Page 94 of Anyone But the Superstar

‘You’re the one who did this to her.’ I swallow back the emotion attempting to erupt from my chest. ‘Threatening to make her struggle public.’

‘What are you talking about?’

I’m not sure if she really deserves an Oscar or if she really had no idea what Camilla was going to do with the information Elizabeth gave her, but I decide to lay out for her. Let her know the true consequences of her selfish actions. ‘Your dear friend Camilla is a blackmailer. As soon as you gave her proof that I wasn’t living up to her lie of us being engaged, she retaliated. Got the whole world to hate me while being sympathetic to her.’

The lines between Elizabeth’s brows deepen. ‘I don’t understand, what proof? And what is she blackmailing you with?’

I choose to believe her confusion, only because if I don’t, Idon’t think I could recover. It isn’t until coming face to face with her, knowing what she’s been hiding and me still having to fight the urge to hold her, kiss her, look to her for comfort that I realize just how far I’ve fallen.

For Anne. Elizabeth. Whoever the person was who brought me back to the man I was before the fame.

‘My mother is in a rehabilitation program for drug addiction.’

Elizabeth’s head rears back, her eyes and mouth wide.

Clearing my throat, I explain. ‘My mother is getting the help she needs after being prescribed too much pain medication after a recent surgery.’ I take a breath. ‘She didn’t know. The doctor just kept giving her meds, thinking that she was really getting them for me, her movie star son who probably gets high for fun.’ I run a shaky hand through my hair. ‘She was just following doctor’s orders and then because of me…’

‘Felix.’ Elizabeth reaches out, but I jerk away, causing her compassion to fade and her shoulders to square. ‘I didn’t know about your mother. I swear. And even if I did, I wouldneverbe friends withanyonewho would use something like that against another person.’

‘Yeah, then how did they get this then?’ I cut her off, not wanting to hear how much she cares about the woman she helped hurt. Raising my phone, flashing her the picture of us kissing at NASA. ‘Who else could’ve sent this to Camilla?’

‘How could I have taken that picture?’ She shakes her head, crossing her arms. ‘I’m in it.’

‘You probably got someone else to take it for you.’ I pause, a memory hitting me. ‘Is that what David was whispering to you about before you kissed me?’

She frowns, as if thinking over my question. ‘No.’

‘Then what did he say before you kissed me in front of thewhole crew even when everyone knows stand-ins aren’t supposed to act out the scene?’

‘First of all, I’m not everyone. I don’t work in Hollywood, and I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to kiss you.’ Her cheeks darken, from embarrassment or anger I’m not sure. ‘And David was just trying to help me relax. He told me to—’ she sighs, some of the fight leaving her ‘—he told me to pretend like I was arriving at one of the galas I attended in the past. The ones I was forced to attend by my father.’ She shrugs, her eyes cutting to the side. ‘I always had to pretend to be someone else. That’s what I meant when I said I knew how you felt the other night.’

I scoff, too afraid to believe anything she says.

‘That picture—’ she points to the one of her next to Camilla ‘—was taken at one of those events. And while that is me next to Camilla, I don’t know her. I don’t know any of those people in that picture. It’s just a coincidence. I swear.’

Looking at the photo of Elizabeth next to Camilla only serves to propel my anger. ‘Oh, it’s just acoincidence, huh?’ My smile is not warm or genuine. ‘Just like youcoincidentallyforgot to tell me your real name? Or how youcoincidentallyshowed up in the condo Jack secured for me?’

Elizabeth’s jaw clenches. ‘I told you, I was here f?—’

‘Was sleeping with me a coincidence too, or was that part of the plan?’

A sharp satisfaction courses through me when her whole body flinches. But it’s short lived, turning bittersweet in the following silence.

Mike rises on his perch, his beady eyes narrowed on mine. Raising his tail, Mike readies to pounce.

I brace for impact, but he’s stayed when Elizabeth rests a hand on his back.

Breaking free of his judgmental stare, the weaker part of me still needing answers.

‘Why?’ The question sounding more broken than I’d like.

Her continued silence grates.

‘Why now?’ Rising anger strengthens my voice. My resolve. ‘Why not use the picture you took of me in the hotel when you had it?’

‘I deleted it.’ The words are forced between clenched teeth.

‘Really?’ Contempt drips off the word.

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