Chapter 60
MELODY
It was probably a mistake to meet her, but I wasn’t going to allow the woman to continue to harass me. I was going to face her head on. I felt torn. I knew what I felt for Austin. And I was pretty sure his feelings for me were real.
But that didn’t mean he wasn’t still playing me. I wasn’t sure how I was going to deal with real proof, if she had it.
Summer was jealous. Angry she didn’t get the guy. I had to talk to her and find out exactly what her game was. If she was going to blow things up, I needed to brace myself for the fallout of whatever the woman was going to do.
The tapas bar was dim, almost grungy. It was all exposed brick and Edison bulbs casting soft light across small wooden tables.
I had chosen it specifically because it was quiet and tucked away on a side street in the West Village where I was unlikely to run into anyone I knew.
My romance with Austin had raised my public profile.
People recognized me more than they did a month ago.
I had to be careful. I didn’t want to be photographed with a woman that was about to create a scandal that rocked the Bancroft world.
I sat in a corner booth, a glass of water I hadn’t touched sitting in front of me. I watched the door. Would she show up? Maybe she just enjoyed screwing with me. She knew I was with Austin and wanted to punish him and me. Me for getting him. Austin for dumping her.
“Can I get you started with anything?” The server appeared, a young woman with kind eyes and a genuine smile. “Some patatas bravas? Maybe some wine?”
“Just water for now,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m waiting for someone.”
“No problem! Just wave me down when you’re ready.”
She walked away, and I suddenly felt bad. She’d been nothing but sweet, and I’d barely looked at her. But I couldn’t focus. My nerves were completely frayed, my mind spinning in endless circles since this morning.
I was a terrible actress. I knew a lot of influencers liked to use their platforms to launch a career in Hollywood.
Not me. I was a terrible liar. And a worse actress.
Austin had known something was wrong. I did a horrible job faking it.
And now he was probably sitting in his penthouse wondering if things were over.
I didn’t know. Maybe they were.
I pulled out my phone and stared at Summer’s number for the hundredth time. I had texted her an hour ago, agreeing to meet.
This was probably a bad idea. What was I even doing here?
I should have gone straight to Austin with the envelope.
Should have trusted him to explain. He had been honest with me from the very beginning.
I supposed it was my own self-doubt that was messing with my head.
Nearly a month apart and then he was suddenly begging me to give him another shot.
Was that Austin talking or his family encouraging him to pick back up with the charade?
I felt her before I saw her. I didn’t know why, but I just knew she had arrived. I looked up and saw her standing just inside the doorway.
Summer was a beautiful woman. Tall and slender, she moved with the kind of effortless grace that came from a lifetime of knowing she was beautiful.
Her hair was glossy and gorgeous. Her outfit was a cream silk blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers.
It was effortlessly chic. Looking at her now, she was exactly the kind of sophisticated, elegant woman I would have imagined Austin being with.
Every male head in the bar turned as she passed. The bartender straightened up as Summer glided through the space like she owned it.
And then she was standing at my table, smiling down at me.
“Melody?” Her voice was smooth, cultured. “It’s so good to see you again.”
The feeling wasn’t mutual. And I had just gone over my acting skills. There was no point in pretending otherwise.
She slid into the booth across from me with fluid grace. I found myself acutely aware of every difference between us. Her slender frame versus my curves. Her polished elegance versus my more casual style. The way she took up space with confidence while I felt myself trying to shrink.
When someone makes you feel icky, trust your gut.
Cleo had told me that once, years ago, when I’d been dealing with a brand rep who gave me bad vibes. She’d been right back then. The guy had turned out to be trying to scam me. And she was right now.
Summer made me feel icky. Immediately and undeniably.
“Thank you so much for meeting me,” Summer said with a practiced smile. “I know this must be overwhelming.”
“It is,” I said carefully.
The server appeared again, beaming at Summer. “What can I get you?”
“Oh, you’re a doll. I’ll have a glass of white wine and…” She glanced at my untouched water. “Actually, bring us a bottle. We’re celebrating.”
“Celebrating?” I asked once the server left.
“Girl power.” Summer leaned forward conspiratorially. “Two women refusing to be used by powerful men. That’s worth celebrating, don’t you think?”
I didn’t respond.
Summer sat back, studying me. “First, I want to apologize for all the shady ways I tried to get that information to you. The emails, the texts, showing up at your doorstep. I wasn’t sure how to contact you without Austin finding out. You two have been practically inseparable lately.”
My guard went up immediately. “How do you know that?”
Summer’s laugh was light and airy. “Babe, you post everything online. The yacht trip? The Broadway show? Dancing at that club? Everyone knows you’re spending time together. It’s all very public.”
Right. Of course. Not a stalker. Just someone who’d been watching my social media closely. That should have made me feel better, but somehow it didn’t. All it did was highlight how easy stalking had become in the digital age. I had done all the legwork for her. All she had to do was log in.
The wine arrived, and Summer poured us each a glass. I didn’t touch mine.
“I understand you must have questions,” she said, taking a delicate sip. “And probably doubts. I know I did when I first realized what was happening.”
“What was happening?” I asked. “According to you.”
I had already decided I was going to play dumb. Pretend I was just some innocent lamb that needed all of her guidance. That part, I could act out very well.
“According to the contracts and payment records,” she corrected gently. “The facts speak for themselves, Melody. The Bancroft family used me to protect their image. Cash contacted me personally after Austin’s drunk call went viral. You remember that mess, right?”
I nodded slowly. “Vaguely.”
“Well, they were panicking. Austin had just publicly humiliated his family—again—and they needed damage control. So Cash offered me money to play Austin’s girlfriend for a while.
Keep him out of trouble. Help him look more stable and mature.
” She swirled her wine. “I was between jobs, the money was good, and I signed the contract. Simple business transaction.”
“There was paperwork?”
She nodded. “We had a deal set in stone. And then Austin met you.” Her eyes met mine, and there was something calculating in them. “At that wedding. He ditched me to grab you instead. Do you remember that?”
I remembered. Of course I remembered. Those few minutes changed my entire life.
“He was supposed to be there with me,” Summer continued.
“That was the arrangement. But apparently, you were more useful to him. That little scandal you were involved in made you perfect for making him look like a hero and a reformed bad boy all at once. I told him who you were when we were sitting together. He knew exactly what he was doing when he sought you out.”
Her words felt like poison seeping into my bloodstream.
“Anyway, when Austin decided you were a better option for his rehabbed public image, they paid me off and sent me on my way. Just like that. I was disposable.” She leaned forward. “The Bancrofts are experts at using people, Melody. They did it to me. And they’re doing it to you.”
“Why do you think they’re doing it to me too?” I asked.
“Do you really think you’re any different?”
“Austin and I—” I started, then stopped. What was I going to say? That we were real? That what we had was different? How could I be sure?
“Let me guess,” Summer said, her voice softening into something that almost sounded sympathetic.
“He swept you off your feet. Made you feel special. Seen. Protected you from the trolls and the critics. Introduced you to his family. Took you on amazing trips. Made you believe you were the only woman in the world.”
Every word was a direct hit. That was exactly what had happened.
“He’s very good at that,” she continued. “Making women feel like they matter. It’s part of his charm. But you have to ask yourself, Melody—why you? Why right when you were at your most vulnerable? Why right when his family needed him to look reformed and stable?”
“Please stop,” I whispered.
“I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to help you see what I didn’t see until it was too late. The Bancrofts use people. It’s what they do. They’ll protect their image at any cost, even if it means manipulating good people like you and me.”
I didn’t know what to say. Part of me knew she was telling the truth and another part of me was insisting I was somehow different.
“We can fight back,” she said. “Together. I’m going to expose them for what they are—the manipulation, the contracts, all of it. You can help me. We can show the world what the Bancrofts really are.”
“Why?” I asked. “I’m sure you can get any man you want. Why go after them?”
“It’s about justice. They shouldn’t be able to treat people like disposable props. Don’t you want justice for what they did to you?”
“They haven’t done anything to me.”
“Haven’t they?” Summer tilted her head. “Are you sure about that? Because from where I’m sitting, you look like a woman who’s been played. And the longer you stay with Austin, the worse it’s going to be when the truth comes out.”
“What truth?”
“That none of it was real. That you were just another tool in their PR arsenal. Austin Bancroft doesn’t actually love you—he loves what you can do for his reputation.”
The words hung in the air between us, heavy and ugly.
“I can see you’re conflicted,” Summer said, sitting back. “And I understand. It’s hard to accept that you’ve been manipulated, especially by someone you care about. Trust me, I know. I went through the same thing.”
Austin told me he didn’t even know her. They had never actually dated. I could see the calculated sympathy in her expression. It wasn’t genuine, the way she’d orchestrated this entire meeting and made everything sound so reasonable while simultaneously tearing apart my entire relationship.
I realized something. I didn’t believe her. Or rather, I didn’t trust her.
There was something off about this whole thing.
Armand might be a difficult father, but did that make him a villain? Cash might have arranged something with Summer, but did that mean Austin was lying about his feelings for me?
Was I really ready to throw all of that away based on this woman’s word?
“This is a lot,” I said finally. “I need time to think about it.”
“Of course,” Summer said smoothly. “Take all the time you need. But, Melody?” She leaned forward one more time.
“Don’t take too long. I’m going public with this soon, with or without you.
And when I do, you’re going to have to choose a side.
The Bancrofts or yourself. Because everyone is going to know you are a prop. ”
“I’m not choosing sides,” I said. “I’m choosing the truth.”
“The truth is in that envelope I gave you.”
“Maybe. Or maybe that’s just your version of the truth.”
I saw annoyance in her eyes but it was gone in an instant, replaced by that same fake sympathy.
“I understand you’re loyal to him,” she said. “That’s admirable. Just be careful, Melody. The Bancrofts have a way of destroying people who get in their way. I’d hate to see that happen to you.” She stood, leaving her wine mostly untouched. “Call me when you’re ready to talk.”
She walked away, and once again, every head turned to watch her go.
Summer wanted me to believe that Austin had used me. That everything we’d shared was a lie. But something didn’t add up. The pieces didn’t quite fit together the way she wanted them to.
And that icky feeling Cleo had warned me about? It was screaming at me now.
I needed to think things through first. Needed to figure out what I actually believed before I dragged him into this mess.
I cared about Austin. I loved him. I liked his family, too—most of them.
I didn’t want to see them dragged into a scandal because of a woman who felt like she missed out on a payday.
It wasn’t right.