Chapter 7
Rio
She looks so helpless, but the disdain in her voice is still there.
Her eyes cut right through me as they always do when they land on me.
I hate that Maeven and Esme brought me here.
I happened to be in the right place at the right time to help her, but she’s not even grateful for that.
Her mom is so warm and appreciative, but Luna looks at us like bugs that she wants to spray away.
“The Tatis Media Group is here to represent you, Luna” Maeven says, pointing between her and Esme.
“You see,” Maeven continues, “with the Belmonts lining up their game pieces, you need to be ready to play. They all know how to cover for themselves, and from what your mom told us, they’re setting you up like the fall guy.
They’re feeding into the rumor that you came on to Thierry.
You are taking a massive beating on social media.
And I think we can use what happened to make sure you come out on top. ”
“How?” her mom asks.
“Well, Rio happened to be there to help her in her time of need. And, unfortunately, no good deed goes unpunished, which is feeding into his own reputation. Rio and Luna can help each other—with my guidance, of course.”
“I can’t afford you.” Luna’s voice is tight, the strongest it's been since I came into the room. At least she is engaging. She looked so despondent just minutes ago.
“Darren said he will help,” her mother assures her, but Maeven steps up.
“We will work pro bono for you.” She hooks a thumb toward me. “This one is already paying us.”
I don’t really care about the money. I can afford to pay her. I know she can do it, because Capicú, my record label, is losing patience with everything that’s going on. The last thing I need is for our parent company, Ficha Mundial Latin Entertainment, to step in. “What would we need to do?”
Maeven’s lips quirk a little. “Fall in love.”
I whip my head around so fast my brain rattles like she hit me with something. My gaze lands on Luna's, whose eyes are as round as cafecito saucers.
She pushes herself into an upright position. “I’m sorry, but what did you just say?”
Maeven looks between us, her shoulders up like a boxer expecting the punches, and sighs.
“Look, saying the two of you have big problems is like saying water is pouring from Niagara Falls. Your reputations are in shambles.” She looks at me.
“In the eyes of the public, you’re a fuckboy with anger issues and low sales who's trying to fill seats for a concert tour.” Then she turns to Luna.
“And they think you’re a thot messing with her best friend’s boyfriend and whoever else lands in your path. ”
Luna’s legs swing off the bed and she shoves the covers back, exposing the hospital gown riding over her thick thighs. “Wait a fucking minute. I do not—”
Maeven cuts her off by raising her hand.
“You were drugged, and I know the kinds of games the Belmonts and the people in their high-society circles tend to play. The problem is that if you go to the police now, it will create bigger problems for you. These people don’t play clean.
They will hang you out to dry regardless of what you say.
The camera's footage from the concert conveniently disappeared. They claim they got the drinks from the bar, but no one knows how the drugs got in them. My sources tell me the Belmont money is already doing its thing.”
“Show her the texts,” Esme tells Raquel.
She shoots a worried glance toward Luna but grabs her phone and unlocks it. Luna turns green, like she’s going to vomit again.
Must be the text messages from the Belmonts to Luna’s mom that Maeven mentioned in the car on the way over.
“This is not real.” Luna presses her hand to her temple. “They’re threatening you. How can they say it was me?”
“Because of where you live, the fact that you don’t have money. They play on perception and whatever they can feed to the public,” Esme says.
“I believe you, Luna,” Maeven says. “My beliefs don’t change perceptions, though.
But you know what does? My methods. I know what I’m doing.
I’m the best in the business. I think we all know that.
And I know I can turn this ship around, change both your reputations, and boost your careers…
if you can set aside your egos and work with me. ”
Luna stares her down but says nothing.
“Please excuse my daughter. Luna is always difficult when she is sick. What are you offering?” her mom asks. “We are open to hearing what you suggest. I don’t want Luna’s future to be destroyed.” Her gaze is on her daughter, who looks ready to leap off the bed and smack Maeven.
“Thank you,” Maeven says. “All I need is six months. I will represent both of you so that we can guarantee you both receive the same treatment. The two of you just need to give me a chance to work my magic.”
"How can a relationship with him fix my reputation when he used to go out with Adina?" Luna shoves a finger in the air in my direction. "It will make me look like what they say I am."
She is still as crazy as ever.
I point at Luna. "What are you talking about? I never went out with Adina."
She scoffs. "Oh, please. You slipped into her DMs and tried to hit on me while she was doing a collab. Do you know how gross that is?"
"You're out of your mind, you know that? One minute, you were eye-fucking—” I stop because her mom is in the room “—flirting with me, and the next, you told me to lose your number.
Then you sneered at me at every damned event.
You were not interested, and that's okay, but you don't need to throw insane excuses. "
"They're not insane excuses. You—"
"Stop," Maeven snaps. "Save this fire for the cameras."
Luna scoffs. "There's not going to be any of that going on."
Her tone jabs my skin, irritating every nerve in my body.
It grinds me up how she says it. Like she's better than me or something.
"You know what? You're right. There's not going to be any of that shit going on.
Save your own reputation. Explain to people you weren't tonguing down Thierry. You need me more than I need you."
The fire in her eyes is so potent it should incinerate me on the spot.
"Asshole," she practically spits at me.
"Loca de remate," I shoot right back.
"Luna Zaira. Rio. Stop." Her mom's tone is snappy, and though she doesn't stop looking at me with hatred, Luna lies back against the pillows.
"Both of you listen and listen well. Maeven here is offering a great opportunity.
You interned for her. You know what she charges.
The fact that she's willing to do it for free speaks volumes. "
"Because she needs me to fix that mess." She points at me.
Before I can push forward and tell her again what a nutjob she is, Maeven's hand slams on my chest, stopping me cold.
She doesn't look at me as she addresses Luna.
"You're not wrong. I do need someone, but we both know I can get anyone I want to play this role.
He is a mess, but thousands of women would jump at the chance of doing this.
But you need him as much, if not more, than he needs you.
" She pauses, and I can't see her face, but Luna shakes her head.
Maeven nods. "You do. And you need me just as well.
Your name is trending for all the wrong reasons.
Elevate PR will rescind their employment offer to you the minute you're out of the hospital. You'll have no job or prospects, and the small businesses will pull away from Enlace, because the Belmonts will see to it. You don’t just need a publicist; you need a master. That’s me.
No one else is going to do this for you for free.
You can't even represent yourself because your credibility is in the same hole as your reputation.
I don't say that to embarrass you. I just need you both to get off your high horses and play nice for your futures. "
Luna goes a little pale and crosses her arms around her middle.
Fuck her for being so judgmental.
"Do we have a deal?"
"Yes," her mother says, staring at her daughter until she nods.
Maeven stares at me, and I nod. "Is that a yes?" she asks.
"Yes."
In the blink of an eye, Mrs. Raquel hands her daughter a basin, and Luna bends and throws up in it.
It stings that the thought of pretending to be with me makes her vomit. She called me a mess, but she’s a psycho. Yeah, this is going to be fucking great.
And to top it all off, now I’m queasy too.