Page 24 of Sweeter

She frowns at the raised voices gathering in front of the curtain. Not anger, excitement. We both stick our heads through the curtain and see a commotion at the front of the building, cameras flashing and people crowding close. I stand on my tiptoes, trying to see what’s going on. “Who is it? Is someone super important here?”

“I don’t know,” Anna whispers. “We couldn’t get any celebrities. Not any big ones.”

I grit my teeth. “Don’t remind me.”

My workhascelebrity fans, just not huge ones. And not anyone who I could convince to attend the event tonight. I got close to convincing Sophia Bush, but she got invited to a wedding last minute. When I told the exhibition organizers that I couldn’t guarantee any ‘influencers’ they almost cancelled my fucking event. Not because they value influencers opinions, but because they want buzz.

That’s the state of modern art right now. Dependant on buzz, like some fucked up beehive.

“Hang on, I know that girl,” Anna whispers, craning her neck. “How do I know her?”

I push myself up higher on my toes, but Anna is six-two in heels and I’m short as fuck. “I can’t see shit. Who is she? What’s she doing?”

“She’s blonde and hot and strutting her stuff like she’s on a stripper platform and…Will!”

“Will’s here?” I jump, ignoring the clacks my Mary Janes are making on the floor. “Can you call him? Can you make him come over here?”

“I…”

A couple of women brush past the curtain, staring at the same place Anna and I are. “Oh my god,” one of them says. “That’sJessop Taylor!”

My heart stops.

“Of course,” Anna breathes. “The Instagram girl from that tv-show. And that movie.”

That’s true. But that’s not all Jessop Taylor is. Not even a little bit.

Anna squeezes my hand. “This is amazing, bella! Jessop Taylor, she’s like…the biggest deal. She’s going to make you famous; we’re going to be famous…Holy shit I need to call my mother!”

She stumbles away, looking dazed. I still can’t see shit, but I can feel the mood of my event shifting. It was nervous and maybe a little stuffy, but now the venue is bubbling with excitement. There is a celebrity in our midst. A celebrity with clout and good looks and her own line of beeswax-based beauty products.

Completely unnoticed, I step through the chiffon curtain. I spot Amanda, one of the organisers looking beside herself with glee. This is a boon for the venue. Jessop Taylor is an A-lister, and everyone knows she runs in a girl squad with Taylor Swift and Lily Rose Depp. Maybe they’ll come too. Maybe every celebrity in the world will come and Amanda can retire to Aruba and paint nude watercolours of celebrities.

Jessop Taylor finally comes into view. She is, as Anna stated, a hot blonde with a sexy walk, waving and posing for selfies. She’s a professional beautiful person in a barbie slip dress and fluffy pink heels. And at her side, looking impossibly handsome in his charcoal suit, is my boyfriend William Faulkner.

Also known as Jessop Taylor’s ex-boyfriend. He brought his goddamn celebrity ex to my first New York art show. And he’s going to pay.

Chapter 2

Will

I think I might be in trouble. I can’t see Marley, but I swear I can feel her presence. Feel that she’s not happy about how things are playing out. I look around but the people crowding Jessop are blocking my view. I know it’s risky bringing my ex-girlfriend to my current girlfriends first New York art show, but it’s too big an opportunity to pass up. Jessop is a huge fan of Marley’s work and her being seen here tonight is going to launch Marley’s art into the stratosphere.

And while it feels sleazy showing up together, my hands are totally clean. Jessop and I hooked up three years ago and we’ve barely talked until tonight when she DM’d me asking for an invite to Ribbons and Bones. I didn’t even know she liked Marley’s stuff. Apparently, she’s been stalking her through my Instagram for ages.

I turn, looking around for my gorgeous, elfin-faced girlfriend. One of the journalists around me withdraws his proboscis from Jessop and jabs it in my direction. “And who are you?”

“No one,” I say quickly.

“You’re not no one!” Jessop beams at the journalist. “This is Will Faulkner, he invented Hellfire!”

I wince. I know she’s being nice but I fucking hate Hellfire. If I had a big delete button, I’d send that app straight into the void. Unfortunately, I don’t have that power. I have shareholders and a co-inventor who are determined to wring ever last cent out of that shitty piece of tech.

“And how do you two know each other?” The mosquito journalist asks.

Jessop’s smile crystallizes. She still looks friendly, but her walls are up, the way they always are when people ask about her personal life. “Will and I are old friends. I’m actually here because I love Marley Ellis’ work. I’m so excited to meet her!”

The journalist looks disappointed, but obligingly asks Jessop what she likes about Marley’s art. I scan the room, trying to find my girlfriend. It’s impossible. I glance at the huge crowd of people trying to talk to Jessop. She’s going to be busy for a while and she’s a fucking media pro, she won’t mind if I get out of here and find Marley. She won’t be able to meet her if she’s fucking AWOL.

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