Page 6 of The Holiday Fakers
“I’ve booked you a suite at The Hideaway Hotel with two rooms, so you’ll have your own space,” he continues confidently. “And I’ll be on hand with my assistant and a stylist?—”
“Stop.” I hold up my hands to halt the barrage of insanity. “You want me to go back to Hideaway this Christmaswith Brodyand pretend we’redating?” My voice is rising in pitch. Soon only dogs will be able to hear it. “Lie to myfamily?”
“We can fill them in if you want?” Marv replies like it’s no biggie.
“None of this is happening,” Brody cuts in. “Marv, I don’t need you, and I don’t need this. I can make the deal on my own.”
Marv raises his eyebrows. “No, you can’t. You don’t have any of their contact details, and I’m the one who’s been handling the negotiations. And even if you do get in touch with them, how’s it going to look when you don’t have an agent? You think it’ll be easy to find another one this quickly? Sure, a new, hungry one. But you won’t get one of the big boys.”
Brody shifts in his seat but doesn’t reply.
“And besides, you need to get away from the city. Take some time off. Reconnect with your roots?—”
Brody lets out a huff and shakes his head.
Hurt is metabolizing into anger inside me. Growing up, Brody was practically one of the family, but then he left the moment he could, and never came back. Not even for my brother’s wedding where he was meant to be the best man.
Was that all my family was to him? Just a convenience? Before moving onto the bigger, better, celebrity life he has now?
“Piper.” Marv turns back to me. “You’re in, right?”
“W-what? No, I most definitely amnotin!”
“I’ll make it worth your while,” Marv continues. “How much do you want? A couple grand? Plus all expenses, new wardrobe, nice presents for the fam?”
Grabbing my purse with shaking hands, I shuffle out of the booth.
Marv stands. “There must be something you want?”
I don’t dare risk glancing at Brody.
“I need to get back to work,” I mutter, my words thick in my throat.
Suddenly, I remember with a shock that I’d only come to Espresso Yourself for a quick pick-me-up before the big meeting.
Shit! I’m going to be late!
Marv takes my arm as I stride off, stopping me in my tracks.
“Call me. Any time.” He thrusts a business card into my hand.
I turn around, meeting Brody’s gaze.
He lets out a heavy breath. “Piper …”
I wait for him to finish, time ticking in my head like a bomb countdown as I imagine my colleagues filing into the conference room.
“Look, I … it’s just … I don’t …”
I shake my head.
“Good to see you, Brody,” I say coldly. “Been a while.”
Then I turn away, striding out of the coffee shop as fast as I can.
Once outside, I break into a run.
CHAPTER 2
