Chapter Twelve #3
“Owen plays the gala punch, the edited Briar Bean video, the audio, and the fake proposal. Then he offers Piper a choice.”
“The voicemail,” Emmett said.
“End the relationship. Admit the campaign was her idea. Withdraw every accusation.”
“And if I refuse?” Piper asked.
“He releases the client files.”
“He already started.”
“Those were warnings. He has private financial information, guest lists, medical accommodations, and family disputes from dozens of events.”
Piper went pale.
“He cannot release those.”
“He will.”
Emmett looked at Sasha.
“What does he get if she agrees?”
“The platform offered him a series.”
Of course.
A public redemption story.
Owen, wounded but gracious, rebuilding after betrayal.
Piper looked at the screen.
“The Perfect Breakup.”
Sasha shook her head.
“He changed the title.”
She opened the latest presentation.
A new cover filled the screen.
A photograph of Piper stood between Owen and Emmett.
THE WRONG GUY
Beneath it:
She chose the hockey player. Her ex knows why.
Piper laughed once.
The sound broke in the middle.
Emmett closed his fingers around hers.
“That is why he created the title,” she said. “The Wrong Guy Bet.”
Sasha nodded.
“He wanted the phrase associated with Emmett before the series launched.”
Emmett looked at the campaign date.
The presentation had been updated the night before the livestream.
Owen had named their relationship before it existed.
Sasha removed the drive.
“This is everything.”
Piper reached for it.
Sasha held on.
“I need protection.”
“You will have it,” Piper said.
“You cannot promise that.”
“No. But I can promise we do not leave you here.”
Emmett looked toward the window.
The dark SUV remained outside the office.
The driver’s door was now open.
No one stood beside it.
“Did you arrive in your own car?” he asked.
Sasha shook her head. “Rideshare.”
“Pack your bag.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“We are leaving.”
Piper followed Emmett’s gaze toward the window.
The motel office door opened.
A man stepped outside.
Baseball cap. Sunglasses. Phone held to his ear.
He looked toward room fourteen.
Sasha stood so quickly the chair struck the wall.
“That is Dylan.”
The man from the staged footage.
Emmett moved toward the door.
Piper caught his arm.
“You promised.”
“I promised not to threaten Sasha.”
“That was not the spirit.”
A knock struck the door.
Three hard hits.
Sasha covered her mouth.
“Open up,” Dylan called. “Owen only wants the drive.”
Emmett looked at Piper.
“What do you want?”
The fear in her face did not erase the pride that followed.
“Leave through the bathroom window.”
Sasha stared. “There is no window.”
Piper pointed toward the connecting door.
“The room next door is empty. The curtains are open, and the parking space is clear.”
Emmett crossed to the door and examined the lock.
A simple interior latch.
He forced it with the edge of a motel key card from the table.
The lock released.
The neighboring room was empty.
Another knock hit room fourteen.
“Last chance,” Dylan called.
Piper grabbed Sasha’s suitcase.
Emmett took the laptops.
They moved through the second room and exited onto the rear walkway.
Griffin’s SUV appeared beyond the motel fence.
Nate stopped near the service road.
They had seen Dylan.
Piper pulled Sasha toward Griffin’s vehicle.
Emmett followed, watching the corner of the building.
Dylan emerged.
He saw them.
Then saw Griffin and Nate.
He stopped.
Emmett handed the laptops to Piper.
“Get in.”
She looked at him.
He heard the command.
Corrected it.
“Will you get in?”
“I am not leaving you.”
Dylan took one step forward.
Griffin exited his SUV.
Nate did the same.
Neither looked friendly.
Dylan reconsidered.
He ran toward the dark SUV.
Emmett could have followed.
Every part of him wanted to.
He looked at Piper.
She had asked him to choose differently.
He climbed into Griffin’s vehicle beside her.
Dylan’s SUV tore out of the lot.
Nate followed long enough to record the plate, then turned back.
Sasha shook in the rear seat.
Piper took the drive from her hand.
“We have it.”
“No,” Sasha whispered.
Piper looked at her.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Owen does not only plan to make you admit the relationship was fake.”
Sasha’s face had lost all color.
“He told the producer he has a surprise ending.”
Emmett’s hand found Piper’s.
“What ending?” he asked.
Sasha looked directly at her.
“He is going to forgive you live.”
Piper’s face went flat.
“He can forgive himself.”
“That is not all.”
Sasha reached into her bag and removed a photograph.
Owen stood inside a jewelry store holding a diamond ring.
The date was two days earlier.
“He plans to propose,” Sasha said. “After he proves Emmett manipulated you, he is going to offer to take you back.”
Piper stared at the photograph.
Emmett felt her hand tighten around his.
The entire relationship had been built to force her toward one final public choice.
Piper looked at Emmett.
Then at the drive containing Owen’s plan.
Her fear disappeared.
What replaced it made Emmett understand why entire events obeyed her.
“Good,” she said.
Sasha blinked. “Good?”
Piper’s smile was sharp enough to cut.
“Let him bring the ring.”