Page 22 of Siren's Game

"Wonderful," I say and lean my head back to stare at the ceiling for a moment. "Now, I fear it's time to face the music. Please excuse me while I take my manager's fiftieth call."

With a deep sigh, I get up and leave to find a quiet spot, walking slowly to not upset my stomach. A soft murmur of people talking is the constant background music in this restaurant, and I try to find a more secluded place, because this conversation is going to require privacy.

I am successful at the very back of the restaurant. There is a small room for people to smoke while watching the Philadelphia skyline, and the little hallway area right next to it appears empty.

A glance into the room reveals a couple standing with their backs to me, facing the window to look outside. I’m pretty sure the door makes the room soundproof so I hope I won’t disturb them as I get torn apart by Naroa back here.

I lean against the wall and close my eyes for a moment, focusing on a few calm breaths, before I press the call button.

Her phone doesn't even ring once before Naroa answers.

"What the fuck are you doing, Kayla?" she curses, and I hear her heels clicking over the vinyl floor of her office.

"Alright," I say and end the call again immediately.

If she can’t stick to a respectful tone, the conversation is done, because I'm definitely not having her talk to me like that. If she wants to get pissy with me, I’ll think of my own way to handle this. Without consciously thinking about it, I pull up my chat with Asher.

Kayla: Not involving my manager. Just fyi.

I don't know why my first instinct was to message him. We’re not friends by all means, and I have no intentions of changing that, but I guess we’re sitting in the same boat here.

And let’s be real, Millie is way too busy with her new crush for me to want to involve her in whatever is going on.

I don’twanther to worry about what’s going on.

I start pacing the hallway, shooting the couple a quick smile when they walk out of the smoking room with disheveled hair. As they turn their back to me, I shudder and grimace.

Nope, I don't even want to know what they did in there.

Despite knowing better, I look down at my phone and pull up the first social media app I see. Literally the first picture on my for you page is one of Asher and me, shielding our eyes from the cameras, him holding my hand clearly visible.

The picture already has half a million likes and a quarter million shares.

Great. Wonderful. Not.

Unknown number: So, what's the plan?

I jump when the message suddenly pops up. For some reason, I didn't expect him to answer that quickly.

Kayla: We leave together and hope they think we're the only ones here and leave Luca and Millie alone, then make a proper game plan in the car?

Unknown number: Sure thing.

I take one more deep breath and try to collect my thoughts before I make my way back to our table.

I've been a part of ‘showmances’ before. When the label had some newcomers they wanted to promote, they'd sometimes set us up for a meeting that looked like a date and tipped off the paparazzi, often even without Millie or me knowing.

Rumors about the newcomers and us dating spread quickly and they had their much-needed opportunity to shine when everybody and their dog had a look at whom the Sirens were dating this time around.

And I hated it. Especially learning afterward that we had been used. Something about it felt . . . cheap.

I have no intention of stooping to that level again for Starlet Sounds or a newcomer I’ve never even heard of.

But Millie?

That's a whole other story. I would take a bullet for that woman.

The closer I get back to our table, the more nervous I become, my fingers playing with the hem of my shirt and lip between my teeth.

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