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Clever girl. You stay safe for me. I’m on my way.
He was going to find Chloe, then he was going to give her all the time and space she needed to share her secrets. And when she was done, he was going to finally do what he should have done all those months ago.
He was going to go into battle for the woman he loved.
CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR
The first sign of trouble came in the early hours of the morning. After Jordan had left to go and see his brother in Colorado, Chloe had dragged herself out of bed and made a fresh brew of coffee. It had taken two strong cups to get her brain into gear. Jordan was a magnificent lover, but exhausting.
She was due to start costume fittings later this week, and there could be no hiding the marks and bruises that their vigorous love making was leaving on her body. “We might have to dial back on things until after the fittings.” It was either that or ordering a truckload of flesh colored body stockings.
Phone in hand,seated at the island bench in the kitchen of her sky villa Chloe was mindlessly scrolling through TikTok when a text message popped up. It was from Stixxluv.
Marta has sold story to press. Going live today. Thought you should know.
What is she saying?
You are bankrupt. Owe her tons of money. Jet seized. Lies.
Thxs.
Chloe blinked back hot tears.Fuck. What will the fans think? Will they hate me?
The story was bound to break at some point, but she’d been hoping to have the opportunity to explain everything to Jordan. That had been in her plans for tonight. She cursed herself for having waited.
Thanks, Marta. Once again, you’ve pulled the rug out from under me.
It was just before seven thirty, and Jordan had left for Aspen an hour ago. His plane would be in the air by now. Not that her financial problems were anything he could do much about, but seeing a friendly face would have made things a little easier.
No. He’s on Royal Resorts company business. I should leave him alone.
While she had been riding high in the music charts withBitter Babe, the man she loved had been going through hell. He’d forgiven her, and she owed it to him not to let this business with Marta and her lies come between them.
Outside the window, the neon lights of the casinos were giving way to daylight. If the LA press had gotten hold of the story, she would be top of the early morning news. And once the LA press cohort got hold of the scandal, then Chloe Fisher would be prime morning news across the whole USA. She called her manager.
“Hi, Chloe. I was just about to call you, I didn’t know if you were up yet. Apparently, there is a story about to break,” said Nancy.
“Yeah, I just got a text from a friend. Marta my old assistant has gone to the press. She’s told them that I am broke and owe money all over town. Should we be issuing a press statement?”
Cunning Marta had obviously seen Chloe doing the press rounds over the past day promoting her Las Vegas residency and taken the opportunity to throw as much shade as possible.
“We will, but not until I’ve had a chance to talk to your lawyer and get an update from the accountants on who you still owe money to. I’m assuming since the Royal Resorts people have already paid your signing on fee that your finances are in better shape than they were at Christmas.”
She could trust Nancy not to go shooting off first thing. Her words gave Chloe comfort. If people read that she’d had a blip with her money, especially around the time she was changing management, people wouldn’t see that as much of a story. If they played it smart, Marta’s story could be dead by midday. Disgruntled former employees of famous people were a dime a dozen.
“So we sit tight until Sandra and her people can give us the figures?”
There is no need to panic. No need to call Jordan.
“Yes, that’s the first part of the plan. The other part is necessary, but definitely not nice. I want you to read the press articles when they hit the wire this morning. I will get my people watching and recording the TV shows, as no doubt will Sandra and the legal team. We—and I include you in that—Chloe, will have to know everything Marta has said, only then can we decide what course of action to take.”
I can do that. I’ll make notes in my journal.
“Oh, and one other thing. I know it might be tempting to call the press yourself, but I need you to lay low. I will let the Royal Resorts PR people know that we are waiting until we know everything that Marta has said. Then we will discuss our tactics.”
Chloe had been around the business long enough to understand why. The last thing an artist ever wanted to do was to get involved in a tit-for-tat exchange with someone via the media. It never ended well. The fact that Nancy was going to include her in the discussions was a great relief. It was something Foster would never have done.
“I agree with our plans. Thanks, Nancy. I’m going to turn off my phone for the next few hours, and I’ll call you later tonight.”
