Chapter 40
NOAH
Listening to Minho tell Z that there was nothing between us, and it was all for the Cliks, undeniably cut me like a fucking knife. Logically, I knew he was lying to Z to keep our relationship a secret. Wasn’t he? But hearing him say it stirred up an uneasy feeling of doubt and uncertainty.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been used for fame and career progression.
Stupidly, I was too embarrassed and uneasy to tell Skye what’d happened, so I just lied and said I was headachy from the whole punched--in--the--face situation.
Which in turn made him concerned enough to sit outside the bathroom while I showered, telling me all about his week surfing in Hawaii simply because he was scared I’d faint in the shower and break my face even more.
It was kind of nice, though, and I was in no hurry to get downstairs and deal with the confusion that Minho had just created inside my chest, so I lingered longer to wash my hair thoroughly.
In my mind, I was washing away any last trace of my encounter with Rich, because I never wanted to cross paths with that traitorous sleazebag again.
“Ace is probably losing his shit that we’re not downstairs right now,” I muttered while hunting for clean clothes. I was feeling extra vulnerable today, so opted for the loosest, comfiest clothes I could put my hands on.
Skye shrugged. “Probably. But haven’t you noticed, he shies away from actually telling you off right now? Like, sure, he will tell you what to do and get bossy and crap, but he won’t bark at you like he does the rest of us.”
I frowned, shaking my head. “I don’t think so. He’s worse with me these days, like he can’t stand the fact that I’m still here on the team, even though that’s entirely his fault.”
Then again, he had been so sweet and supportive this last week with the Peaches bullshit and confronting Rich. Maybe he wasn’t as disgusted by my presence as I thought.
“Uh--huh, sure, probably because he wants a piece,” Skye muttered, making my cheeks flame hot. “Anyway, let’s get down there and get this over with. I was planning on going shooting with Augie today.”
I grabbed on to the change of subject with both hands, because I really didn’t know where Ace and I stood right now. “You and Augie have been close lately,” I commented with curiosity.
Skye laughed, tossing his head back with mirth as we left my room. “Nice try deflecting, Bubbles. Hey, have you heard anything more about your Boba--Kitty contract?”
I nodded, grinning. “Waiting to hear from Kelly this week with the final copy so I can sign it. I’m super excited.”
“I can tell,” he chuckled. “I’m kind of jealous, to be honest. But, I’ll accept free boba for life in lieu of my own global brand deal. Can I come with you to meet your namesake though?”
I snickered, shaking my head. “Bubbles the cat is not my namesake, but yes, I think you’ll love her.”
“Uh--huh, says who? I’ve been calling you Bubbles for years.”
“You’re such a goose, Twin,” I laughed, bumping him with my shoulder. “Any ideas what Ace has planned for this Mount Olympus episode?”
Skye nodded, looping his arm around my shoulders. “Yup. Something about dramatic lip syncing in socks and shirts with sunglasses? I dunno, I wasn’t listening super hard, and he disappeared before I could ask questions.”
“Standard Skye. Sounds like he’s covering up Xavier’s bullshit from last night, though.
He told the girls at Boba--Kitty that I hit my face when I slipped in socks during filming.
” I winced, shaking my head. “So long as Ace doesn’t want me to actually KO myself, I think it’s a good idea.
Maybe it’ll stop the rumors that Team Olympus is beating me up. ”
Skye snort--laughed. “Yeah, I saw that one, too. They think it was a kinky daddy--dom move from Ace?”
“Ace is a daddy--dom?” Augie asked, overhearing Skye as we reached the living room. He was already in a pair of socks and boxer shorts, with his lilac shirt open and loose. It was a great color on his rich skin, and I got the feeling he knew it too. “Since when?”
“Since always,” Skye replied, rolling his eyes. “He’s just stepped it up a notch in recent months.” He gave me a sidelong look, and I elbowed him in return. I got the message loud and clear, thank you, and I wasn’t taking the bait.
“Skye, Noah, August, you’re up next,” one of the production assistants told us, gesturing toward the dining room.
Minho tried to catch my gaze as we entered, but I ducked my eyes away and politely offered to take Z’s place, as he finished first.
“How do I look, Rocky?” he asked with a grin. He went to sweep a hand through his hair, but the hairstylist who’d just styled his red locks literally slapped his hand away. “Ow! Relax, Sandra, I wasn’t going to mess it up.”
“Yes, you were.” She glowered. “Now piss off. You know you’re gorgeous without fishing for compliments.”
I snickered at his chagrined pout and sat in the chair that Sandra gestured toward. She was one of the team’s regular hair stylists and didn’t put up with crap from anyone, not even Xavier. I really liked her, obviously.
“We’re going relaxed and casual styles today,” she told me as she set out all her tools, “but I think Maria might have her work cut out for her covering that bruise. Wanna tell me what happened?”
I touched my fingertips to my bruised cheek gently and sighed. “Not really. But thanks for offering.”
“Anytime, hon. You just sit and relax. We will make you camera ready in no time.”
I thanked her and greeted my makeup artist, Maria, with a smile before putting my earbuds in to listen to music while they worked.
It was an old habit from when I had to get full--glam makeup done for dance competitions when I was younger.
Back then it would take three times as long as it did for “boy” makeup, so it was a great opportunity to chill and rest a little.
They were regulars on the team for a reason, because when they were done, I simply looked like a flawless, perfect, yet still masculine version of myself, with no bruise in sight.
Understandably, though, I was the last one finished, and the rest of the team was scattered around the living room while Leight and the film crew did lighting checks and test shots.
“Noah, sit by Xavier, please,” Mr. Leight ordered when I approached the group.
I gave Torin a long look, because I’d definitely been heading for the gap beside him, then sighed and moved to where Xavier man--sprawled in the single armchair. “Get up,” I told him. “You can sit on the floor.”
He scowled up at me, defiant. “Why? You sit on the floor.”
“Because you’re my baby girl, Godzilla, not the other way around. The fans wanna see you at my feet, so get on the damn floor.” I smirked as I said it, knowing full damn well I was pushing all his buttons far too early in the morning.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed with anger. “Go fuck yourself, Little Dude.”
I scoffed. “Just because you prefer your own hand and an anonymous porn page to real humans doesn’t mean the rest of us are that desperate.”
His eyes widened ever so slightly, and guilt tightened my chest. Was that taking it too far? We’d actually been getting along a lot better recently, but he made it so fucking easy to take swipes at him. And it was fun, too.
“Xavier, move,” Mr. Leight said, intervening and shocking me by agreeing. “Noah’s right. Sit on the floor.”
I couldn’t suppress my grin of victory, and Xavier’s glare promised retribution later. Oh, well, still worth it. He got up and I took his seat, spreading my legs in a mockery of his own man--spread to give him space to sit on the floor and lean against the chair.
“Good boy,” I purred, patting his gelled hair like he was my well--trained poodle.
The sound he made was somewhere between disgust and horror, and I decided I quite liked it. I’d have to get him make that noise more often, purely for my own amusement.
“Okay, now that the team is all here, let’s get started,” Mr. Leight announced, rattling off instructions to the crew before turning back to us.
“This first section is live streamed, so for the love of everything, don’t mess it up.
Happy faces only, be gracious and kind. Your reactions here could either win you a shitload of new followers or lose them entirely.
And, rolling…” He pointed at Ace, who waited just a moment for the live--stream lag before introducing our team with smooth, sexy confidence.
I zoned out a little bit while he went through the standard introductions and launched into a recap of our charity challenge with Skate Kids, and all the good things that the foundation provided for children in need.
Xavier had settled into his spot, leaning his shoulder against one of my knees, and I found myself absentmindedly toying with the crusty, gel--hardened strands of his dark hair, rubbing them between my fingers to loosen the product and ultimately probably ruin the style. Sucker.
“…and that leads us to reading out the winner of the charity challenge. Donating four hundred and eighty--six thousand dollars to their charity”—-Ace broke off with a small inhale, his gaze flicking up from the card he was reading to Leight, who gestured for him to continue—-“congratulations to GeeGee!”
What?
I sat up straighter with confusion, but Ace was already smoothly moving on, offering gracious commentary about how hard the girls worked on their challenge Byte and how deserving their charity was of the donation.
Slowly, the other boys joined in, also offering their polite congratulations to the GeeGee girls for their win, but I couldn’t fathom how that’d happened.
We had all been checking the Clik tally constantly.
We knew we had won, and fans would know, too…
so what the fuck were the Clik Games producers playing at right now?
Thankfully, Ace moved on without forcing everyone to speak up, and I let out a small breath of relief. I was doing my best just to keep a smile on my face, but anything more would come off extremely forced.
“…due to the extended delay between challenge one and two,” Ace read from the next card in the envelope, “the Clik Games executives have made significant changes to the timeline and format of the remaining challenges. Round three will commence tomorrow?” He read that last part with a stunned question in his voice, looking at the team manager with bewilderment.
Leight was totally unfazed, gesturing for Ace to keep reading.
“What the fuck?” Skye muttered under his breath, and August elbowed him subtly.
“Stage three will test the players’ bravery and resilience as they face down some truly hair--raising challenges that may see some teams eliminated entirely.
This stage will be fully live streamed on each team’s individual ClikByte platforms, and only live views and Cliks will count toward competition results.
Please pre--save the link being posted in our comments thread below so you don’t miss a minute of the action.
It promises to be a real…scream.” He read the last word totally deadpan, then forced a smile for the camera that wasn’t fooling fucking anyone.
Leight gave an irritated eye roll and motioned for the cameraman to stop streaming before he unleashed his disappointment on the whole team for the lack of enthusiasm, then made some scathing remarks about how he’d be better off working for GeeGee now that Olympus was basically fucked for the competition.
“What a dick,” Skye said as Leight stormed out of the house with his frazzled assistant scurrying behind him. “When does our contract expire with him, again?”
Ace sighed heavily, getting up from his seat and crumpling the cue cards into a ball.
“I’m going to figure out what the fuck happened with the challenge winners.
You guys get started on the Mount Olympus content.
Xavier has the brief, and I’ve already run it past Jeremy, Mia, and Greg.
” He gestured to the familiar producers who were often around the house on filming days. “Be right back.”
He disappeared right as my phone started buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out to see Jared calling, so answered without any hesitation.
“Hey, kid, how’s your face?”
I groaned. “Does the whole world know about that already?”
“Sure does,” he replied. “I have to assume that was the result of your chat with Rich?”
“Mmhmm,” I confirmed, chewing the edge of my nail.
For some reason, Xavier hadn’t gotten up from his spot between my legs and was comfortably scrolling for saved ClikByte trends on his phone while leaning against my knee.
I’d already messaged Kelly while Ace drove me home the night before, so Jared already knew everything regarding Rich’s hacker.
“Well, I’m calling with news that might cheer you up. Boba--Kitty heard you guys were filming today and sent over a bubble tea truck. Should be there any minute now.”
My jaw dropped a little in surprise. “Seriously?”
Xavier tipped his head backward, looking up at me with curiosity, but I flicked him in the nose to tell him it was none of his fucking business. Torin grinned at that interaction, and I smirked back at him with delight.
“As much as I don’t understand the fascination with chewy balls in sweet milk, I also wouldn’t mess with you on this subject. So yes, kid. Seriously. Enjoy, film good shit, then get a good night’s sleep. Boba--Kitty has asked if you can come by to sign contracts tomorrow morning.”
“Yes! Absolutely. Thanks, Jared, you’re the best.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I am also looking at lining up a meeting with Deity to discuss their revised offer before Boba--Kitty, and then I see you’re all heading into a live--stream challenge in the evening.
It’ll be a long day, but I feel good about the outcomes.
” Jared sounded positive, and that was infectious.
“I’ll let you get on with it. Enjoy the bubble tea. ”
I definitely would. Today was really looking up, despite the disappointing challenge result.