4
My blood went from a simmer to a rolling boil, my heart hammering a chaotic rhythm against my ribs. The incessant ringing was a time bomb, ticking down to my social implosion.
Dammit, Andrew, couldn’t you engage your brain before texting?!
He was making us look like we were having a sordid affair!
[What is happening?! Isn’t he with Chloe?]
[OMG, are they having an affair behind Chloe’s back?! Look at Chloe, her lips are completely white. My poor baby…]
[A cheater and a homewrecker. Disgusting!]
4/8
16:48
16:48
Chapter 1
[Come on, guys. A famous paparazzo once followed Andrew 24/7 for three months straight and found that when he wasn’t shooting, he was sneaking out of the film set at midnight to play Plants vs. Zombies at an internet cafe.]
[A guy like that probably has trouble dating at all, let alone being a cheater. Chloe’s fans need to chill.]
[LMAO that last comment killed me.]
[I hate to admit it, but Andrew really does give off destined–to–be–single vibes…]
[Andrew’s fans are quiet, not dead! Stop spreading these baseless rumors.]
[Maybe someone just shamelessly offered herself up on a silver platter? We all know Lily has no bottom line.]
I clutched my phone, trapped between a rock and a hard place. Finally, I forced a pained smile and called out to the other guests.
“Andrew must have figured out we’re filming! He’s just playing along. Let’s all say hi to him together!”
Sorry, Andrew, but my ass isn’t nice enough to carry this burden alone. Everyone’s going down with me…
I raised my arm, holding the phone high to make sure the camera could capture everyone in the shot.
Chloe’s miserable, resentful expression instantly morphed into a coquettish pout. She fluffed her hair and squeezed her way to the front of the crowd.
Perfect. My damage control plan was already forming in my head.
First, by accepting the call instead of rejecting it, I was showing that I was open and had nothing to hide.
Second, if they really were dating, I’d spin it as me being a huge shipper of their relationship, playing match-
maker live on air.
And if they weren’t dating, this would perfectly shift all the negative attention onto the pretentious Chloe and
the suddenly exhibitionist Andrew.
A flawless plan. I was a genius.
