Page 24 of Filthy Rich

Is she saying I’m being. . .protective?

Bea’s smirk has always irritated me. “Are you sure you’re not the one who leaked the video?”

Octavia’s eyes widen.

She can’t think I’d be that stupid, right? I’ve been paying attention. I don’t go fighting wars for people they don’t want me to fight, at least, not in ways they would clearly hate. All I did on social was tell the studio I wouldn’t let them push my family around.

“Do you really think I’d have done that?” I look at Octavia to see if she thinks it was me, too.

“I guess you’re right.” Bea’s clearly not convinced. “It’s someone who wanted to help, but didn’t really get it.”

That’s her reminder to me not to push this too far. All of this back and forth and making a big deal out of things is clearly upsetting the very person it’s meant to help. I get that. It can’t be nice to have public support only because someone mocked you so horribly about your greatest and most visible sensitivity.

I can’t help thinking about it, over and over as we record the scene another half-dozen times. Is Octavia upset or pleased that she’s doing the vocals and now the video as well? Or does she wish she’d just been cut out? I can’t tell.

She’s the same as she’s always been.

Which means she’s even better at putting up a front than I am. She must be hurting, though. If Patrice’s initial insult didn’t hurt, seeing it again and reading the callous and offensive comments must sting. The fact that the studio only did the right thing when their hand was forced can’t feel nice either.

“I think we can call it a day,” Eddy finally says, making the same looping wave he always does. “That’s a wrap.”

“That went fast.” I force a smile. “Right?”

“It helps that the singer you found never misses a single note.” Eddy’s half-smile is irritating. He may know how excellent she is, but he didn’t stand up for her when it mattered. He sees her as too weak to matter. That probably pisses me off more than anything else. “I couldn’t believe how in sync the two of you were. It felt like you’d performed together a dozen times.”

“Instead of the truth—that they barely know one another.” Patty’s extended artfully against the wall, her chest forced up and out in a pose I’m sure she’s practiced in the mirror a dozen times. Everything about her is so fake it turns my stomach.

An urge to show her that Octavia’s strong rolls over me. But how?

She doesn’t mess with me—we’re on par, really, because I have social media accounts and fans who will defend me. They’d turn on me in a second for a few misplaced comments, but as long as I’m careful, I do have some power. That’s why I’m not at risk like Octavia is.

But how could I extend my immunity to Octavia so Patrice would just leave her alone already? An idea hits me, but it’s a terrible one. I ignore it.

But the idea persists.

The more I think about it, the more I can’t seem to let it go.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I say, wondering as I do. Would Octavia go along with my stupid idea? Or is she the kind of person who insists on strict truth at all times? I decide to find out—maybe I do like playing the White Knight after all. “I think I know Octavia pretty well.” I sling an arm over her shoulders.

Patrice’s frown tells me it’s working. “She’s your sister’s friend, and I heard Bea say they only met a few months ago.”

“In addition to being my sister, Bea’s my roommate and my best friend,” I practically spit. “As usual, you’re totally wrong about all your assumptions.”

“I’m totally wrong about what, exactly?” Patrice steps closer. “Because it seems like a mistimed comment on my part is causing all sorts of problems. It might even put the movie’s success in jeopardy, and instead of shoring things up for the movie, you’re over here. . .whatever it is you’re doing.” She waves at Octavia. “You backed the wrong person.”

She’s clearly sore about my social media post, even though I kept things polite about her. “I backed Octavia because. . .”

This is the moment. But will claiming that we’re dating make Octavia’s life better? Or am I doing it because of some kind of caveman imperative to protect her? Sure, being tied to me will give her some notoriety, and it’ll grab more attention for the movie, too. It’ll also make Patrice look jealous, which she is. She’s jealous of Octavia’s talent, but no one will realize that. Any way I look at it, the rumor should help Octavia.

Unless she’s like Bea.

If she wants to be left alone, well. . .

She’s in the wrong career for that. If she wants to sing songs, if she wants to make music videos, she’s going to have to come to grips with people looking at her face and saying mean things. It’s the world we live in. While I work through things, my obnoxious co-star can’t keep her yap shut for three seconds.

“It’s fine,” Patrice says. “This will all blow over and you won’t have to do stuff like this with her anymore. By the time the movie comes out, everyone will have forgotten about all the nastiness, and they may even re-record this whole thing. You don’t have to worry about your image or being linked to her.”

Is that really what she thinks? That I can’t stand the thought of being linked to Octavia? Have I had that great a poker face, or is she just utterly delusional?

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