Page 117 of The Arrogant One

My followers did too. That was what my entire brand was based on. If they sensed any kind of disingenuousness coming from me, they’d call me out and unfollow me in a second.

“I might not have anything to worry about when it comes to Charred and Musik, but you never assured me that you’d take the same stance with Toro.” His head tilted down, and he looked at me through his lashes. “Can I expect the truth from you? Or is Sadie going to rate Toro instead of Dear Foodie?”

I covered my face with my hands.

I just needed a second.

This was too hard.

This was too much.

I didn’t want to be in this position. I didn’t want to feel this way.

And I didn’t want to keep feeling this way.

“Before you answer that,” he said, “let’s dig in even deeper. I’m assuming another reason you came here today is because you want permission to tell Hart who you are. Am I right?”

I uncovered my face and looked at him. “Yes.”

He let out a long, pent-up breath and pushed up the sleeves of his thin sweater, showing dark leather bracelets on both wrists. “Sadie …”

“I feel like I’m about to throw up,” I said to Bryn as she answered my call, the elevator doors closing behind me, and fortunately, I was the only one in it, taking it down to the lobby ofSeen.

“Why? What happened? Or are you sick and you’re really about to puke?”

I wiped what felt like sweat off my forehead. “I’m just leavingSeen.”

It took a moment for her to say, “Wait. As in you actually went into the office?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Girl, that’s hardcore. You haven’t been there in, how long? Forever?”

I wasn’t sure if I was holding in air or panting, but I let out a long exhale. “I had to talk to my boss in person. I couldn’t have this conversation with him over the phone. It wouldn’t have felt right.” I watched the numbers light up on the monitor, letting me know I was getting closer to the lobby.

“About you reviewing more Weston restaurants, right?”

“And the NDA I have withSeen.” My eyes closed for just a second, and I pushed myself off the wall I was leaning against and stood in front of the doorway.

“I know what these secrets are doing to you, babe. It’s going to feel good to finally get them out.”

“You don’t even know the latest.” I cleared my throat since the heaviness seemed to have formed a knot there. “I spent the night at Lockhart’s last night, and everything was perfect. And then I woke up at the ass crack of dawn, and he was on his phone, and I knew he was reading the Musik review that had just posted onSeen’s website and across my social media. And I wanted to die, right?”

“Oh God, I’m getting clammy. Keep going.”

“He started talking to me about Dear Foodie and her nails and whether they’d inspired my nail color. And that her photos were in the same place you and I were standing that night. And that we were both drinking the same cocktail, saying me and DF had similar taste.”

“WHAT?” I could hear her breathing. “Does he know?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think he knows?”

I held my throat as a wave of heat blasted across me. “I mean, why would he say any of that? But at the same time, am I just looking into it too deeply? Am I hyper-focused and so close to the situation that I can’t see it any differently?” I sighed. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I’m freaking out.”

“You’re not helping.”