Page 80 of Baby for my Daddy's Best Friend

She nods. “But that doesn’t change the fact that your engagement has been mostly negative in the last few weeks. Any brand that chooses to work with you will see that first. I’m sure you’ve noticed that already.”

She’s right. My inbox was full of unreplied emails. Usually, I would have gotten a few sponsorships or brand deals by now, but even the brands that worked with me regularly were ghosting me.

“There has to be something you can do.” My tone takes on a hint of desperation. “I was told that you’re the best in the business, and I’m willing to pay whatever price you ask.”

She considers my words for a moment, adjusting her glasses. “Well, there is perhaps one way we can still spin this in your favor.”

“Tell me.”

“You could release a statement about how the owner of the vineyard lured you into this, and you were manipulated. It’s believable, given your age gap, and I think you might be able to get enough sympathy to get the public on your side again.”

“Absolutely not.” I shake my head. I would never cheapen what we had with claims like that.

Even if it came at the cost of my career.

She straightens her back. “Well, then, Miss Kingsley, I am afraid there isn’t anything else that I can help you with.”

I leave the meeting with a bitter taste in my mouth. My vacation daze had all but faded now, and the reality had begun to fully sink in.

My future looked bleak. Career prospects? Rapidly diminishing. Love life? Never has been worse.

It makes it all the worse that even experts refuse to help me sort this mess out. It’s too much for me, and on the drive back, I decide I need to take a break from social media.

As I get home, I settle in front of my camera.

“Hey, guys, just a little update. I’ve decided to step back from the screen for a bit. It’s a hard decision for me, since this is how I make my living. But I hope the few of you who are still in my corner understand that I have to do this for my health. I’ll miss you, but for now, this is me signing off.”

There’re tears in my eyes as I upload the video. Reactions start coming in immediately, but I sign out and delete my app, not having the courage to even look.

This isn’t what I thought would happen after my trip to Italy. Not at all.

Later that evening, Laurie finds me in my apartment, snuggled up on my sofa with a large tub of ice cream in my hands.

Knowing how much of a wreck I am, she’d made a copy of my apartment key and makes sure to drop by every now and then to check up on me. It has proven to be useful more than once.

She’ll hold my hand as I cry to her most times she visits.

“When was the last time you dressed up nice?” Her voice from the doorway startles me. I didn’t even notice her come in.

I glance down to my pajamas, which are stained.

“It’s been a minute.”

“Exactly.” She scoots over next to me. “It’s like you’re not even trying anymore, and it pains me to see you like this.”

I stuff my mouth with another spoonful of ice cream.

“This has to end, Quinn. You’ve been back weeks now and something needs to change. I’m staging an intervention. You need to clean up because we are going out tonight.”

She snatches the ice cream away from my hands.

“Hey, I was eating that.”

“That should be the least of your concerns. Right now, the only thing that should be on your mind is a night of drinks and dancing.”

“I’ll pass.”

“It wasn’t a request.”

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