Page 85 of Dream (Fighting Fate)

“Olivia! How long have you and Joshua been seeing each other?”

Sam grabbed my arm and squeezed tight, leaning in to talk into my ear. “Remember, no talking! Look down. Watch your step!”

Taking a breath, I tried to mold my expression into one of being unfazed, and moved along with Sam’s steps. It was hard, because they kept stepping in front of us, shouting and clicking their cameras. Some of their questions were a little weird, if you were to ask me, but I tried to ignore them as much as I could. It wasn’t too hard when I focused on not tripping over. Which was a high possibility considering how close they kept getting.

I pined for Starbucks as we practically sprinted past. I really could’ve used a double or triple shot right about now, although I would’ve happily taken a shot of something stronger too.

As Sam pushed into WAM’s building and the doors closed firmly behind us, I took a moment to just breathe, hoping my heart rate would slow down, at least a little. Looking over at Sam, she gave me a matter-of-fact grin. “I think that may have been a record for me getting to work.”

I laughed. Of all the things to say right now, it was just what I needed to hear. “I’m shaking, Sam. That was crazy.”

She drew in a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “Yeah. It wasn’t exactly what I’d been expecting. I thought here for sure, but home? No way.”

As we made our way through the security point, I shook my head. “I wonder how they found out who I was? I don’t know that many people, Sam. Who would’ve told them?”

“It’s got me stumped,” she said bitterly. “It sure wasn’t me. I demanded a cool mil, but they refused, so I told them to stick it.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, moving to my little partitioned desk area I shared with her. “Sure you did.”

When I got no reply from her, I turned. But instead of finding Sam, I found Mike. Sam smirked at me as she stepped up beside him.

“So, you and Joshua Emerson, huh?” Mike said, grinning broadly.

Something about his happiness weirded me out. “Nothing’s going on with me and Joshua Emerson, Mike.”

He laughed. “You can’t fool me. I saw the pictures. I recognized you straightaway.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Okay, I saw him that night, but there’s nothing going on between us,” I said, feeling uncomfortable even talking to him about it.

He rubbed his hands together, still smiling. “That doesn’t matter. The media’s interest in you will stick around for a while yet. We’re going to get some good coverage because of you.”

Sam frowned. “It was you,” she said, rounding on Mike. “You’re the one who told the pap who she is.”

He nodded, excitement streaming from his every pore. “Of course I did! I told you, I recognized her immediately. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. You can’t pay for exposure this good.”

My jaw fell slack. My own boss had sold me out.

“Olivia?”

I turned at the sound of Maggie’s soft voice, my head still swimming.

“There’s a call for you on line two. Someone called Josh.”

Sam’s eyes bugged and Mike laughed, rubbing his hands together.

This wasn’t good.

Chapter 52

Josh

Pacing the length of my trailer, I waited for Liv to pick up the phone. It had taken me a little while to find the number of the place she worked, but I’d finally gotten it. The woman who’d answered told me she was there, so I was hopeful that meant she was okay.

The line muffled. “Josh?”

Relief hit me the instant I heard her voice. “Liv! Are you all right?” I asked, my pulse jumping.

“I’m . . . okay,” she answered hesitantly.

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