Page 53 of Knot Their Starlet

“I know having someone like Andromeda around can make that sort of behavior seem reasonable, you know how omegas can be, but I have higher hopes for you.”

Stephan’s words make my head jerk up to meet his gaze.

Did I hear him wrong?

Andi didn’t do anything wrong. Why is he bringing her up like that? I was the one to fuck up the shoot.

Also, what the hell does he mean by you know how omegas can be. I’m a goddamn omega too.

“Ex—excuse me?” I stutter, shaking my head in disbelief.

“Andromeda has always been... strong-headed,” Stuart says, inserting himself into the conversation with a shake of his head. “It’s unfortunate. We all just want what’s best for her.”

My bullshit meter starts to go off.

This isn’t right.

Andi is awesome. They’re making it seem like she’s a bitch that’s hard to work with. Nothing I’ve seen from her has given me that sort of indication. The most attitude she showed was when they made her strip in front of a room full of people.

And even then, she still did it.

“Don’t talk about her like that,” I say, pushing back.

Stuart takes my arm, pulling me away from the photographer, who watches our interaction with hawkish eyes. I wrench my arm out of his hold, which is surprisingly tight.

“What the hell? Don’t touch me!” I hiss.

“That’s an excellent act,” Stuart says, his voice pitched so low only I can hear him. “But you can tone it down a little. No one will believe that you, of all people, are that into Andromeda.”

I seriously feel like I’m in an alternate universe. What the hell are these people talking about?

It’s like they’re living in a completely different reality. A reality where Andi is the exact opposite of who Andi’s shown herself to be.

Even when she was humiliated in front of the entire set, I was the one to storm off and ruin the shoot, not her.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I bite back.

Stuart’s beady eyes narrow on me, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. How the hell does Andi put up with this guy?

He opens his mouth, probably to say something ridiculous again, but I’m saved by a much softer hand on my arm.

Chamomile.

Soft and soothing, even past the de-scenter they sprayed us with.

“Andi,” I sigh, turning to her and flashing her a relieved smile.

“Hey,” she says, tugging me away, far gentler than her manager did.

“I was talking to him,” Stuart calls.

“Yeah, well, not anymore!” she says, not even bothering to give him or the photographer a second glance.

Maybe this is why they seem to have it out for her.

But still, I can’t help but break out into a relieved smile as she guides me down another hallway, away from the main set.

I’m struck speechless, smiling at her like a dumbass. The only saving grace I have is that her eyes are locked forward to whatever final destination she wants to take me to.