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Too many.

Not enough.

“That’s not our problem for today. I’d recommend you hire a private investigator for that or do a deep dive into your personal lives. For now, we’re going to figure out a way to move forward. The best way to squash these rumors is going to be to present yourselves as a united front.”

“Meaning?”

“You need to be friends.”

Jessica cringes. I know my face reflects the same thing.

Friends?

After all we’ve been through?

“No offense, Miss Prince,” I say, “but I’m not sure if that’s possible.”

“If you want to stop the – pardon my language here – media shitstorm that’s brewing, that’s what you’re going to do. The two of you need to let the world know that even though you’re no longer dating, you’re not enemies. You’re friends. You get along. In fact, you go out in public together. You’re photographed together. Maybe you even go on a trip together. No matter what you decide, the thing you need to begin doing is changing the narrative.”

“Meaning?” I ask.

“Whoever wrote this wants the world to think that Jessica is a big, bad monster who only cares about squashing the little guy. You. That’s the story they’ve created, and it’s what the world is going to believe unless you stop them.”

I look up at Jessica.

“All right, then,” I nod. “Let’s stop them.”

6

Jessica

Her words surprise me.

She wants us to team up, does she? Sweet Toni with her hot body and sweetheart attitude wants us to team up to stop the bad guy.

“How do I know this isn’t a trick?” I ask. “What if it really is you pulling the strings?”

“For the sake of moving forward, let’s say it’s not,” Piper says. “In fact, I can all but guarantee it’s not Toni.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because Toni is still in love with you.”

The two of us turn to Piper, jaws wide.