickling with awareness. What else could it be?
“This is supposed to be a work dinner only,” I managed, forcing myself to focus on Rebecca. “Axel’s business associates and the brand leaders for my deal.”
“And it is. The influencers will be here too.”
Oh, that’s just … fan-freaking-tastic.
“This night was already risky enough,” I reminded her, probably a little too sharply. “My brand deal just got CPR after flatlining, and it can’t handle another shock to the system. Axel’s business associates are already side-eyeing our relationship like we’re a bad Lifetime movie. Did we really need to compound the potential disaster by adding influencers to document our every potential misstep?”
Honestly.
“You both said you need to sell this story as quickly as possible.” She finally glanced up, her perfectly contoured face set in thatI know better than you peasantsexpression I was growing to loathe. “So we need to make each event work twice as hard.”
Work twice as hard or crash twice as spectacularly?
I tugged at the hem of my oversized sweatshirt, struggling to find another branch in my argument. “You should’ve run that by us first. I didn’t organize enough food for extra head count.”
“I took care of that. Ordered catering and staff.” Rebecca waved a dismissive hand. “And speaking of extra head count, I took the liberty of inviting your friends.”
My jaw dropped. Literally. “Excuse me?”
Rebecca was already back to typing, her acrylic nails clicking against the screen. “It would look suspicious if influencers were invited to your dinner with only business associates attending. We need to round out the guest list to make it less obvious.”
“We never agreed to drag our friends into tonight,” I argued.
Rebecca stopped typing and leveled me with a glare. “We also never agreed about telling your friends about the fake engagement. You and Axel are the ones who dragged your friends into this in the first place. And we also never agreed to send Axel to a business meeting in a ridiculous pink convertible.We wouldn’t even be having this dinner if it weren’t for that stunt.”
“Hold up.” Axel pushed off from the kitchen counter, looking inconveniently good in gray sweatpants and a fitted T-shirt. His hair was doing that messy thing that probably took zero effort. “They were already suspicious before the car thing.”
Something warm unfurled in my chest at his defense, but I pushed it down. “I don’t want our friends to lie for us.”
“Me neither.” Axel’s voice was firm. “Uninvite them, Rebecca.”
“No can do.” She didn’t even look up from her phone.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek. “Then uninvite the influencers.”
“It’s too late for that.”
“We still have two hours.”
“If I suddenly canceled the influencers with this late of notice, that would raise a hell of a lot more suspicion. And by the way, make sure you’re both dressed and ready to go early. I don’t want them waiting.”
Yes, Mom.
“I’m sure they’re already suspicious.” I started pacing again, my anxiety manifesting in restless energy. “I mean, why do they think they’re even coming here?”
“To witness a potential business investment and the finalization of a brand deal with one of the biggest influencers in the country.”
“Rebecca, you need to run all major decisions by us first.” My voice was getting sharper, tension coiling in my shoulders.
“I’m doing my job,” she argued, finally setting her phone down with a sharp click against the marble countertop.
“We hired you,” I shot back.
