“Harper?” Darcy’s at the door.
Melody gives my hand one more squeeze. “I’ll get your gear together.” She steps past Tony.
Darcy steps inside. “You heard about the pictures?” Her expression is all business. “The press is outside, and PR’s putting together a statement for you.”
The PR team for this management group is the worst. Everything they put together sounds canned and artificial, because itiscanned and artificial.
I shake my head. “I can’t do this. I need a break. I need time to clear my head.”
“There’s no time. They need you in makeup in ten. Got it?”
“No. I’m not up to this right now.” I shake my head vehemently, and her eyes narrow.
“Yes, you are.”
“No, Darcy. I need some time off.” My voice is wavering. “I’m telling you I can’t go in front of the cameras right now.”
She presses her lips together. “Harper, we need to nip this in the bud. Tonight. Then you’ve got dance rehearsals tomorrow, and the voice coach is flying in to get you ready for Toronto. There’s no time for a break.”
“There’s never any time for a break!” I realize I’m shouting, and I stop, covering my mouth. My whole body is trembling.
“You’re not being reasonable.” Her voice is tense. “Take five and pull yourself together.” She turns and walks out of the room, leaving me alone, and I pull the door closed behind her so Tony can’t gawk at me. I hate the way he’s always staring.
My eyes land on my phone, and I grab for it. I have to see how bad it is.
I search my name, and it’s even worse than I imagined.
“Celebrity Shocker: Harper Slade and Johnny Sayers Romance All Smoke and Mirrors”
“Fake Daters Harper Slade and Johnny Sayers Had Us All Fooled”
“Fans Duped: Harper Slade Lied to Us”
My eyes sting, and I can’t hold back the tears anymore. They roll down my cheeks as I scroll.
Picture after picture of Johnny with Claire. Kissing her. Johnny with his arm around her, Claire grinning back at him. The two of them holding hands while waiting in line at an ice cream shop. Some of the photos are blurry or taken at odd angles, but it’s obvious this has been going on for a long time.
But the photos of Johnny and I are even harder to stomach. The ones with us gazing into each other’s eyes. The ones where I’m resting my head on his shoulder. In every one, I’m smiling like a fool. Every fake moment preserved in high-definition, picture-perfect detail.
Forever.
I can’t stand it anymore.
I burst through the door, shielding my tear-streaked face with my hand. Tony follows close behind. “Not now, Tony. Can’t you just—” I wave my phone in the air, trying to wish him away, but he’s striding alongside me.
“You’re not safe without an escort,” he barks.
“I’mbackstage!” I’m over his ridiculous rules. He’s been my head of security for the past year, and he’s always snapping orders and telling me what to do. “This wholeareais protected!”
I keep begging management to get rid of this guy, but with the stalker situation escalating, they won’t budge. They say Tony’s the best security money can buy with all of his connections to law enforcement.
I’m skeptical.
I head straight for the ladies’ restroom—the only place he won’t follow me—but he signals for one of the female guards.
“Let me go on my own.” My voice is sharp, and I show her my palm to beg her to stop. Her chin jerks back in surprise, but shestations herself in the hallway. I step into the bathroom, cruising right through the door on the other side and slipping past a security guy who’s engaged in a conversation.
But what am I going to do? Run away?
