Even more telling, Valentina appears at Slayer’s side moments later. She positions herself perfectly for photographs, her red dress even more vibrant next to his black ensemble.
The photographers who lingered after the conference snap eagerly, catching their easy rapport, the way she leans close to whisper something that makes him laugh.
I inch closer, straining to hear how Slayer is explaining Valentina to the press, especially since one goal of the conference was to talk aboutourrelationship.
Slayer sticks to the standard story, that he and Valentina are high school friends. But anyone who looks closely at the way she’s practically hanging on him can guess there’s more to the story than that.
Suddenly, I feel like an extra in my own show. In a now-or-never moment, I make my way to Sterling. He’s standing near the bar, engaging reporters with his charming demeanor and building up the upcoming album.
“Mr. Sterling? Can I talk to you a moment?” I ask when he’s alone.
“Of course.”
“Carlos Rhodes came to see me this morning.”
Sterling raises a brow. “Ah. Crown Point Records.”
“He heard me sing. Twice now. He says he’s interested. He wants to talk with me when we’re back in New York.”
Sterling is quiet for a moment, swirling his Champagne thoughtfully. “That’s flattering, I’m sure. But it would be best to wait until we’re back in Manhattan to make any decisions.”
He begins to walk away, but then looks back at me. “And I suggest you perform your due diligence on Carlos Rhodes as well.”
“Wait. What are you saying?”
But he’s already turned back to Milo, nodding at the yacht staff who take it as a signal to start lunch.
Due diligence on Carlos Rhodes?
I glance across the deck to where Slayer still stands with Valentina, photographers circling them like sharks.
His arm is around her waist now, the same spot where his hand had rested on mine just a little while ago.
The moment on the turtle trail feels like a distant dream—the croissants, Oscar, the reconciliation I thought we’d reached.
Now Slayer is back to being the Dark Prince, and I’m just another prop in his carefully managed image.
I make my way to the railing to watch the water sparkle in the afternoon sun. As the yacht party continues behind me, I make a decision.
I’ll leave early, stop at that bakery on the way back to the hotel, and buy those pastries that caught my eye.
Maybe a little sweetness is exactly what I need right now.
Even if I have to enjoy it alone.
CHAPTER 36
BIX
Ifeel a huge sense of relief as I slip out of the press conference lunch early.
But even though the afternoon was stressful, I can’t wait to see Zaza’s and Keesha’s faces as they read about me and Slayer in Vanessa Sinclair’s column.
I stop in the village to buy the pastries I promised myself—and a dog cookie for Toto. At the cash register, I notice a plush turtle looking up at me from behind the croissant display. It looks exactly like the turtle Slayer and I saw crossing the trail in the hills.Oscar.
“I’ll take him,” I say, smiling as the clerk puts Oscar in my shopping bag.
Once I arrive at the hotel, Toto shoots out to greet me with a friendly yap.
