Page 33 of Chance of Romance
“Everyone at the wedding, I guess. My family, his family, our friends from college.”
“Are there still hard feelings between you and Kevin? Would he want to lash out at you?”
“No hard feelings on his part. He sent me an invitation to his wedding. He actually emailed too, wanting me to meet his fiancée.”
“What a dick move!”
She calmed down a little with fierce Claire on her side. “I really don’t see what he’d have to gain from telling people what he did though. It makes him look bad that he ditched me.” She looked out the window, thinking hard. “Maybe if someone got in touch with my family. They love publicity and wouldn’t hesitate to share. Though, so far, I haven’t heard a peep from any of them. It’s possible someone was digging into my past and found out Kevin and I applied for a marriage license that was never filed, or, I don’t know, someone just started digging, talking to people who knew me back then.”
“Who wants you to fall on your face?” Claire asked.
“Tara Brinkman. That relationship counselor I told you about. She threatened me with a lawsuit, saying I was trying to steal her clients. I suspected she was the one behind that article on me and Logan supposedly having a lovers’ spat.”
“If she was motivated enough, I’d say it was her. The problem is proving it. We can’t take legal action against her without some evidence.”
“Legal action,” Sabrina echoed, rubbing her temple.
“It’s defamation of character, and you can sue her for it. You’re a brand now, and we have to protect the brand.”
She thought about that. She didn’t know about the brand stuff, but damage to her reputation would definitely damage her career. “I don’t even know where to start finding evidence. All I know is she’s trademarked herself as the Commitment Counselor and had aNew York Timesbestselling book calledGoodbye Commitment-Phobe.”
“I remember her! Oh, yeah, she had her fifteen minutes of fame. She’s probably just jealous of you.”
“There is some overlap in our practices. She has an office not far from mine. One in Manhattan too.”
“I’ll get someone to dig into her a little more. See what she’s up to.”
She held the phone close, suddenly aware of the driver up front probably listening. “Claire,” she whispered, “I’m afraid of what she might dig up.”
“Are you somewhere private?”
“No.”
“Call me when you are.”
She let out a shaky breath. “Okay.”
“Don’t worry. You enjoy yourself out there, okay? It’s not every day you’re the toast of the town. Have some champagne and relax. I’m on it, and I’ve got your publicist’s info too if I need it.”
“Thanks, Claire. I’ll call you later.”
“Ciao.”
She smiled at Claire’s starry turn of phrase. “Ciao.”
Welp. This was either going to be a glorious rise to a new stage in her career or a spectacular crash and burn. She’d find out soon enough.Wait and see.Augh. She was terrible about waiting. She wanted control of her life. She needed stability. This was exactly why she’d avoided the spotlight in the first place.
~ ~ ~
Sabrina’s next interview wasn’t until six o’clock the next day, so she had a good long while to fret. She’d called Claire back once she was back at the hotel and told her all about her nutso family, who never committed to anybody, and all her fears of being a fraud. Claire took it in stride, assuring her it wasn’t anything they couldn’t manage. The important thing, Claire said, was to stay on message, and that message was “Sabrina is a warm, professional relationship counselor that you’d be lucky to have on your side.”
Sabrina had been reciting that motivational nugget to herself every time nerves got the better of her. She kept herself busy, working up an outline for her book and firing it off to her literary agent. Action was always better than inaction, especially in anxiety-filled times.
By the time she got to the studio forThe James Lyon Show, a late night talk show, she almost wished Logan was there, standing in the background, supporting her in his quiet solid way. But Logan wasn’t an option. They’d said their goodbyes. He was meeting up with Olivia Friday night after his most important investor meeting, and Sabrina wouldn’t be at all surprised if he moved in with Olivia after that, cementing their relationship in San Francisco.
Her time atThe James Lyon Showwas conspicuously lacking in the warmth that Joanne had showed her. She’d been left to her own devices in a small dressing room with her name taped to the door, until just before filming when a crew member brought her to the very masculine set with a dark blue backdrop, a black desk, and light blue guest chairs.
Sabrina stood off camera, where she’d been told to wait for her cue. A studio audience was already in place, most of them young and male. Not exactly Sabrina’s target demographic. Claire had assured her this show was key to Sabrina cementing her status. When Sabrina argued she wasn’t about status, Claire explained how that would translate into her book deal happening, which meant she’d reach a lot of people, men and women. Claire really understood Sabrina’s priorities.
