Page 18 of Billionaire's Second Chance

I looked around the gym. All eyes darted in our direction. They sure didn't care about me. Leaking the photos hadn't made me any more popular. They all wanted an eyeful of Lily Rae, the beautiful influencer making the headlines.

"It's those hungry paparazzi vultures and their cameras," she deliberated.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. I was guilty of it all, and she had no idea.

"Just when I thought I had something tangible for my career and myself, I lost them both in a flash." She snapped her fingers and offered a quiet laugh.

She deserves to know.

"There's something you should know, Lily." My heart thumped in my chest. If Damon found out about this, I was as good as dead.

"What's that?" Her eyes widened.

My phone beeped. I jerked.

"Hello, Greg." I excused myself and pressed the phone against my ears.

Lily Rae returned to her treadmill routine, opting for a walk this time.

"Hey, Ava, where are you?" Greg asked in a near-squeal. "You wouldn't believe who I just got off the phone with."

He was bursting to say something. His suppressed laughter was too loud on the other end of the phone.

Damon Alexander? I wouldn't be surprised if he waltzed into TrueFit, demanding for me. I glanced at Lily.

"Ava? You there?" Greg urged.

"Yes, I am. Come on, Greg. You know I'm bad at guesses."

"I just got a call from Harry Simmons. He wants to schedule another audition," Greg rejoiced with child-like excitement.

"Who's Harry Simmons? Should I know him?" I scratched the top of my head.

"He is Damon's agent. Of course, you should know him. So, he wants another audition. I bet this was Damon's idea because the media blasted a picture of him and Lily Rae making out the same day he cast her for his role. His reputation is in the gutters, and he wants a clean break. Ava, where are you?"

"The gym," I answered bluntly, staring at Lily's oblivious face.

"I'll meet you there. Told you this was our gig."

Greg said some other things before hanging up, but I had stopped listening. I looked at Lily again. She had stopped working out. She stood on the treadmill, her eyes on some imaginary scene before her. I backed away, heading straight for my car. This was too much to bear.

I ran out of the gym before she could notice. I jumped in my car and slammed the door shut. What if this was all a trap? Damon would go to any lengths to get what he wanted.

Greg deserved to know too. He was, no doubt, celebrating this as a win in his books.

Damon Alexander had found out who was responsible for his pictures slammed all over the tabloids. Now, he was playing a long game to get his revenge.

What if it was an apology? I had gotten the role fair and square, and he had given it to his girlfriend. Now that the media was on his neck, he would find a way to make an up.

I just hoped he wasn't baiting me.

6

Damon

“Stilltryingtogeta hold of her?” Harry asked.

My thumbs stopped tapping. What does it matter to him? I locked my phone screen and looked away.

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