Page 22 of Wishing for La Luna
I turn to the side with my back to them. “Help me how?”
Maeven steps up. “Hi, Luna. I’m sorry this happened to you, but there’s no time to waste, and we need to act quickly. Everyone is out for you, and the Belmonts have already begun to line up their chips for the game, even though we don’t know how you got the Vibes in your drink.”
“Thierry gave her a drink when we were talking,” Rio says.
The sound of his voice grates my insides.Can he stop talking?
“Do you remember that, Luna?” Esme asks.
“Not really. I don’t take drugs…ever. I don’t commit crimes. But I woke up to screaming, and the Belmonts were here threatening me. The funny part is, I don’t know why the police are here. And I really don’t understand why you’re here either.”
7
Rio
She looks so helpless, but the disdain in her voice is still there. Her eyes cut right through me as they always do when they land on me. I hate that Maeven and Esme brought me here. I happened to be in the right place at the right time to help her, but she’s not even grateful for that. Her mom is so warm and appreciative, but Luna looks at us like bugs that she wants to spray away.
“The Tatis Media Group is here to represent you, Luna” Maeven says, pointing between her and Esme. “You see,” Maeven continues, “with the Belmonts lining up their game pieces, you need to be ready to play. They all know how to cover for themselves, and from what your mom told us, they’re setting you up like the fall guy. They’re feeding into the rumor that you came on to Thierry. You are taking a massive beating on social media. And I think we can use what happened to make sure you come out on top.”
“How?” her mom asks.
“Well, Rio happened to be there to help her in her time of need. And, unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished, which is feeding into his own reputation. Rio and Luna can help each other—with my guidance, of course.”
“I can’t afford you.” Luna’s voice is tight, the strongest it's been since I came into the room. At least she is engaging. She looked so despondent just minutes ago.
“Darren said he will help,” her mother assures her, but Maeven steps up.
“We will work pro bono for you.” She hooks a thumb toward me. “This one is already paying us.”
I don’t really care about the money. I can afford to pay her. I know she can do it, becauseCapicú, my record label, is losing patience with everything that’s going on. The last thing I need is for our parent company,Ficha MundialLatinEntertainment, to step in. “What would we need to do?”
Maeven’s lips quirk a little. “Fall in love.”
I whip my head around so fast my brain rattles like she hit me with something. My gaze lands on Luna's, whose eyes are as round ascafecitosaucers.
She pushes herself into an upright position. “I’m sorry, but what did you just say?”
Maeven looks between us, her shoulders up like a boxer expecting the punches, and sighs. “Look, saying the two of you have big problems is like saying water is pouring from Niagara Falls. Your reputations are in shambles.” She looks at me. “In the eyes of the public, you’re a fuckboy with anger issues and low sales who's trying to fill seats for a concert tour.” Then she turns to Luna. “And they think you’re a thot messing with her best friend’s boyfriend and whoever else lands in your path.”
Luna’s legs swing off the bed and she shoves the covers back, exposing the hospital gown riding over her thick thighs. “Wait a fucking minute. I do not?—”
Maeven cuts her off by raising her hand. “You were drugged, and I know the kinds of games the Belmonts and the people in their high-society circles tend to play. The problem is that if you go to the police now, it will create bigger problems for you. These people don’t play clean. They will hang you out to dry regardless of what you say. The camera's footage from the concert conveniently disappeared. They claim they got the drinks from the bar, but no one knows how the drugs got in them. My sources tell me the Belmont money is already doing its thing.”
“Show her the texts,” Esme tells Raquel.
She shoots a worried glance toward Luna but grabs her phone and unlocks it. Luna turns green, like she’s going to vomit again.
Must be the text messages from the Belmonts to Luna’s mom that Maeven mentioned in the car on the way over.
“This is not real.” Luna presses her hand to her temple. “They’re threatening you. How can they say it was me?”
“Because of where you live, the fact that you don’t have money. They play on perception and whatever they can feed to the public,” Esme says.
“I believe you, Luna,” Maeven says. “My beliefs don’t change perceptions, though. But you know what does? My methods. I know what I’m doing. I’m the best in the business. I think we all know that. And I know I can turn this ship around, change both your reputations, and boost your careers…if you can set aside your egos and work with me.”
Luna stares her down but says nothing.
“Please excuse my daughter. Luna is always difficult when she is sick. What are you offering?” her mom asks. “We are open to hearing what you suggest. I don’t want Luna’s future to be destroyed.” Her gaze is on her daughter, who looks ready to leap off the bed and smack Maeven.
