Page 21 of Hotter in the Hamptons

“It means they adore you, but they don’t think you can move product.”

“What?”She was yelling now. “Of course I canmove product.That’s my whole fucking thing!”

“Itwasyour thing,” Todd corrected. “And you were great at it. You had your followers eating out of the palm of your hand. Those girls would buy whatever you told them to.”

“But now?” Lola asked, though she knew the answer.

“And now, I hate to say it, but you’ve lost your audience’s trust,” hesighed. “They want to be told what’s cool, not what’s…” He trailed off.

“Bland,” she said flatly.

“Right. Not what’s bland or basic or boring, whatever you want to call it. And you know, Shopbop is very it girl, very new, very now. They want their customers to come to them for things that are interesting.”

Tears began pouring down her face before she even registered them. “I’m not interesting enough for fuckingShopbop,” she sobbed. “I’m not interesting enough to put my name on goddamnmaxi dresses.”

She could hear Todd’s uncomfortable breathing through the phone.

Ryan squeezed her hand.

“Look, Lola,” Todd said. “I’ve always been honest with you, and I won’t stop now.”

“Obviously,” Ryan mumbled.

Todd continued. “This summer is going to be rough. There aren’t going to be a lot of deals. I don’t know how useful it is for you to have me hanging around while you ride this out.”

Next to her, Ryan’s mouth fell open.

“Wait,” she said. “Wait, wait, wait.” She had broken out into a cold sweat.

“I’m sorry, Lola,” Todd said. “I think we should put our working relationship on ice for the time being.”

“Todd, what the fuck are you talking about? We’ve been working together since I was twenty-one.Youfoundme!You negotiated my first deal. Do you even remember?”

“Of course I remember,” he said. His voice softened. “Three posts to your grid for $250 and a pair of Birkenstocks. Man, those were the days. And look at you now! We’ve made millions together. For a lot of people, that would be enough.”

“Enough?” Lola was flabbergasted. Ryan’s mouth still hung open.“Enough as in it’s over? I should quit because I’ve made some money?”

“And look,” Todd continued, ignoring her, “we might as well get it all out there. I spoke with your agents this morning, and they think it’s best if we all take a step back.”

Lola was suddenly filled with a rage so blinding, she wasn’t sure if she could survive it. She threw her phone with all her might across the room. It dented the wall with a loud thud before falling to the floor.

“You still there, Lola?” Todd’s voice sounded tinny and faraway through the speaker. “Talk soon.” He hung up.

Ryan leapt to his feet. “That motherfucking traitor,” he spat. He began pacing around her bed, muttering to himself. How angry he was on her behalf almost made Lola feel better. Almost.

Ryan grabbed an empty Stanley cup from the floor and filled it with more vodka.

“Can you do me a favor and tell me if my phone is shattered?”

He picked it up and examined it. “Just a cute crack,” he said. “Honestly, I’m impressed you made it this long without breaking it. I can’t believe you don’t have a phone case.”

He handed over the cracked phone, and she immediately dialed her publicist, Veronica.

“Good idea,” Ryan said while it rang. He splayed across her bed and looked at the ceiling.

“Lola, hey,” Veronica said when she picked up on the third ring.

“Todd isleaving me,” Lola said, barely getting the words out before she began to spiral. Ryan put a hand on her leg.

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