Chapter 32
NOAH
The short clip of Xavier on his knees while I called him a good boy went viral within half an hour of uploading to ClikByte.
It was, in my opinion, exactly what he’d asked me to do, and honestly, could he really be pissy about #NoahsBabyGirl trending all over the platform when that was what he’d wanted?
Apparently, yes.
Well, shit, I just couldn’t win with Xavier, could I? But at least the rest of us found it entertaining, especially Skye, who’d been making sure to send all the edits and memes to our team chat along with dozens of laughing faces.
“Don’t give me that face,” I muttered, glancing up from Skye’s latest message to find Xavier glaring daggers at me across the living room.
Z and Minho were playing split--screen video games, and Tor was lying with his head in my lap while he scrolled his ClikByte comments.
It was cozy as all hell, except for the anxious way we were all checking Clik tallies on the challenge videos.
“What face?” Xavier asked, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
“That one.” I gestured to his honestly far--too--handsome face. “Like you’re plotting my murder.”
He wrinkled his nose. “That’s just my face.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, all right. So you’re not pissed about the memes?”
He exhaled a sharp breath. “I’m not thrilled to be incorrectly labeled as submissive, Little Dude, when we both know full fucking well it’d be the other way around. But it’s getting us the Cliks, isn’t it? So why would I be mad?”
Minho snickered, shaking his head. “Yeah, okay, baby girl. Keep telling yourself that you’ve got a bigger dick than Noah, and maybe one day it’ll be true.”
Funny, sure, but I didn’t have the energy to start another fight with Xavier, so I poked Minho’s shoulder in reprimand. He was sitting on the floor with his neck resting on the couch seat beside my knee, so he tipped his head back to smile at me with zero remorse. Shit--stirrer.
“Okay, chill, it was only for the interaction anyway, so what’s the big deal?
” Augie tried to smooth things out, but the smirk on his lips said he was having far too much fun with Skye’s messages.
“You know, it’s not so bad. Look, this one says you’re not just any old submissive, bro.
You’re a bratty power bottom, apparently. That’s very complimentary, isn’t it?”
Xavier rolled his eyes, shooting me another of those death glares that was supposedly “just his face” while I tried not to laugh.
“Whatever. Little Dude, you know we have a photo shoot for Hot Falcon tomorrow, right? Followed by a product launch with Intergalactic Media Group. Are you going to be on time for this one, or do you have better things to do again?”
I breathed out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I’m aware.
And no, I don’t have any conflicting events” Yet.
There was still time to think of something, if I really wanted to.
But then again, Hot Falcon had been really good for my career so far; it’d be a shame to lose them as a sponsor just because Xavier was an insufferable twat.
In reality, he wasn’t even that bad right now. He was almost human—-except for the porn addiction.
My phone chimed in my hand, and I glanced down to see an incoming call from Kelly. Worry filled my chest, and I gently shifted Torin off my lap so I could get up. “Sorry, I need to take this.”
As I hurried out of the room—-in case she was calling about Rich—-I heard the boys speculating.
“It was Kelly,” Tor said with concern. “You don’t think something is wrong with Isla, do you?”
“Fuck, I hope not,” Minnie replied, the two of them making my heart swell.
“Isn’t Kelly also Noah’s lawyer?” Z asked, and I sighed as I moved out of earshot to take the call.
I made it all the way outside before accepting Kelly’s call, grateful that she hadn’t hung up. “Hey, Kel,” I greeted her. “Tell me you’re calling with good news.”
“Uh, depends how you define good, honey. I actually have a couple of manager things to go over with you on Jared’s behalf, since he is currently dealing with a poo--explosion of epic proportions, so let’s start with brand deals, yeah?
” She sounded worried, and that in turn caused a hollow pit of anxiety to open up in my gut.
“Okay, sure,” I agreed, trying to keep my cool as I sat down on the steps beside the tennis court. It wasn’t uncommon for Kelly and Jared’s roles in my business to bleed together a bit, so this was nothing new. “Boba--Kitty?”
“Going really well. They’re very excited to have you on board for their global launch, and they have been a breath of fresh air in contract negotiations. I should have a final copy for you to sign within the week, and then they want to get you in for the campaign shoot as soon as possible.”
A small amount of stress eased off, and a spark of happiness lit in my chest. “That’s a relief. I’m excited for that one.”
“I know you are, hon,” Kelly replied with warmth.
“On that note, Deity has been really open to renegotiation on their sponsor offer. It’s just down to you and Jared to decide how much information you want to disclose to them and what angle you want to take if that deal goes ahead.
Again, I will send over the contracts and my recommendations for Jared to discuss with you. ”
“That’s good too, right?” I asked hopefully, wondering when the other shoe would drop.
She hummed her agreement. “Hot Falcon is a little unhappy with your lack of content recently. I know you have a photo shoot and product launch tomorrow with Xavier. Do you think you could post any draft content to your page tonight, maybe? Just to get them in a good mood?”
I blew out a heavy sigh, not shocked by that news. “Noted. I’ll find something branded and get it posted tonight while the hype is still high from the challenge clips.”
“That’s a good idea.” Kelly paused then, and I could practically hear her mood shift. “I also managed to get in touch with Rich.”
My heart stopped, and the whole world seemed to shrink in on me. “Oh. That’s good, I guess. What did he have to say?”
Kelly gave a vexed sound. “That he will happily deactivate and delete the account again without the need for court interference.”
“Oh?” This time I was more hopeful but still skeptical, because what the fuck was he playing at in the first place?
“But only if you agree to meet with him in person.”
“Oh.” That sleazy motherfucker. “I see.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Obviously, I’m not suggesting you do that, honey, but at the same time I needed to make you aware of what was going on. We know how hard it was on you last time, getting the profile removed from the platform, and this time will be a lot of the same.”
I said nothing. I had no words. Just when I thought I was done with my bastard ex and his slimy, manipulative…
Ugh, that’s what this was. He wanted my attention, and since he was blocked on literally every social media and contact channel available, he was setting fire to the whole damn house just to smoke me out.
A soft foot scuff alerted me to the fact I was no longer alone just a moment before Ace sat on the step beside me, his shoulder brushing mine.
“Kelly?” he asked softly, looking at my phone, and I nodded.
“Is that one of the boys?” Kelly asked, having heard him.
“Ace,” I confirmed. “No one else knows what’s going on.”
Kelly hummed. “You should see what he thinks. I know you guys had a rough patch after the attack, but he’s a very good team leader, and he’s been in the spotlight for his entire life. I think he might have some decent advice to offer.”
I swung my gaze to Ace, needing to tip my head back to meet his gaze. “Noted. Thanks, Kel. I’ll sort out the Hot Falcon thing today and get back to you on the other.”
“All right, honey. I’ll get Jared to call when he’s clean and sanitized.”
I snickered, shaking my head. “Nah, it’s cool. Let him take a break, and he can call during work hours.”
Kelly chuckled back. “Funny girl. I like that about you.” Because Jared worked all hours. We ended the call anyway, and I turned to Ace with the best fake smile I could muster up.
“Kelly just had good news about the brand deals. Thank you again, for sorting that out in contracts. I’m really excited for Boba--Kitty.”
“Bullshit, Eight, what did she say about Dick?”
I smiled despite my sour mood because it entertained me to hear him call Rich “Dick” with such derision. “Nothing,” I murmured, ducking my eyes from his before he could see through me.
“Bullshit,” he said again, this time catching my chin with his fingers and forcing me to look back up at him. “What did she say?”
My chest tightened at the intensity of his stare, my mouth going dry at how much I liked it when get got a little forceful with me. “He said he would delete the profile again, but only if I meet with him in person.”
Alarm flashed over his face. “What? Absolutely not. You told her no, didn’t you?”
I bit my lip, not wanting to tell him I was considering it. If that was what it took to make this go away… I mean, shit, he wasn’t demanding I fuck him again, just meet in person. Surely I could just swallow my pride for the sake of a decent outcome?
“Stop that,” Ace growled, using his thumb to tug my lip free from my teeth in a gesture that momentarily fried my brain. “Call Kelly back and tell her no. We can find another way to deal with him.”
I wrenched my gaze away from his before I did something stupid, already feeling my cheeks warming with a blush. “Do you have plans today, boss man?”
“Nothing I can’t change. Why do you ask?”
I swiped a hand through my hair, still avoiding his gaze. “Hot Falcon needs me to upload some content, and I need a cameraman. You up for a skydive?”
Ace huffed a laugh and got up from the step, offering me his hand. “I thought you’d never ask, Eight. I need to send Skye away more often.”
I smiled, taking his hand but releasing it quickly once I was on my feet, because I was still a little flustered from the chin grab and lip tug. “Let me just get changed really quick. They want branded content, so I need to make sure I’m decked out in Hot Falcon merch for this jump.”
“Okay, I’ll call the air strip and book a pilot, then meet you at the car.
But, Eight? I haven’t forgotten about Dick, and I will handle it.
Understood? You’re not to meet with him.
” His voice was stern, and I knew if I looked up at him, I’d crack and make promises I had no intention of keeping.
So instead, I flapped a dismissive hand and headed upstairs to change.
Because deep down, I already made my mind up. If Rich wanted my attention so badly, so be it.