“Anna doesn’t need your criticism ... or your approval,” Eden snapped.
Anna wanted to leave. She didn’t like this side of Eden ... or Camille, whose earlier friendliness had evaporated. She’d taken Eden’s bait, and now they were sniping at each other as if Anna wasn’t even here.
“Anna’s really come into her own this year. So mature, so lovely to see,” Camille said. “She might outpace you in sales soon, Eden.”
“Enough.” Anna held her hands out in front of herself. “Stop it. Both of you.” Horrified to feel tears welling in her eyes, she turned and fled toward the nearest exit, hoping she could sneak out of the party without causing a scene.
No such luck.
A wall of fans waited outside the ballroom, phones up and screaming her name. Anna froze, suddenly aware that her cheeks were wet with tears. She was gasping for breath and could only hope she looked like less of an emotional mess than she felt.
“This way.” Kyrie appeared at her side. She led Anna back into the ballroom and steered her toward a different doorway.
“Anna, wait!” Eden called from behind her.
Anna walked faster, hurrying toward what she could now see was a staff entrance. Kyrie ushered her through the doorway into a hallway that was blissfully empty, except for two waiters filling trays with flutes of champagne.
“Anna ...” Eden sounded closer now, breathless, as if she’d run to catch up with her.
“Not here, ladies,” Kyrie said, keeping a hand on Anna’s shoulder.
Anna finally turned to face Eden, who was flanked by Paris and Taylor, and wasn’t this fun? They couldn’t even have their first fight without involving their entire entourage. Anna swiped beneath her eyes, relieved the tears had stopped. Eden’s cheeks were pink, but she looked as obnoxiously composed as ever.
Kyrie, Paris, and Taylor escorted them into the staff elevator, and they began a painfully silent ride up to their rooms. Anna glanced at the panel and saw the button for the fiftieth floor was lit. Someone—probably Paris—had selected Eden’s floor as their destination, and that made Anna even angrier. She reached out and stabbed the button for the forty-seventh floor, because she was going to her own damn room tonight.
When the elevator stopped on her floor, she stormed out of it. To her annoyance, Eden followed with Taylor, Paris, and Kyrie in her wake. What a ridiculous procession! Anna had never hated being a celebrity more than she did at that moment.
She keyed into her room, unsurprised as Eden slipped in behind her. Anna closed the door as hard as she could, somewhat pleased by the solidthumpit made as it slammed shut. Then she whirled on Eden. “What the fuck was that?”
“Why are you so mad?” Eden asked, arms clasped over her chest. Her stage face had gone the moment the door closed, and now she looked as upset as Anna felt.
“Because you ... you acted like Camille down there!” Anna shouted, hoping no one was in the hallway to hear them, although shehad a sneaking suspicion Taylor was still there, waiting to escort Eden out of here after their fight.
“What?” Eden had the audacity to look offended. “I amnothinglike Camille.”
“Not usually,” Anna said. “But Camille was on her best behavior tonight. We were having a polite conversation, and you just stormed in like an alpha male in a pissing contest and ruined everything.”
Eden scoffed. “I was trying to help you.”
“I didn’t need your help!” Anna was yelling, and she almost never yelled. Her throat hurt, and her eyes stung with fresh tears.
“Why do you think Camille was being so nice tonight, hmm? Why do you think she’s here in Miami in the first place?” Eden sounded infuriatingly calm, almost condescending, and Anna couldn’t take it, not tonight.
“To see me!” Her face was hot, tears streaming over her flushed cheeks. “Maybe she wanted to be supportive for once. I’m sorry if that made you jealous.”
“She was trying to win you back,” Eden said. “Your star has risen this year, Anna. Camille sees it, and shewantsit. She wants to parade you around and tell everyone how she launched your career. She wants to take credit for your success. She’s a leech. Trust me, I did you a favor by interrupting.”
Trust me, Anna. I was doing you a favor.
Anna’s vision went hazy as Eden tossed out one of Camille’s favorite, most patronizing lines. Anna had heard it too many times. Her fists clenched against her sides. “You did me a favor? Are you serious right now?”
“Yes, I’m serious.” Eden hugged herself tighter, blinking rapidly. “But I’m sorry if I overstepped. I was only trying to help.”
“I had things under control with Camille, just like I told you I would. Now you’ve made a scene, and who knows how many people saw it?”
“I didn’t make a scene.” Eden’s neck was splotched with red, and her voice was higher than Anna had ever heard it. Maybe this was the closest Eden came to yelling.
Anna had the irrational urge to scream in her face, just to see if she could break Eden’s control. “Yes, you did. You were territorial and possessive, and Camille can probably guess why. She may be a lot of things, but stupid is not one of them. If she suspects we’re seeing each other, she’ll start rumors. Did you think about that?”