Unknown number.
I opened it anyway.
Kieren asked me to reach out. I'm his agent. Contract stuff. Tonight at his place?
I stared at the screen for a beat.
Seriously?
He couldn’t even text me himself?
Of course not. That would involve acknowledging my existence in a direct and non-confrontational manner. God forbid Mr. “I Handle Emotions With My Fists” act like a human being.
I snorted and tossed the phone on the couch, rubbing my hands down my face.
He probably didn’t even want me to say yes. This was damage control, plain and simple. A PR stunt gone rogue. I was the necessary evil in a headline he didn’t want to be part of.
Still.
I picked up my phone again and texted Talia.
Just got invited to Kieren’s place. His agent wants to go over the fake dating contract.
She responded in .3 seconds flat.
Go. Read everything. Sign nothing until I review.
Not even if they offer a signing bonus in the form of bourbon and silence?
Especially if they offer bourbon. That means they’re trying to distract you. Stay sharp.
I sighed and stared down at my fuzzy socks.
This wasn’t how I thought the day would end. I’d figured on takeout, a rerun of something ridiculous, and maybe three solid hours of wondering why the hell I’d agreed to pretend to date Kieren Walker like some bootleg Taylor Swift PR tour.
Instead, I was going to his apartment.
Alone.
At night.
I was either about to make the smartest career move of my life… or the dumbest personal one.
Knowing me, probably both.
I grabbed my bag and swapped my hoodie for something that didn’t scream “I cried into a bag of popcorn an hour ago.” Black blazer. Fitted jeans. Neutral lipstick. Polished but unbothered.
Professional armor.
On the way out, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
My expression was tight. My ponytail was sharp enough to stab someone.
Good.
I didn’t know what Kieren wanted. Not really. But I knew this much: I was going in as Daphne Sommers—reporter, strategist, not some girl who flinched when he glared or blushed when he growled something borderline feral in her defense.
This was business.
