Page 77 of The Billionaire Love Match

He kept having to remind himself of that as he took off his mic pack and headed back to the trailer to get the makeup removed. He let his suit jacket drop to the driveway and just left it.

“Colton,” his mother said, rushing in to give him a hug. “That was emotional. Are you okay?”

“Fine, mom. Acting. Remember?”

He flopped down in the chair as the makeup artist went to work gently cleaning his face. He closed his eyes.

“Hope it was enough views even though you didn’t get your perfect proposal.”

“It was fine,” she said. “And now it’s over and we can sign the lease on your new building and get things rolling.”

“About that—”

The trailer door opened.

“Anastasia!” His mother said. She looked shocked.

Colt opened his eyes. Tessa stood in the doorway. But she looked different.

She smiled at Colt in the mirror and then at his mother.

“Just came to make sure everything was lined up with my account. And to say goodbye to Colton.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

What was going on?

“I was really kind of sad to not get a proposal,” she pouted. “I would have been happy to be your fake fiancé for as long as you needed. With benefits, even.”

Colt swiveled the chair around and stood, looking at his mother. Two bright spots lit her cheeks.

“So this was it. Tessa was really an actress you hired. Casey too?”

“Not Casey. She did it all on her own, poor girl. Colton, it’s just television. Don’t get—”

“Upset? That you manipulated not just a whole show, but me. Your son. For...ratings? Another multimillion dollar deal? My legacy?” He sneered the last word and she reached out her hand, but he stepped back, moving to the trailer door.

“You don’t understand.”

“I think I do, mom. Consider my contract null. I’ll get the studio on my own. I’m not doing any press. Not for you. Maybe I’ll do my own press tour— people love drama and a lying, manipulative mother is just the ticket. But I’m done. Goodbye, Mom.”

He slammed out of the trailer and ran to his car. He knew where he needed to be. If only he could remember how to get there.

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