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“I didn’t steal him. Or at least I didn’t mean to,” I tell her. “Are you going to fire me?”
She sighs into the phone. “No, I’m not going to fire you. We’re just going to ask you to lie low for a little bit. The recent videos you shot will be on a delayed release. Eventually, I think they’ll release them, but first Ed wants to talk to you.”
“The CEO wants to talk to me?” I shriek as quietly as I can into the phone.
“I’m sorry, but he does. When can you be at the home office?”
“I-I don’t know,” I stammer. “Let me check on a few things, and I’ll get back to you.”
“Okay,” she says sharply. “But let me know sooner rather than later.”
Just like that, Tina’s gone. I exhale loudly and lean against the wall. Sinking to the floor, I take a few deep breaths. How can this be happening? When I woke up this morning, I was happy. Now I’m just the world’s biggest whore because I took a singer’s boyfriend—even though he wasn’t. I don’t know if I can tell people that, which is why I kept my mouth shut to Tina in the first place. I’m not sure she would have believed me to begin with.
I can hear the guys from inside the conference room. It sounds like a pissing match coming from in there, and I just can’t deal with it. I sit there a little while longer, until Dale ends up finding me.
“Brent sent me out here to check on you. He said something about your job calling you.”
“Looks like I just might need your PR services too. I have to meet with the CEO of Beachbody at some point, and the videos I just shot for my new program are being put on hold.”
Dale nods. “Sorry,” he says.
I’m not sure what else I can say. I doubt he’ll sympathize with me any more than he already has, especially after the way he talked to Derek. “Things don’t sound good in there.”
He shrugs. “Not sure what you want me to say, kiddo. Big brother told everyone to leave his sister alone. Derek had the balls to not listen. I can’t believe that didn’t sit well with Ace,” Dale says sarcastically.
“I’ve loved Derek since I was a kid. We’ve known each other for quite some time. This wasn’t just a fling.”
“So, you wanted him and finally saw the chance to take it when he was a rock star?”
“No!” I exclaim. “That’s not what’s happening here. I just never thought he’d look at me that way until he did. I didn’t mean to cause this big of a mess.”
“Well, you did.” He laughs. “Big brother may calm down, or he may not. That’s between the two of them. The one thing you need to remember is that Derek is who he is. I just hope you know who that is.”
I go to say something, but he holds up a hand. “I don’t need an explanation.”
“Okay.” I open the conference room door. Derek and Aiden are still shouting at each other. “Shut up, both of you,” I say loudly.
Aiden’s and Derek’s eyes snap over to me immediately.
Aiden starts talking first. “Aud, I just wanna make sure—”
“What about shut up was so fucking confusing?” I shake my head.
“Nothing,” he mutters.
Derek smirks and I just shake my head at him. “Aiden, why is this such a big deal for you? Is it because our faces are splashed all over the papers and social media? Is it because people are calling me a whore? Or a homewrecker? Or is it because I’m your sister and he’s your best friend? Are you really that freaking possessive?”
“You’re asking me too many questions,” he replies, like he’s trying to make light of the situation. I glare at him in return. “It’s just that I don’t want anyone to hurt you. And I definitely don’t want it to be Derek. I’ve seen him backstage. I know how he operates. I don’t want him screwing with you and then leaving you.”
“So, you would rather some complete stranger do that? Because you know that could happen too.”
“Then it wouldn’t be someone I know. What if you ask me to stop being in the band if he breaks up with you?”
“We’re both mature adults, and it’s my life. If I want to make what you think is a mistake, then why can’t I do it?”
“I know you think I’m being a caveman here, Aud. But come on, it’s Derek. How can you want someone with his past?”
“You don’t know him like I do, Aiden.”
