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“There’s no way anyone couldnotadore you.”

“Just because you love me doesn’t mean that others will. You got it into your head that you could push me and Kaiser together, and I know you meant well … but I honestly wish that you hadn’t tried.” The longer our arrangement remained, well,an arrangement, the more it became clear that nothing would come of it … or it would have done so by now.

Lines of distress etched into Judy’s face. “I just want you to be happy.”

“And Iam. He would have enhanced that ‘happy,’ yeah. But not being in a relationship with him doesn’t detract from it.”

Judy rested a hand on my arm. “You don’t need to have others in your life to be content, I know that. But if you wander through life alone, it will eventually eat at the contentment you’ve found. Yes, you have me. But I won’t be around forever. You have your friends too, but they have their own lives. You have your career, but it won’t keep you from being lonely. Don’t be afraid to—”

The doorbell rang.

I swallowed. “That’ll be Adrian.” Opening the front door, I looked up, up, up and smiled at my bodyguard. “Hey, good to see you.”

He gave me a curt nod. “Inaya.”

“How’ve things been going with you?”

“Can’t complain. I’m alive, aren’t I?”

I snorted. “Dude, yousocomplain. Especially about taxes.”

“Everyone complains about taxes.”

While he grabbed my luggage, I turned back to Judy and said, “I have to go. I’ll call every day. Remember to take your med—”

“You don’t have to worry on that score, I promise,” she assured me.

I gave her a tight hug. “Love you.”

“Love you too, darlin’.”

Heading for the door, I added, “Try not to set anything on fire.”

“I only did that once.”

“Once was enough.”

Outside, I felt my smile falter at the sight of the limo that my manager, Derrick, had informed me he’d send. Because the vision made me think back to my first night with Kaiser at the—

No, I wasn’t going to think about that.

After a quiet car ride and a long-ass flight in a private jet, Adrian and I finally arrived in London. A limo was waiting for us at the airport, again courtesy of Derrick. The car took us straight to the hotel.

Adrian exited the limo first, and the chauffeur grabbed my luggage out of the trunk for me. I slid my sunglasses on, grabbed my purse, and kept my eyes straight ahead as we crossed to the hotel. Inside the reception area, I checked in at the front desk—my suite had been booked by Derrick under an assumed name, as usual.

If anyone recognized me, they didn’t approach. It was my hair that often gave me away, since the deep-red color wasn’t exactly subtle, nor were the streaks of purple and black. But we made it to the empty elevator without being delayed.

It was just after Adrian pressed the button for the top-tier suite that three more people entered the elevator—a guy as burly as Adrian, a suited blond male that had PA written all over him … and none other than freaking Camila.

Oh, heaven and hell.

She did a double-take on seeing me, and pure indignation flashed in her eyes.

I braced myself for a rant, but she sharply pivoted on her heel, dismissing me. That was a surprise. It was also a relief. I had no tolerance for the type of drama she liked to cause. And, considering she’d pressed a button for one of the higher floors, this wouldn’t be a short ride.

The shiny metal doors glided closed moments later, and the elevator began to ascend. Which was when Camila whirled toface me, her lips flat. Wonderful. It was really too much to hope for that she’d keep her mouth zipped, wasn’t it?

“Yourboyfriend’snot with you?” she snarked, both pissed and smug. “Oh, right. I forgot. The tabloids ran with that story, but his PR people insist you’re only friends. As does he in the messages he sends me.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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