Page 57 of Nothing to Do

“It’s like three people,” Magnus said. “They’re covering the comeback and will follow his progress through to filming season one.” What a lot of fun… for someone else. “We already have the social influencer people here, what’s another couple of bodies matter? Besides, we’ll keep them apart from everything else. Maybe do a little gladhanding as a sidepiece, but we want it to be about Roman and him getting in shape to take on this grueling role.”

“Him getting in shape,” Tripp said on another snicker and as his attention went to Struan, so did everyone else’s.

Struan himself didn’t flinch. “You want to think about this, whether it’s smart to take on something this big right now, Ro.”

“What the fuck do you know?” Roman strolled right on up to the table to snatch up a glass of punch, her glass, but it wasn’t like she was going back to it.

He gulped it down, then sneered at it.

“Yeah, sorry,” Roxie said with sarcasm, not contrition. “Some people know how to have a good time without libation. Must be a turn up for you.”

“You want to learn to keep your mouth shut.”

“I don’t,” Roxie said. “Though if we’re passing out advice, I’d tell you to get sober, lose a few pounds, and maybe even appreciate the people around you who give you everything.”

“What do you know?” Roman snapped.

“Plenty.” Roxie’s arms dropped and she turned to lean back on Zairn. “And I also know you got this role by the grace of God and you’re destined to fuck it up no matter what you think now.”

“You—”

“Let’s not get antagonistic,” Magnus said, patting Roman’s back. “Let’s sit down together and work this out. There’s got to be a solution that suits everyone. How about we take the winners with us to Honolulu? They won’t pass up a chance at a night on the town with Roman, will they?”

No, but maybe they should.

“Is it safe?” she asked.

“We always make sure Roman’s…” Magnus trailed off to glance around. “Who are you?”

All that had gone down so far and he was only just noticing her presence?

“No one.”

“Not no one,” Zane was quick to follow up.

“I’m connected to one of your adoring fans,” she said. “So I have a vested interest in keeping those women safe. I’m not sure I’d trust Roman to hold my purse, let alone protect my sister. He must attract all kinds of negative attention.”

And she didn’t want Alessia anywhere near it. People might think fame was cool, but she viewed it from a different angle and saw its dangers, not its virtues.

“We’ll keep her safe,” Roxie said. “We’ll go along. Chaperone.”

“Is there a Crimson in Honolulu?”

“Not yet,” Roxie said. “But Rouge have clubs and bars all over.”

“Who says I want to go to your shithole places?”

“Who said you were invited?”

“Okay,” Zane said, sliding in front of her. “This is going nowhere.”

“It’s going plenty somewhere,” Magnus said. “We chill, get a schedule for show prep going, the press shows up, do their interviews, see what they want, then Roman does O’ahu. It’ll be fun.”

For who? Though spending time in Honolulu might be fun, she couldn’t think of anyone she’d least rather do it with. Roman Lowe was not a glittering star, grateful for his fans, she wasn’t even sure he was a good person. From what she’d seen so far, the needle didn’t swing in his favor.

That said, she wouldn’t leave Alessia to his mercy. If there was going to be a trip, she’d be on the plane, next to the sister who adored the illusion of this man. Honestly, there should be some repercussions for selling the world such a bill of goods. This wasn’t a man worthy of being idolized. After his actions on the island alone, he’d be better locked up.

Although a sense of expectation hung in the air, like maybe there was more drama to come, she couldn’t sit there all night.

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