Claudia’s phone beeps with a text. As she reads the message, her shoulders slump. Once she’s finished reading, she tosses the phone next to her on the couch. “Who have you talked to about your fake relationship with Lucas? Seriously, Pen, you’re making it difficult to work for you. The hole you keep digging yourself in is getting deeper and deeper. I can’t save you anymore.”
The comment is like a slap to the face. Why is Claudia so harsh?
“What’s happened? Who knows their relationship is fake?” my mother thankfully asks, because at the moment I’m too drained from all this drama that keeps coming up to speak.
Claudia blows out a frustrated breath. “According to the latest stories, Lucas and Penny are faking their relationship for a publicity stunt. Their reputations are tanking, and this is their way of building it back up. Actually, for the first time, the mediahas gotten a story right. Might as well let them run with it. There’s no coming back from this.”
“So that’s it? You’re giving up?” my mother asks.
Claudia rubs her fingertips up and down her forehead. “What more can I do? Every time I try to fix things Penny does something to ruin it.”
She’s got blow after blow coming for me today. “How is this my fault?”
Rolling her eyes, she says, “You told someone about fake dating Lucas.”
I’m not liking Claudia’s attitude toward me. It’s something I’ve never seen before. “I told no one except the two of you.”
“What about Lucas? Would he tell anyone?” my mother asks.
“Only his family, and no one would leak it. They’re a tight group. They stick together. It was actually his brother’s idea.”
“Then you must have told someone else,” Claudia accuses.
“No. I didn’t,” I grind out with frustration.
“Did you say anything to Darren when you visited him?” she asks.
A cold shiver runs through my body. “He was suspicious about our relationship. Didn’t think I could get anyone like Lucas unless it was fake. He even suspected we were doing it for good publicity. I thought I’d convinced him he was wrong.” Did I though? I played it off as him having a silly thought and he could believe what he wanted. I obviously didn’t convince him. Once again, I’m paying the price for the fifteen minutes of fame he’ll get from this.
Throwing her hands in the air, Claudia says, “Congratulations. Looks like you’ll be planning random women’s baby showers for the rest of your life. Because your reputation is completely ruined.”
I propel from the chair and dig my hands on my hips. “What is your problem? I thought you’d be more sympathetic aboutwhat’s happening to me. Instead of acting so cold, giving up, and telling me my reputation is ruined, maybe try to offer some solutions. If there’s noPenelope Aldin, there is no company, and that will include all staff, even the ones in this room.” Not in all the years we’ve been best friends and colleagues have I ever gotten mad at Claudia before. Nausea rolls in my stomach that it’s happened.
Claudia’s face drops with remorse. “I’m sorry. This is so stressful. I hate what people are saying about you. It’s all lies, and you don’t deserve it. You especially don’t deserve me getting bitchy about it. I’ve taken my frustrations out on you. I feel terrible speaking to you the way I did.”
Sagging onto the couch next to her, I pull her in for a hug. “I’m sorry you’re under so much pressure.” While she’s trying to fix my reputation I’m having the time of my life living with Lucas. I’d forgotten what stress she’d be under. “Let’s ignore what they’re saying. You’re right. There’s nothing we can do to fix it. Let’s focus on the things we can control, like planning the best baby shower New York City has ever seen.”
Claudia smiles. “Sounds like a great idea.”
My mother glances between us. “You’re really not going to do anything about what they’re saying?”
“What’s the point? Nothing’s working. They’ll only find something else to post about me. The less I say, the better.”
“Here’s an idea. If you really want your reputation to skyrocket again, you can always ‘leak’ your forest photos. Sex tapes have done wonders for many celebrities. Maybe this will help you too,” my mother suggests.
My jaw drops open. “What the hell, Mom? That’s disgusting.”
“Elizabeth, you can’t be serious,” Claudia says, looking as shocked as I feel.
My mother laughs. “I was kidding. Sheesh, can’t you take a joke?”
“That wasn’t funny.” Even the thought of those photos being leaked freezes the blood in my veins.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I thought I was lightening the mood.”
Claudia turns to me. “Just keep on the down-low. We’ll ignore what’s being said, and hopefully, it will die down soon.”
Sounds like a good plan, if I wasn’t going to an event with Lucas tonight. Where we’ll be in the spotlight again. Can we pass as a couple if the media is questioning whether it’s real? Will they see past the lies proving it’s fake?
