Page 70 of Holiday Hostilities

“Thanks, girl.” Reagan then looks at me. “I have news that I think you’ll like, Aaron.”

“Well, now that we are safely among the mink furs of the rich and glitzy, please do tell.”

Olivia snorts with laughter at this, and we share a small smile before Reagan clears her throat. Dramatically.

“I decided to do some digging on Brandi before tonight.”

I tense. I’ve been so wrapped up in being at the gala with Olivia, I’d almost forgotten why Olivia is here with me in the first place.

“Has she arrived?” Olivia asks tentatively.

“I haven’t seen her yet, but she will be here, I’m sure of it.” Reagan’s eyes widen conspiratorially, and she takes a long pause for dramatic effect, I’m sure, before she adds, “This is what she does.”

I frown. “I’m confused.”

“Look at this.”

She hands me her phone, and right there, on her screen, is a social media post dated several years back. The account that made the post is called CrazyforCarterCallahan and the picture unmistakably features an almost unrecognizable, bright blond Brandi holding up a signed poster from one of the star’s movies.

What the hell?

I happen to know Carter Callahan—the Cyclones have worked with his charity in the past. I also know that he lives here in Atlanta.

I’m trying to figure out what this all means when Olivia peers at the screen, too. She sucks in a breath. “She’s done this before. You’re not her first target.”

“Good sleuthing, Sherlock,” Reagan praises her before smirking at me. “You, however, were slow on the uptake there, Marino.”

Olivia snickers, and I give her a little nudge as Reagan swipes her phone out of my hand. She then pulls up another post, this time an old and defunct fan account for an Atlanta-based pro-baseball player. And then, another for a rap star also based in this city.

“I contacted all of these people’s PR teams, and they confirmed that their client had been harassed by Brandi in the past. She comes after her victims by creating negative press, and then essentially blackmails them into paying her to disappear.”

“That is wild.” I shake my head. “But I don’t understand why you seem so happy about this. Surely, this is bad news—the woman is clearly a freaking professional at shakedowns, which means that I’m screwed. Who knows what she might pull tonight.”

I cast a sideways glance at Olivia, anxiety suddenly churning in my gut. I shouldn’t have brought her into this.

What if Brandi does something to her?The very thought makes me sick.

But Reagan’s laughing merrily, sounding not unlike a movie villain. “Here’s the thing, Aaron. In the past, she attacked her targets from multiple angles, but for you, she chose to focus on your love life. Probably because you’ve never really dated anyone seriously, and so that’s what she exploited. She could make you look so fricking callous.” Reagan’s eyes move mischievously to Olivia. “But what I believe shedidn’tcount on was you being linked to someone else.”

Next to me, Olivia shifts her weight a little. I am also starting to have a distinct feeling about where this is going, and I want nothing more than to peek at Liv’s face. Try to read her expression.

“So,” Reagan continues, nonplussed. “If you were to be seen at a high-visibility event, perhaps… with someone serious in your life… someone you’re living with… then Brandi’s stories would no longer hold any weight. She would no longer be a victim in the eyes of the media, but just a jilted, bitter ex. And if she were to try anything crazy, it would be seen, and reported, as such.”

“And therefore clear up any lingering doubts Dennis Lieberman has about me and my character,” I finish, my mind reeling.

She gives me a little finger gun and a wink. “Bingo, my friend.”

“Genius,” Olivia adds, sparkling at Reagan. “You should really be working for the CIA rather than the Cyclones.”

She snorts. “Nah, my talents scouring social media archives would be entirely wasted at the CIA.”

Olivia laughs, and I watch as her face lights up..

“But Olivia and me… we’re not actually together.” Nor would she ever want to make it look like we were. She agreed to be my plus one tonight, nothing more.

“Duh.” Reagan purses her lips. “But you’re here together tonight, right?”

She looks from me to Liv, and we both nod.

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