“What’s the matter?”
“I’m with Royce.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue.
“You’re notreallywith him though, are you?” He smirks.
I blink.
“I know about the fake relationship, he told me.”
I swallow down the bile that coats my throat.
“You didn’t really think he cared about you… did you?” His brow raises as he stares me down.
I ignore his harsh words and shake my head. He laughs, his head tipping back.
“But me, I’ll take care of you… there’ll be no fakeness.”
I inhale heavily, my nostrils flaring. “I don’t swear,” I say as my voice trembles, “but internally, I am cussing you out.” I shake my head in pure disgust as I walk away from him.
His laughs echo around marina and suddenly, when my phone begins pinging and ringing, I know I have made a huge mistake.
“Nora,” I whisper into the phone, tears threatening to fall.
“What the…Athena?! There are photos of you all over socials with Cowan…”
“It’s not what it looks like.” I choke on a sob, a tear running down my cheek.
“Are you sure? Because what it looks like is that you’remeantto be dating Royce… and here you are, plastered over every social and F1 gossip page with his rival.”
I swallow down the tears. Rage swims in my stomach, my heart batters around in my chest as I storm up the slight hill towards the apartments.
My phone pings again and I drag it from my ear for a moment and see a blast from the Hot Goss Paddock.
Uh oh, looks like Royce’s girl has got herself hooked on a new Formula One driver. This is going to cause trouble in paradise, that’s for sure… poor Royce. Xoxo
Anger burns through my veins. “He broke it off with me! The thing he asked me for, to help him with you know, the bit where he didn’t want his name tarnished … and then”—I stop walking, my chest caving in as it aches—“he fake dumped me.” My heart races, my eyes misting over.
“What?” Nora can hardly get her words out.
I say nothing, I stand in front of the apartments, tears rolling down my face.
“I’m sorry Athena, come to my apartment. We will sort this out.”
I nod as if she can see me.
“And Cowan?”
“Is a jerk.” I sniffle, a half laugh half sob catching at the back of my throat. “Just a bad angle, unfortunately.”
“Where are you now?” I can hear the concern in Nora’s voice.
“Standing outside the apartment block.” I sigh, tilting my head back and seeing the soft glow of the penthouses.
“I’ll buzz you up, and whatever you do, don’t go on your socials.”
“Okay, I’m walking in now,” I mutter, cutting the phone off.
Alexandre is on the door and greets me as I walk past. I try my best to give him a smile, but it doesn’t quite meet my eyes and I hate it. I duck inside, keeping my head down as I move for the lift. I know where I need to go, and I silently beg that I don’t bump into Royce.
