Zoey
Chapter 14
I was such an idiot.
Bryan knew better than to post a video, even a teaser, before I approved it. What had he been thinking? I was furious. But now it was out there and at least half a million people had already seen it.
Still, I let them know how upset I was over it and reminded each of them that I have final say in all videos released.
I knew they didn’t understand why I was so upset about it, but that shouldn’t matter. In our contract it even states this. I was very clear on that from the start. I supposed I could see why they would be attracted to that clip and overly excited about it, but for all those reasons I never would have agreed to it.
The first thing I did after finishing up filming was reach for my phone and pull it up once more.
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. Views were over a million already and there were more interactions than I’d ever received on any other video before.
I groaned. This was bad.
“Oh, stop pouting. I know we were all overly eager, but it’s not the end of the world for your followers to see you in a different light,” Gail insisted.
“It’s not on brand,” I growled. “And I’m still here. Anyone could recognize this place.”
“I’m sorry. There’s not much else I can say about it. I know how you feel about your privacy. The odds of anyone swarming this place are slim.”
But it had happened before. That was why I always held “look what I’m up to today” type teasers for at least three days before posting. It gave me time to get away from the area before the media circus. And with this much attraction, I was certain there was going to be a media circus.
Still, Gail was right. There really wasn’t anything I could do about it now. I just needed to move fast and hope it would be enough.
The second I said goodbye to everyone, I grabbed Monte by the arm and ran for the elevator.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“There’s enough background in that teaser to identify this place and it’s getting a lot of attraction. I mean like once in a lifetime kind of viral.”
“Don’t all your videos go viral?”
“Not like this.” I needed him to understand that more than anything. None of this was normal.
Monte left me by the elevator and motioned Karla over. They spoke for a minute before he ran back just as the doors opened.
He pushed me inside and hit the button to our floor before holding the close-door button.
“What is it?”
“There’s already been a few people asking about you.”
My heart nearly stopped. It was my worst nightmare coming to fruition and being trapped in the elevator was not helping.
Without realizing what I was doing, I grabbed hold of Monte’s hand to steady myself.
He looked down and smiled, then gave it a squeeze before pulling me in closer and wrapping his arms around me.
My whole body relaxed, and I didn’t want to admit to myself that it was because of him, that I needed him, that I wanted him, and that it wasn’t just the bond.
When the doors opened to our floor, he kept his arm around me and guided me to our suite. It made me feel protected, cherished, but most importantly, safe.
Even once we were in our room with the door shut and locked behind us, I was still a little unsettled, but that could have been from the realization that I wasn’t so scared with him there by my side.
Ever since my first video went viral I’ve dreamed about this moment, when the fame of it all caught up to me. But I’d always imagined myself alone through it all.
