Page 52 of The Love Raffle

Amber drew her curtains, irritated by the light of the setting sun outside. She had a restaurant shift in two hours but would make the most of the measly nap she had planned since her migraine slipped in.

After pulling down her bedcovers and diving face-first into the pillows, Amber closed her eyes, welcoming the cool snugness of the fabric.

Unfortunately, sleep was not coming easily as she tried to ward off all the worries she’d had throughout her day. Her mom’s doubts, personal insecurities, and the fact that the entire planet believed she was some movie star’s mistress.

Mistress.Her cast mates had avoided the topic, but their faces gave away what they hid. Their pondering and wondering. She hadn’t clarified a thing. Was that a good move or a bad one? Navigating a scandal was not her strong suit. So far, Amber hasn’t exactly had to deal with people’s perceptions following the fiasco, but who knew? For all she knew, the paparazzi, angryfans, and public assaults could join her daily woes.The second someone throws a rock at me, I’m moving to Alaska.

All this thinking was pointless. She had spent almost a full day awake so sleep was more than due. She would cast aside her concerns and—

Her phone buzzed under her pillow.

Amber sighed but tucked her hand under and brought the phone to her face.

Elouise.Her friend had sent a photo.

Amber opened their chat and sat up immediately.

Was this her on the bus? The bus she’d taken to her apartment tonight?!

Amber was shocked that the photo came with a post reading,Amber after ruining every Captain Evolution fan’s dream come true. Some stalker snapped her picture. She hadn’t seen anyone photographing her. What was this?

She typed a message to Elouise asking if more unauthorized photos were flying around but the girl wasn’t online.Probably catching z’s too.Amber sighed and massaged her forehead. She didn’t have the energy to deal with this.I should text Levi.He’d been so scared of everything unraveling and now it had. What was his agent’s reaction? Was there a way of handling this?

Just then, she heard a knock at the door. Odd for someone who hardly got visitors.

Amber gulped and took a few steps to her door.With the way things are now, I need to be careful.Some insane person itching for relevancy might have followed her home.

She stood by the door with a hand on her chest, fearful of what waited behind it.Should I ask who it is?

The knock came again, more aggressive this time.

Amber stepped away, terrified that these were her last seconds.Yeah, some Levi superfan is so mad that they huntedme down to kill me.She needed to get out of there. To run away and—

“Amber,” said Levi. “It’s me.”

Amber sighed with relief and went to undo all the locks. She opened the door to let him in, so grateful for his arrival in her time of fear but…he was not alone.

Before Levi could step in, a woman with her hair in a bun sporting a cream-colored suit marched in briskly. Behind her was a tough-looking guy with dark skin, no hair, and a thick black mustache over his lips. Once these strangers barged through her door, Levi came after them, head down like a scolded puppy.

Amber didn’t understand. She closed the door and frowned at Levi. The woman must be his agent and the other guy his caretaker but why had he alluded to being alone?And why am I so angry about it?

“Ms. Amber Sheridan, is it?” asked Rachel after fitting herself between the couch and the kitchen. Her lip twitched after she quickly inspected the space, its size clearly foreign to a woman of her status.

Levi swiped a hand down the back of his head. He found a space next to Amber near the front door. Oscar stood by the coat rack, sizing up the tiny world. On their dates, it seemed like a pocket in time where he and Amber were the last humans on Earth. Having Oscar and Rachel waltz in here felt like a nightmare. Their presence brought a dose of reality to the fantasy he had been cherishing with Amber.

“Yes?” Amber searched Levi’s face for answers. Putting two and two together was easy but she’d prefer to know what sort of repercussions were at play here. Hollywood agents were a different breed. She’d initially feared these as her last moments due to the unhinged nature of Levi’s fans but now she wasterrified for other reasons. This woman had no power to ship her off to somewhere far away, right?

Rachel’s hands were behind her. “You fulfilled your purpose after you won a date with my client,” she said. “He got his much needed ratings boost, and you got your fifteen minutes of fame.” Her disappointment was visible in her clenched jaw and subtle frown. “I never imagined I’d have to explain to Leviwhyit’s aterribleidea to have a partnerinLos Angeles while he’s with someone else in the public eye but…here we are. The second I pieced it all together from the rumors of Levi being sighted at that low rated restaurant you call a place of work, to the wining and dining I caught in his penthouse. Your viral video stunt has forced my hand! It’s a steaming hot mess!” She slapped the back of the old sofa and then wiped her hand off on her top.

Levi blew air out of his nose. “Rachel, we were being careful—”

“Quiet! No, you were not!” Rachel held a hand to his face. Amber’s eyes widened. “And young lady, I don’t know what you were thinking, knowing full well he was in a public relationship and still agreeing to this ridiculous scheme.” Her face contorted into a mask of disdain. “What about your career?”

Amber had shrunk since the start of her lecture. “I-I don’t know. We just…” She turned to Levi, whose lips were sealed tight. “Look.” If he was too afraid to placate his agent, Amber would. “Scolding me and Levi like we’re a couple of mischievous toddlers is not going to change what’s happened, okay?”

Rachel scratched the middle of her bun with a single nail. “I’m quite aware—”

“Good, so let’s move forward. It may be an insane move, but I think what should happen now is we tell the truth.” Amber smiled; arms open wide. “I’m sure tons of people realized the whole Fiona-Levi thing was just a stunt to bring more buzz to the movie, so explain that and tell everyone that me and Levi haveactual feelings for each other. Fake girlfriend vs. real girlfriend.” She faced the caretaker for approval. “Right?”

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