Page 138 of The Rebel Billionaire

She pulls up a chair.

He turns to face her. “I’m taking it you’ll be around to meet and greet the press corps for Fashion Week?”

Her hand freezes, the colour draining from her cheeks.

She glances up, her eyes wide.

“What? Me?” she croaks.

“Callie always used to do it,” I say with a shrug. “It’s simply a case of meeting them as they arrive, showing them to their respective seats, and keeping them abreast of the schedule until the show starts.”

“Why me? Surely there’s someone else better equipped?” Her eyes dart between us, and I sense her rising panic. “What I mean is…”

I incline my head. “Who better than the individual who’s spent the past few months coordinating all the various teams?”

Enzo and I both stare at her. Brooke squirms in her seat.

“It’s just…” She stumbles, her eyes widening as she struggles to find an excuse. “I’ve had no training. What if I say the wrong thing? It’s one thing to organise, it’s another thing to be public-facing. I don’t feel confident…”

My brother shoots her a sympathetic smile. “Don’t stress. If you’d rather not, I’m sure we can find someone else.”

Her shoulders visibly sag.

What the hell?

I frown. Brooke is one of the friendliest, most outgoing people I’ve ever met. I’ve watched her schmooze directors and clients alike. She has them eating out of the palm of her hand, but suddenly, the idea of meeting the press has her spinning out of control? I would have assumed she would have jumped at the chance. Something feels off.

“If you can find someone else, I’d prefer that,” she says, her gaze dropping to the floor. I watch her chest rise and fall rapidly, as if she’s in the throes of a panic attack.

“I’ll speak to Sue,” I say.

Enzo’s eyes dart between us, and I know what he must be thinking. I’ve never backed down. If I give someone a task, I expect them to pull their weight. I’m as shocked as anyone.

“I can message Sue,” she says, her pen now moving against the tablet, taking notes.

“Don’t worry, the press here aren’t as bad as the paparazzi that follow Alex and me around. We can’t even date without a thousand questions being thrown at us. This lot are kittens in comparison.”

Brooke’s colour drains further.

“I don’t think you’re helping,” I tell my brother.

“Brooke, why don’t you pop down and see Sue? Discuss it with her.”

She jumps up as if her chair’s on fire.

“I’ll get on it right away,” she says, all but sprinting for the door.

When she’s gone, Enzo turns to me.

“Okay, that was strange.”

“You’re telling me,” I say. “That’s not the only thing. Have you ever heard Sophia mention Brooke’s mother, the mysterious friend whose daughter has just turned up out of nowhere and has her bending over backwards to accommodate her?”

“Have you spoken to Mother?” Enzo asks.

I quirk a brow and shake my head.

“Something is off. I’m not always the most intuitive when it comes to women, but whenever she talks about herself, she freezes.”