Page 28

As if on cue, my phone blows up with notifications. I watch in horror as my Instagram and TikTok accounts light up with follower and friend requests, while half listening to Nicky’s phone do the same, probably with likes and comments from his already huge fanbase.

“This isn’t good,” Frieda says with a hard look at Nicky. She predicted this may happen; that this may be a problem. Now we have to deal with the fallout.

“Nicky?” James calls from the front seat. “We’ve got a problem.”

Another one?

We all look at where he’s pointing. The front entrance to the hotel is filled with people making a beeline to our car.

“Who are they?”

“Reporters,” Nicky and Frieda answer in unison.

“Is there another way in?” Nicky asks his bodyguard.

James shakes his head, his jaw set in a hard line. “I’ve spoken with security inside. They’re going to manage the situation in there; we just need to get from the car to the lobby.”

The pack outside our car seems to have grown bigger and more menacing than a moment ago and I gnaw at my lip, worried about our safety.

“Nicky, are you going to be okay?”

His eyes float over me like a soft caress. “Just stay close to me and James.”

I nod.

James opens his door and runs around to where we’re waiting. “You look after Cherry,” Nicky says. The two men exchange a glance .

“Of course.”

“But what about you—”

The door opens and the media pack surges to get to us. I keep close to Nicky, hiding my face against his chest, regretting that whatever photos they get of the two of us here will add fuel to our relationship rumour.

“Let’s move.”

We shuffle forward and the pack forms a circle around us. As they move in tighter, air gets trapped in my lungs as I start to panic.

“Nicky? Is it true?” they yell at us.

“Isn’t she too young for you?”

“How long will this one last?”

I gape at their audacity, momentarily losing my footing.

“Nicky!” I cry as I lose my grip on him. The press pack, sensing my weakness, move in even closer to me, jostling me about.

“Cherry, tell us how it feels to have sex with the hottest driver in the world?”

“What?” I turn and am jostled some more. Someone pushes me and I fall forward, catching an elbow in the face on my way down.

“James!” Nicky roars.

A pair of strong arms wrap around my waist, hauling me upright, half dragging, half carrying me to the lobby.

Once inside Nicky sprints to me, pulling me roughly from James’s arms into his own. His frantic eyes search my face, flashing fire when they land on my cheek. “They hurt you.”

My face where I caught that elbow throbs and a shudder takes over my body. “I’m a-alright,” I stammer.

“You are not.” Nicky looks murderous and I place a trembling hand on his arm to stop him doing something silly. Or dangerous.

“I’ll be fine.”

His nostrils flare as he continues to examine my face, his lips a grim line as he traces the bruise I know is already blooming on my cheek with a gentle finger.

“She needs ice.”

A flurry of people scatter around and with his hand on my lower back, he guides me to a couch, tucked away from the doors and the media hounds waiting on the other side of it.

“Sit.” He pushes me gently and my wobbly legs comply, folding under themselves as I sink into the soft leather.

“Here.” An ice pack appears from somewhere and Nicky places it on my cheek, swearing under his breath as I let out a hiss.

“Sorry.”

He closes his eyes and inhales deeply. “You have nothing to apologise for.” I watch as he strides away from me, taking his phone out of his pocket and tapping at it with angry fingers.

The throbbing on my cheek dulls thanks to the ice pack and I nibble on my fingernails while waiting to see what will happen next.

Nicky and James are now huddled nearby, flicking their eyes to me and whispering to each other, while Frieda stands off to the side, looking pale but otherwise unruffled.

Her shoulder pads are still firmly in place.

“Cherry!” Serena flies out of the lift and makes a beeline for me. “Oh my gosh, are you okay?”

Tears prick my eyes at the concern in her voice and I nod miserably. Because I’m not really.

“Can you take her up to her room and get her settled?” Nicky asks, his gaze trained on me. What I see in his face has my stomach rolling. He’s feeling guilty about the whole thing. In true Nicky fashion, my getting hurt is his fault.

“Of course.” Serena helps me upright, keeping her arm around my waist as I wobble.

We walk to the lift together. “Nicky?” I turn to him when we get there.

His smile is a mere uptick of his lips, his whole demeanour tight with anger. “I’ll come up and see you in a bit.”

This does not make me feel better, but I nod and get in the lift, anyway.

“Wow, that was a lot,” Serena whispers as we head up to my room. “But don’t worry,” she continues as she sees the tears in my eyes. “I’m sure it’ll all die down. Everything will work out fine.”

I lean my head on her shoulder, letting out a shuddering breath and for now I naively choose to believe her.