Page 72 of Death is My BFF

“I have a secret weapon, Stacy. Due to my input in designing the most recent Sonic Nerve energy drink campaign, they gave me a ton of samples of their new beverage flavors. I’ve been downing these like they’re water. As they say, I’m not just a spokesperson, I’m a customer. We’re selling this flavor exclusively from D&S Enterprises for the next two days. If you scan the code on the back of the can with your phone, you’ll enter a sweepstakes, with the chance to attend the D&S Tower ball. As my date.”

He flashed his famous dazzling smile at the camera. The horde of fans in the lobby erupted into girlish screams, holding up their energy drink containers with David’s face on them that the merchandise sellers were giving out.

As the show cut to commercial, a short clip of David and Devin modeling in suits transitioned onto the screen. Time to get the heck out of there before the interview came back and the reporter asked anything about “Mystery Girl.”

I headed through security at the end of the lobby, took an elevator with five other people, and tensely watched them exit the claustrophobic space one by one. As I approached the top floor alone, the empty feeling in the pit of my stomach worsened. The memory of last Friday’s impossible events fired into me like war flashbacks, and I struggled to keep my breathing even.You can do this.You needanswers.Did all of that really happen, or are you losing it?Adjusting the strings of my hoodie, I rubbed my clammy hands down my leggings and stepped off the elevator.

My vision tunneled as I neared David’s waiting room. Taking a deep breath, I shoved through thick glass doors to be greeted by an unwelcoming glare. Tiara, David’s receptionist, sat perched like a gargoyle behind her elevated circular desk. She wore a bright-red business suit that accentuated her ballerina waist, and her makeup sharpened her thin, chiseled features. I hated that she was perfect. I also hated that I loved her outfit.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Tiara said, peeling back her painted lips into a wry smile. “David’s unavailable.”

“Can you tell me when he will be?”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but I—”

“Mr. Star is a very busy man, Miss Williams. You’ll have to make an appointment. He may have something available next week.” She skimmed her computer screen far too fast to have read anything.

“Gosh, he’s absolutely booked this month. Can you come in four weeks from now?” Her expression soured. “That may give you time to upgrade your wardrobe.”

I inhaled slowly. “Listen, Tina—”

“Tiara.”

“Whatever, I know you dislike me,” I said, adrenaline shaking my entire body, “but I’mnotin the mood for this shit. I’m functioning on zero hours of sleep, there’s a viral picture of me stuffing a hot dog down my gullet all over the world, my grades are tanking, and I need to see David to find out if I’m losing my mind or not. Either call David and tell him I’m here to speak to him, or I’m picking up that stupid D&S Tower Detox water cooler over there, breaking down his door, and causing a scene that will make what happened Friday seem like a namaste meditation oasis!”

Tiara gaped for a long moment, then plucked at her desk phone with her long fingernails. She pressed a button. “Faith Williams is here to see you.” She fidgeted with the ends of her hair. “Yes, I told her you were otherwise engaged, but she’s refusing to leave. She says it’s urgent.” Her expression fell a little in defeat. “Oh. Of course, my apologies. I’ll tell her now.” She hung up and switched to receptionist mode, centering her attention on her computer screen. “You may go in.”

The windows of the office looked exactly the way they did before the angel crashed through them. How was it possible? It had only been three days. David Star stood behind his desk, posed like a sculpture. He radiated authority, impeccably dressed in a dark-gray business suit that matured him. Chameleon mode: on.

“Have a seat, Miss Williams,” David said without looking at me.

“I’ll stand, thank you,” I snapped, matching his rude tone.

“You shouldn’t have come here.”

My chest tightened. This was unexpected, to say the least.

“Why’s that?”

His head lifted, once familiar brown eyes so dark with disdain they were nearly black. He wore a cruel expression, impenetrable cold marble, and gazed at me like I was an unwelcome stranger. “We could have had this discussion over the phone. Would have saved you the time and money traveling.”

“I can afford traveling here.” I’d lied with an insecure need to defend myself.What’s up with him?“I called and texted multiple times. You could’ve at least texted me back.”

David leaned his hands on his desk and skimmed over a sheet of paper. “What do you want, Faith? I have an important meeting in ten minutes.”

“What do Iwant?” I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “I want to know what’s going on!”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Why are you acting this way? What’s happened toyou?”

His head flinched back slightly. “What happened to me? What happened to you?” He ran his fingers across his jaw. “Last Friday, you came here and made it very clear you never wanted to see me again.

Now you’re here again, and you’re asking me what happened tome?”

His laughter had an edge to it. “Are you serious?”

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