Chapter 13

My jaw clenches, and my teeth grind with the force I impose. I agreed, but one of the things I always admired about Gravity was that she didn't easily buy into any idea. She's ignoring the anger she feels because she's going to use my fame to get hers. It disgusts me. Maybe I was resolute because I was sure I would refuse.

"How are we going to convince people that this is real if I agree?"

"We'll plan it together. You and I." Avalon clarifies. "First, we'll stage the meetings and act like you're trying to hide it at first. A small percentage of people will accuse you of having a fake relationship, but that, up until the engagement. However, both you and The Reckless will be among the most talked-about subjects, shifting the focus from playboy to passionate man. The old story of him finding the right person and changing his life. People love that."

"It feels wrong," I object. "We're going to deceive thousands of people. I don't feel comfortable with that."

"You were comfortable yesterday and willing to do anything to clean up the mess you made," Avalon counters, narrowing his eyes. "Got a better idea? We're here, willing to listen."

"Why can't I have a relationship with Harper? I like her. I'd easily marry her, and it wouldn't need to be fake."

Harper wouldn't accept me even if I filled her with thousands of diamonds or threatened to throw myself off the Empire State.

"Want to try?" Sydney challenges me. "If Harper agrees to actually date you, we end this with Gravity. But everyone in this room knows Harper would never agree."

I weave my fingers through my hair, irritation rising in a thick spiral that leaves me dizzy.

"So, I wasn't the first choice?" Gravity inquires, her attention focused on me.

"Of course not, you were the last," I say, aware that I'm too angry and my purpose is to hurt her. "Do you think I'm happy pretending to be in love with you? No, Gravity. I feel disgusted just thinking about it."

"Jesus Christ..." Bryan murmurs beside me, rubbing his forehead and inhaling deeply. "You need to shut up."

"We hate each other," she turns to speak to Jared. "You deserve another punch right now for implying I disgust you. As if you never were in my bed."

"Do I need to remind you that you chased after me like a crazy lunatic?"

"Go fuck yourself, Ashton!"

She pushes the chair, throwing the contract in my face. The paper grazes the tip of my nose, a superficial but painful cut. I stare at her through a small crack in my lashes, hoping she knows she managed to make me angry.

I play with my tongue in my mouth, pushing the inside of my cheek. The breath burns my nasal passages, and my lungs feel like they're about to implode from the erratic gasps of air.

"Alright, no one's happy with this." Jared bellows, cutting off our argument to draw attention back to himself. "But we need it to work, and fast. Isabella is suing us. The media keeps attacking Ashton, and consequently, it's ruining the reputation we managed to build for the band over the past year. Your success is a sandcastle. If the water hits the shore, it's over. Got it? Getting to where you are is hard, takes time, but to destroy it, all it takes is one wrong word, one bad decision, and everyone forgets how good you are. So, we have two options here: give up on everything or you two come to an agreement."

"She can't be the only option," I sneer, avoiding looking at her.

"She's not, but she's the one that makes the most sense. You two have a history together, and it would be convincing. Ravennah's been writing about celebrities for ages. It's not easy to hide anything from her, but you and Gravity might have a chance," Sydney clarifies, ending the argument once and for all.

Gravity sits back down, Chase leans over to pick up the contract from the floor, and slides it back to her.

"If I agree, I want double," she demands, avoiding looking at me.

"What? We're already paying more than we conveniently should be," Jared laughs, as if the girl before us is bluffing.

"Then find someone else who can tolerate this idiot. And if we're really going to do what we're about to do, I want you to stay in line. You're not going around fucking anyone you feel like," Gravity eyes me.

"We know. He's willing." Ava reassures. But I never promised loyalty to my fake fiancée. "Do we have a deal?"

"No. I want to read the contract carefully."

"You're really going to accept? For money?"

The room falls silent as they realize the question came from me. Gravity isn't afraid to look fierce, and she doesn't shy away from a fight—except when the other side is Magdalene, apparently—and I don't feel like I have any chance of winning an argument with her.

We’re both angry. We’re both hurt with each other, and honestly, I’m still trying to figure out why.

Four years have passed since Paris. And to me, things were resolved long before I knew I’d come to New York.

Gravity and I hate each other for another reason.

And right now, I hate her for being so petty.

"Isn't that why people fight every day? For money?" She furrows her brow. "Isn't that why you do what you do, for money? Not everyone was born with a silver spoon, Ashton. And I don't belong to the small percentage that comes from a rich family."

"It didn't seem like a problem for you when you were taking advantage of Darnell's money."

When I accuse her, the anger Gravity feels toward me is perpetuated in the aggressive look she throws at me.

"Darnell was good to me because he wanted to be. I never asked for anything. He always offered to take care of me and Dannya. And no, I didn't refuse, and no, I won't apologize. But fine, you're right, but now I want to stand on my own, and if this is the way to do it, I will. Remind you of your ex-girlfriend?" She provokes my repulsion even more. "You'd better get used to the idea, Ashton. Because we're getting married, and I'll be very well paid to put up with you."