REPORTERS

We both turn to see a woman approaching—a reporter, judging by the notebook and pen in her hand. She looks eager, her eyes darting between Sam and me with thinly veiled curiosity.

Sam stiffens beside me, his body coiled like a spring, while my pulse quickens in response.

“Care to comment on Rain Wild’s recent award speech?” she asks, her gaze locking on mine. “Aren’t you the woman who’s been spotted with him lately?”

My pulse quickens. Before I can respond, Sam steps forward, his posture tense. “No comment,” he says firmly.

The reporter’s smile doesn’t waver. “You used to open for Rain Wild, right? Katy Cash? And there’s been talk about a young girl traveling with you both. Could she be Rain’s daughter?”

My steps falter, and Sam and I both stop, turning around to face the relentless reporter.

Sam speaks before I can find my voice, his tone clipped and firm. “Again, no comment. Walk away now.”

But the reporter doesn’t flinch, her gaze locked on me. “It’s a simple question, Ms. Cash,” the reporter presses, her tone razor-sharp. “The public would eat up a story like this—star-crossed lovers, a secret pregnancy, a rekindled romance. Is that what this is?”

I steel myself, forcing my voice to remain calm, but inside I’m shaking. “There’s nothing to say,” I reply evenly, forcing a polite smile. “Goodbye.”

Turning on my heel, I stride toward the elevator bank, my heart pounding in my chest. Sam follows closely, his steps heavy with frustration. The reporter doesn’t pursue us, but her questions trail behind, loud and unspoken.

As the elevator doors slide shut, I finally let out a shaky breath, leaning against the cool metal wall. Sam watches me with concern etched across his face.

“She was out of line,” he says, his voice softer now. “Are you okay?”

I nod, though my hands are trembling. “I should’ve expected this. It was only a matter of time.”

Sam leans back against the opposite wall, crossing his arms. “It’s not fair to you—or Rainidy. But you handled it well.”

I manage a faint smile. “Thanks for stepping in. I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he replies, his tone light but his eyes serious. “I know I have a reputation for joking around, but you can count on me.”

The elevator dings, and we step out into the hallway. Sam hesitates as we approach my room, his hand resting on the doorframe.

“Listen,” he begins, his voice low. “I know Rain, and I know you. He’s solid, Katy, and you’re tougher than you think. But if this kind of stuff ever gets to be too much, don’t feel like you have to face it alone. You’ve got people in your corner—Rain, Emily… and me.”

His words touch something deep inside me, and I nod, grateful for his support. “Thanks, Sam. That means a lot.”

As I start to turn away, I hesitate, and my eyes go to Sam. “What… what about Derrick?” But I already know that Derrick is only concerned with one person. Himself. He may act like he cares about Rain, but deep down, I know Derrick only ever cared about money. If only I knew then what I know now.

“You hoping for a miracle?” He says jokingly, and then his expression turns serious. Sam shakes his head regretfully, and his eyes hold an apology. “No help there, unfortunately, Katy. He’s been there for Rain since day one after the first contract was signed. He was Rain’s first agent and now he’s the manager. That’s a long time in this business.”

Nodding, I grimace. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Reaching up, I give Sam a brief but heartfelt hug. “Thank you, Sam.”

He gives me a small smile before stepping back. “Have a safe trip. I’ll see you around.”

As the door clicks shut behind me, I sink onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. The reporter’s questions replay in my head. The thought of Rainidy being dragged into this media circus twists my stomach, a sharp pang of protectiveness surging through me.

I glance at my phone, my finger hovering over Rain’s name. I know I should tell him what happened, but part of me hesitates.He already has so much on his plate; I don’t want to add to his stress.

Instead, I take a deep breath and head to the balcony. The city sprawls before me. The noise of the world feels distant here, muffled by the open air. For a brief moment, I let myself imagine a simpler life—one where there are no agents, reporters, or rumors, just us.

But reality intrudes, as it always does. This is the life I wanted for Rain. A life he fought for, the life he’s built through years of sacrifice and dedication. And now, it’s the life I’ve entered, willingly but not without fear. Knowing the challenges, but determined to shield our daughter from its harsher edges.

My phone buzzes, breaking the silence. It’s a text from Rain:‘How’s everything? Miss you already. Not looking forward to sleeping alone. I’ll text you tomorrow night.’

A secret smile tugs at my lips, and I type back:‘Miss you too. Isn’t that what they call sexting?’

Holding my breath, I wait as he types.‘Hell, yeah! Sexting tomorrow. Be ready!’

I let out a small, determined breath. If I’m going to embrace this life with Rain fully, I need to embrace all of it—the glamour, the spotlight, and, yes, even a little boldness. Starting now.

My smile widens, spreading across my face, and heat flows through me. I’ve never sexted anyone before, but with Rain, Iknow it will be fun and a little dirty. I suddenly know what to do with my time left in the city. I walk outside onto the brisk city sidewalk. The doorman offers his assistance and hails me a cab.

As the cab pulls into the traffic flow, I sit straighter, glancing out the window at the blur of towering buildings. My heart is racing with a daring kind of confidence.

“Where to?” The cabby asks in an abrupt, bored voice.

“The closest Victoria’s Secret store, please,” I state firmly, despite my warm cheeks.

The cabby’s eyebrows go up as he meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “You got it, lady,” he responds, giving me a knowing wink.

Thirty-Two

Rain

The ride back to the hotel feels like an eternity. The car is quiet except for the hum of the tires on the pavement, but my mind is anything but. Today has been relentless, brutal—back-to-back interviews and guest appearances, each one brimming with speculation: about Katy, about Rainidy, about every corner of my life. And I wasn’t allowed to say a damn word.

Derrick’s plan to keep my personal life under wraps feels like a straitjacket.Stick to the script,he said. But the script doesn’t work anymore. I’m done performing for everyone else.

By the time I reach my room, my exhaustion is bone-deep. The door closes with a heavy thud, and I fling my jacket over the nearest chair. The air inside feels stale, suffocating. I stride tothe window, wrench it open, and let the cool night breeze spill in, cutting through the heaviness.

Grabbing my phone, I scroll through the endless messages and notifications. Derrick’s name flashes a few times, no doubt berating me about how the interviews went. I don’t bother opening them. Instead, I wearily strip and crawl naked into bed.

Glancing at the clock, I realize that it’s late back on the East Coast. Did Katy remember our sexting date? Just the thought stirs new life in me, and with a smirk, I settle back against the pillows and eagerly tap out a message to Katy.