Sully would never send Xs as kisses. I should’ve known. But if she has his phone, then where is he?
“Did you steal his phone?” I stand firm. “Why can’t I speak to him?” I demand, sounding stronger than I feel.
She rolls her eyes. “Enough of this.” She snaps her fingers, and the pencil skirt woman reappears with paperwork in her hands.
“This is my assistant, Laura.” She gestures for Laura to set the pile of papers in front of me. “I want to make you an offer.” She snags a pen from her bra and tosses it in my direction.
I cackle, shaking my head. “You sound like the mob.”
“I’m worse than the mob, honey. I can do more things than they ever could,” Gigi says, her cold glare slicing into me, drawing blood.
I shift in my seat, my foot tapping anxiously against the floor. I glance around, but the rest of the house stays hidden from view.
Are we alone? Where is the band? Why do I feel like I’m about to be eighty-sixed?
“Here’s the deal.” Gigi smacks her lips, glancing at her phone like she has a million better things to do. “I’m ready to support your little mermaid gig Amy told me about—I’ll invest forty thousand dollars to kickstart your brand. Consider it a generous donation.”
Laura brushes her hands down her perfectly smooth skirt to avoid my gaze. It’s like Gigi’s offering me a full-ride scholarship to the dream university I’d never afford to get into myself. “Allow me to boost your career. You could be famous by this time next year.”
As if I need her help. I’m already creating my own splash. But I doubt she cares.
I leaf through the papers, beyond confused. Why on Earth would she want to give me fortune and fame? We don’t even know each other. Unless it’s a buyout. Hush money. A parting gift from Sully.
My heart leaps into my throat, and I must speak before the words choke me. “What’s the catch?”
Here we go. They’ll say to leave Sully alone, and he’ll find out about this conversation and go off on them again. This is a never-ending battle.
Gigi nods at the paperwork. “It’s all there. I help you, and you kill this…thing between you and Sully.” She wrinkles her nose as if our relationship smells of rotting garbage. “Liquidate your relationship. Never tell a soul you were with him.”
“You can’t be serious. This is—”
She holds up her hand. “I’ll spell it out for you. You were never his girlfriend or fuck buddy. Yes. You met him during a meet and greet with your favorite band. Lucky you.”
I clench my jaw to the point my teeth might break. They don’t know about Sully posing with me during my mermaid shoot. What would they do if they saw those pictures posted online? Could they sue me?
“I have more than just one photo.”
Gigi leans forward, resting her palms on the table across from me, and stares into my being. “Whatever other pictures you have must be deleted.”
My blood boils, but I hold my tongue. I skim the words before me, and it’s like I’m signing divorce papers. The phrases are all legal terms that make my brain pound. Do I need a lawyer for this shit?
“Where’s Sully? I need to speak to him.” My voice cracks, betraying me.
Gigi nudges the pen toward me. “He’s busy. Just sign the papers and go. Your ride’s waiting.”
“This is insane,” I whisper, my pulse pounding. “You have his phone and he’s not even here. It’s like you’ve—” I swallow. “It’s like you’ve made himdisappear.”
She lets out a cold, humorless laugh. “Sweetheart, he’s not dead. He just can’t stand the sight of you.”
My fingers tighten around the pen. For a brief second, I imagine stabbing Gigi in the neck, then smashing the chair into Laura for looking so damn smug.
But I stay still. I won’t give them the satisfaction.
“And if I don’t sign?” I lift my chin and stare at the back of Gigi’s meticulously braided bun, avoiding her eyes. If I look at her, I might scream. Or cry.
But I won’t break.
Gigi moves around the table, appearing like she’s floating in that long red dress. “I’ll ruin you.” Her words twist the knife in my gut, but I won’t show the pain.
