Page 16 of Billionaire's Second Chance

Which is what I always did when I felt my back against the wall. Today was no different.

"So, what do you suggest since you have all the answers this morning?" Harry demanded.

"I'll find another star and forget all about this mess," I responded bluntly. "People want movies, not sappy yellow press drama. So, I'll give them a great move, get my Oscar, and move on."

I knew Harry probably wanted to punch me.

"What if Lily presses charges against you?" He asked instead.

"On what grounds? Consensual sex?" I scoffed.

"Damon, you're playing with fire here, but I know I can't change your mind about dating her, so I won't even try. Just keep in mind that this can escalate." Harry kindly informed me.

"Noted." I agreed, slid the sunglasses over my eyes, and opened the front door of my mansion, greeting the bright LA sun.

"When should I arrange another audition?" Harry inquired.

"There won't be any need for that," I smiled and shut the door of my Aston Marten. "Send me the number of that chubby agent from the other day."

“Whose agent?”

“Ava Sage,” I declared and hung up.

5

Ava

Howcouldyou,Ava?

I had hit 'send' a few hours ago, and now several media channels were in possession of pictures of Damon kissing his newest cast member—Lily Rae.

The white light from the TV screen bounced off my face. The mockumentary on the screen had since lost its luster. Characters simply moved about, muttering words that failed to register in my mind.

They all smiled, rattling off words to each other. Undoubtedly, even this ‘true-life’ performance had been scripted long before. Every one of the characters had a story of their own, but they’d only tell what the screen wanted.

The lie.

Did they all have skeletons hanging in their cupboard, waiting to be outed to the public? Did they all leak photos of their enemies and hurt themselves in the process?

I sighed and picked up the remote lying on the sofa. The digital clock hanging on the wall above the TV read 2:04 am. I should have been asleep by now.

And then what? Would I wake up and go about my day like I hadn’t just ruined two promising careers out of spite?

What if Damon found out?

He would move the earth until he got back at me. He’d try to find out why. Maybe then I’d get to tell him a piece of my mind.

The gray walls of my living room offered a resounding silence. I wrapped my arms tighter around my body.

The room suddenly felt smaller. The other couch in the room, now bare, was older than the first but not any less special. I had brought it along from my New York studio apartment. We had shared moments together. From my first hangover and the many others that followed, to the times I would curl in it, stuffing my cheeks with chocolate after every breakup. Tonight though, the couch merely watched me, arms open if I needed a cuddle.

I could only stare back, too lazy to move. I needed the hug, but I didn’t deserve it right now.

I wondered if I could keep all this to myself. Or if I should tell Greg. But where would I begin?

"Hello Greg, I might have leaked photos of Damon and Lily kissing to the media to spite him for picking her over me. It still haunts me. Could you promise me he would never find out?"

It didn’t make any sense.

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