“Putting money in Tire’s commissary.”
“You’re giving a murderer money?” she asks.
“But he’s a really nice murderer.”
“I swear if you ever go to jail, I will also go to jail for murder.”
“Not planning on it,” I tell her as I kiss the side of her face.
“Good.” She kisses me back, and I’m so ready to cancel this interview and do everything I wanted to do earlier this evening. Unfortunately, we pull up to the studio at that exact moment, and I groan.
“Later,” she whispers. Kissing my beard as I open the car door and hold her hand to help her out of the vehicle. Fortunately there are no photographers waiting outside of the building. Though it was never confirmed, I know Garth was the one giving paparazzi the heads up to where we would be on multiple occasions.
We head to reception where Cami’s new manager, Jessie Cho, is waiting. She’s a no nonsense Alpha and I already know she is going to be leaps and bounds better than Garth. Jessie commands the room when she walks in and seems to actually care about her clients wellbeing beyond them making her money.
She’s been to our apartment and met with both of us. I liked that she included me in the conversation while also completely understanding that Cami is the one in charge of her career. I’m here to protect her and support her in all ways, so having a good working relationship is important.
“Are you sure you want her to be the one to do the interview?” Jessie asks Cami.
“Positive,” she says, giving her manager a smile. Apparently, Cami came up with this whole plan when I was still in jail. She’s kept quiet on social media, but wanted to offer a specific news source the truth about our story.
“Fine, but if you want to stop the interview at any time, just give me the signal.” I try to hide a small smile. I think Jessie and I will get along just fine. Anyone who has Cami’s best interest at heart is someone that I can get along with.
“Thanks, Jessie.”
Her manager gives her a curt nod as Cami and I walk hand in hand into the interview space. Sure enough, Margo Waters’ smug face is waiting for us. Cami takes her seat in the same wingback chair I watched her take her first interview in. I take a deep breath and stand in the background, completely ready to scoop her up in my arms and end this interview if needed.
I glare at Margo, who doesn’t even notice me as she sits across from Cami, giving her a fake smile and false sense of confidence.
“Deja Fox, thank you for joining us,” Margo says in her shrill voice.
“Thank you for having me,” Cami says politely. Meanwhile, I’m trying to calm myself and make sure I don’t intervene unless she needs me to.
“Are you ready to get started?”
“Yes,” Cami says. She relaxes into the chair, crossing her legs and clasping her hands over her knee. The only contingency that Cami had in doing this interview was that it needed to be live. The thought both terrifies and intrigues me.
“Thank you for tuning in to Celebrity News Now. I’m your host, Margo Waters, and today we are live with international pop artist Deja Fox on set. Deja Fox, thank you for joining us today. We know life has been busy for you lately, so thank you for making the time.”
“Thank you for having me. I really wanted to come on and get some facts straight that the media continues to report. Celebrity News Now being one of the most dishonorable of them all.” Cami keeps her composure, looking sweet and innocent as she gets ready to tear this woman a new asshole.
Margo sputters a little and pulls out a cue card to get on track. “Well, is it true that you bonded with your bodyguard?”
“That is true. You guys got that one right. Of course, not the context, nor the circumstance, or any other information. Your news source didn’t even take the time to ask me for an interview.”
Margo flips through her cue cards. “As far as I was aware, you were unavailable for comment.”
“That’s very convenient. But to answer your question, Margo. Yes, Smith is my bodyguard, and we are bonded and extremely happy.”
Margo adjusts in her seat, trying to figure out how to bring the interview back into her court. This isn’t the same Deja Fox she interviewed a few weeks ago. “It’s also true that your bodyguard assaulted your former manager, Garth Garner?”
“My bonded, Smith, acted on impulse when he found out that my former manager was the one who leaked my heat photos a few months ago. Garth was also the person blackmailing me with the countdown website. If you were bonded, this would likely make a lot more sense to you, Margo.” I wince at Cami’s tone and insinuation that Margo is sad and alone. Margo, however, doesn’t falter.
Margo pulls out images of Garth. “I advise the audience to look away from the screen if you do not want to see gore.” The image is of Garth, his eyebrow is bleeding, nose is bleeding and broken. I look away from the image, not wanting to remember that day.
“What is it you are hoping to achieve here today, Margo? Because it obviously isn’t the truth. Have you interviewed Garth? Do you know he’s in jail for what he did to me, and he has not filed a civil suit against Smith? It seems to me you want to create a false narrative and I would really like to know why.”
“I’m just trying to get to the bottom of the story,” Margo says with venom.
