Page 65 of Fame & Obsession

She sighs, keeping her eyes glued to the carpet. “Just leave me alone.”

“You know that’s not going to happen.”

Refusing to look at me, she turns toward the wall. “Make it happen.”

I can tell she’s shutting down, so I gently touch her shoulder. “Phoebe, I—”

It’s like I burned her. She recoils, fire brimming in her eyes as she comes back to life. “A stalker, Julian? You have a stalker? How could you not tell me?”

I bristle at her tone. “Keep your voice down! It didn’t come up.”

“It didn’t come up?” She gapes. “How about, ‘Hi, I’m invading your life, and oh, by the way, I’ve got a goddamn stalker’?”

“Don’t think you’re so special, princess. I kept it from everyone. Hell, I just told Helena the other day. Besides, why would I tell you anything when all you do is slam the door in my face?” I don’t want to fight, but, damn it, her accusations are pissing me off.

“I’ve told you, I don’t do stalkers.” Turning away, she folds her arms across her chest.

“I don’t do them either.” I smirk, attempting to diffuse the heaviness.

She scowls at me over her shoulder. “This isn’t funny, Julian.”

“Look, I’m dealing with it, all right?”

“How?”

“Eventually this bitch will get bored and stop. If I respond publicly to her stupid letters, she’ll know she’s getting to me. It’s common sense, Phoebe.” Breaking away from her relentless stare, I shrug, as if that explains everything.

Laughing, she resumes staring at the floor. “You’re naïve if you really think that.”

That’s a new one.“I’ve been accused of many things, Phoebe, but being naïve isn’t one of them.”

“Stalkers don’t give up. They just change tactics, biding time until you’re most vulnerable.” A distant look sweeps over her delicate face, and she twists away.

Hooking a finger under her chin, I pull her face toward me as tears spill down her cheeks.“Hey, what’s going on, princess? What’s all thatPredator Confidentialstuff? I thought your last name was Ryan.”

“I can’t talk about that now,” she says, shaking her head.

Frustration and anger flips a volatile switch in me. “Well, touché, baby.”

She smacks my hand away, a storm brewing in those bright blue eyes. “Look,Jagger, it’s because of you that I’m now fucked beyond any scope of your imagination. You need to come forward and fight this bitch. Better yet, we can both fight her.” Clenching her jaw, she adds quietly, “It isn’t as if I can hide anymore.”

Hearing her call me Jagger feels like nails on a chalkboard. “Or what?”

“Or I walk from our project,” she threatens, glaring at me while glancing toward the entrance to the venue as if expecting someone to come barreling through it.

“Why the hell would you want to get involved?” I roar.

If possible, her face pales even more. “Let’s just say it’s my way of getting even with a ghost.”

Done with the cryptic shit, I’m ready to demand answers when my phone chimes. Cursing under my breath, I slide it out of my pocket and scan the text.

Fuck.

“No,” I say with finality.

She blinks. “No?”

“That’s what I said.”