Chapter 6 #2
“You summoned,” I respond. Her eyes are lit up like a disco ball, and I have no idea why. Maybe she scored me a massive brand deal, but she would have had to work some serious magic for that to happen. And even though Eva looks like a fairy, I don’t know if she’s got that much power.
Before my butt even hits the wooden seat, she drops a local newspaper on the table between us. “This is the best thing you could’ve done.”
I eye her warily before picking up the newspaper to see a photo of myself on the front page, except I barely recognize myself.
My body is so limp, and pieces of my hair are stuck to my face as big arms carry me out of La Sirena. Big arms that I was staring at less than an hour ago.
Leo’s face is hard as he strides down the footpath, but he’s not looking at the photographer. He’s looking down at me.
I feel a weird kind of shame wash over me, because I don’t remember any of that.
“Mystery Man Escorts Former Model from Sorrento Nightclub After Turbulent Night Out”
“Former model.” I scoff despite my embarrassment over this entire thing.
“Okay, ignore that part.” Eva rips the paper from my grasp. “This is exactly what you needed!”
I narrow my eyes as I try to put the pieces together. “To look like a complete wreck in front of the world?” I ask.
“To have a scandal.” She tsks. “This man, whoever he is, is causing a massive surge in attention around you.” She passes me her phone, pulling up threads of people talking about me and Leo.
“Her former agent might have broken her heart, and her career, but look at what she got out of it.”
“Hellooo mystery man.”
“That’s an upgrade if I’ve ever seen one.”
“Is anyone else clocking the way he’s looking at her? I think I would pass away if that was me.”
“I almost did,” I mumble, handing the phone back to my agent.
She tips her head. “You almost did what?”
I let out a breath, deciding whether I should tell her what happened last night. But she’s my agent. If anyone needs to know what really happened in that club, it’s Eva.
“I think my drink got spiked last night. Leo came to get me because I called him when I was in a somewhat coherent state of mind, apparently.”
Eva’s eyes go from sparkling with excitement to a dim shine of concern. “Oh, Marisol. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I say, pushing my hair back behind my ears, even though I’m not sure that it is. “I’m fine. But that’s why I look like a limp sack of potatoes.” I look back at the paper between us.
She nods, looking at the picture with a little more intent. “Okay. No one needs to know that’s what really happened. Who knows already?”
“Just Leo,” I say. “And my best friend, Sabrina.”
“It goes no further.” Eva raises her brows, and I nod. “We take this story,” she points down at the picture, “and we run with it.”
“Run with it how?” I ask warily.
That glint in her eye reappears. “This is the most positive piece of media about you in months, Marisol. Let’s not sugarcoat it, it’s been rough.” I can’t disagree. “So let’s run the story.”
“What story?”
“The story about you and your new boyfriend, Leo whatever-his-last-name-is.”
I find myself pulling back in my seat, a nervous laugh spilling from my lips. “He is not my boyfriend. We’ve been friends since we were kids.”
“Perfect.” She grins. “Then maybe he’ll be a little more likely to jump on board with the idea.”
I tip my head. “Eva.”
She holds her hands up in surrender. “Look. You don’t have to date him for real. I’m not here to tell you who to be with in real life. I don’t give a fuck who sleeps in your bed at night, but maybe you two could…I don’t know…put on a little show for a while.”
“Date for the public eye?” I ask.
“Exactly. It’s a genius PR move, Marisol. Think about all the supposed relationships between celebrities in the last few years. You couldn’t go a few hours online without reading about two actors who work together and the public’s speculation about them. Those movies always did well.”
The cogs in my mind are spinning, things are slotting into place, and I think Eva can see it.
“The more good press you get, the more people are talking about you around the table, which hopefully will mean more calls to my phone, and your face on a billboard.” I can see her line of thinking so clearly, but I don’t know if it will land exactly where she wants it. Where I want it.
“You really think that would work?” I ask. “That I’d find work by having a new boyfriend?”
“Maybe.” She shrugs, a smirk on her face. “But even if it doesn’t, what’s the harm in trying? You said you guys have known each other for years, right?” I nod in response. “How hard do you think it will be to convince him?”
That’s the thing, I have no idea.
Leo is always up for a good time, for a little adventure—at least, he used to be. But I don’t know him the way I used to. I don’t know if he will like having his face in the press, or even if he has a girlfriend back in Ruby Cove who’s sitting at home, reading this article.
I have no idea if he will say yes to the one thing that might be able to salvage my career, or if he will let it fall away.