“Why would you say that?” I ask. “I’ve always worked hard for what I have.”
She points a finger at me. “Did you work hard to get Lucas’ attention at school? Did you work hard when your stupid YouTube videos went viral? Oh, and let’s not forget, you even bagged a top football player. So when you say you worked hard, what a joke.”
“So, this is all about jealousy? You’re jealous of what I have?” Everything I’ve done I always made Claudia a part of. Even included her in the business.
Her gaze travels from my head to my toes and back again. Her nose screws up in disgust, and I know she’s trying to make me feel insecure. I will not let people’s opinions of my body affect me anymore. “There’s nothing to be jealous of,” she says.
“I don’t believe you. Lucas rejected you in high school because he wanted me, so with the help of Travis you planned to get me to skinny-dip and leaked the photos. Then came Darren. Did youwant him too? When you learned he was cheating on me, you wanted me to find out in the most humiliating way so I’d never take him back and then you could have him?” This is so twisted.
She gives a mirthless laugh. “I already had him. He was fucking me long before you. What you didn’t see in that video with him and Karen was me joining them. I cut that out.”
Nausea rises to my throat. How was I so blind?
“You were Darren’s ticket to stardom, and he rode it hard—along with some other people.” She smirks like she thinks sleeping with him hurts me. Anything to do with Darren no longer affects me.
“You think you’re hurting me.” I open my arms out wide. “Yet here I am standing taller than ever. Your plans have constantly backfired. With everything you’ve thrown at me, I’ve only gotten stronger.”
The smugness drops from her face. “Your career is over. Just because you’ve showed some nudes doesn’t mean it will take off again. You are old news. No one wants you.”
“Except for Lucas. He wants me. Helovesme. Would do anything to make me happy.” Now it’s my turn to look smug. “You musthatethat. As for my career, I’ve come to terms with it never being the same again, because I’m choosing for things to be different. I’m happier than I have ever been. All your scheming and backstabbing has given me more than I could ever have dreamed possible. So, I should thank you for giving me something valuable—Lucas.”
Claudia’s mouth opens and closes, then her lips slam into a thin line. My happiness and her failure to bring me down must be killing her.
I can’t stand to be in the same room with her a moment longer. I’ve gotten my answer. It all came down to jealousy and Claudia being a wicked person. Instead of working for the things she wanted, she had to drag me down to try and steal them from me.
“I never want to see you again. If you so much as post a single thing about me online, sell any more photos, or breathe a word about me to anyone, I will hit you so hard with a lawsuit your head will spin. Understand?”
Claudia gives me a baleful glare and doesn’t answer.
“It’s not a threat. I will do as I say. You’re lucky I didn’t get the police involved with the little stunt you tried to pull with my photos. So do you understand?”
With a tight jaw, she nods her head and scurries from the room.
When she’s gone, the strength in my legs give out, and I collapse into the nearest chair. With shaking hands, I cup my face. I can’t believe I held it together the way I did. I must have been running on adrenaline. As it fades away, my body trembles.
A few moments later, Lucas barrels into the room and drops to his knees in front of me. He takes my hands in his. They are so big and strong, and I immediately stop shaking. He’s got me. Always will.
“Are you okay?” he asks. “I saw Claudia storming out of the gallery.”
“I’m fine.” Although it will take a while to mourn the loss of a friendship I thought I had.
“This must be such a shock.”
I brush back a lock of hair that has fallen over his brow. “She hurt me like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. But with you by my side, I know I’ll get through it.” The love shining for me from his eyes is enough to tell me I’ll be okay.
Smiling, he kisses my lips. “I’ll never leave your side. I’m yours forever. Never forget that.”
I return the smile and kiss. “You have me forever too.” He pulls me in for a hug. “I thanked Claudia for the things she did to me.”
Lucas pulls back. Creases form between his eyebrows. “Why would you do that?”
“If she hadn’t done all those things, you would never have helped me at the hotel. Never taken me to your cabin, and we would never have fallen in love.”
“If she hadn’t started the whole thing in high school, something could have happened between us then.”
“We were so young. What were the chances of it lasting?”
“True. I only wish she didn’t hurt you so bad in the process. Did she tell you why she did it?”
