Page 37 of The Girlfriend Card (Vegas Sin #4)
“Yeah, just wait,” she said.
I kept reading. “ ‘Whispers of an affair began roughly six months ago, when witnesses first caught sight of the sizzling duo cozying up to each other in a dimly lit corner of a trendy downtown bar. With every stolen glance and electrifying touch, it became clear that a spark of romance was igniting.’ ”
“Six months ago?” I shot Ottavia a confounded glance. “What the hell is this lunatic talking about?”
“No idea. See what I mean? It’s all just trash. Trash and lies.”
I kept reading. “ ‘Ottavia, born into unimaginable wealth and privilege as the daughter of casino hotel magnate Sal Capuano, has led a life of excess and indulgence. The alluring heiress has made recent public appearances alongside her longtime beau, Leo Lancaster, at campaign events for Leo’s father, Senator William Lancaster. But sources close to Ottavia say that the heiress’ relationship with Leo is on shaky ground, as she has found a partner who matches her insatiable appetite for attention and luxury: Vegas Sin bad boy Dakota Easton.
“ ‘Dakota, known for his entitled attitude and uninspired play on the ice, is no stranger to controversy—his latest claim to fame is a self-inflicted injury that eliminated his team from the playoffs last year.
A privileged upbringing and lack of accountability have allowed “The Golden Son” to flaunt his bad-boy image without consequence.
With a trail of trampled hearts in his wake, Dakota now sets his sights on the sheltered and impressionable Ottavia.
“ ‘Their union is a glaring testament to the unchecked privilege that pervades our society.
While honest, hardworking individuals struggle to make ends meet, Ottavia and Dakota frolic in a bubble of excess, enjoying the fruits of their family fortunes.
They epitomize the entitled elite, detached from the realities faced by ordinary people, and carrying on their sordid affairs in secret.
“ ‘But beneath the glitz and glamour lies a relationship built on superficiality and self-interest. Ottavia and Dakota may revel in their adulterous romance now, but the question remains: how long until their insatiable hunger for attention leads to their own downfall?’ ”
“Well, that guy sounds totally sane and unbiased.” I set the iPad aside with a sigh. “By now, I’m used to them writing this kind of stuff about me, but …” I trailed off and cast my guilty gaze at Ottavia. “I’m sorry to get you involved in this.”
“You?” She shook her head, refusing my apology. “It’s not your fault. If anything, it’s mine. I should be the one that’s sorry.”
I waved away her self-blame. “Nah. The media loves to drag me through the mud any chance they get. But they’ve never said a word about you—you fly under the radar.”
“Not anymore,” she grumbled. “Pretty sure they hate me now, too.”
A heavy silence enveloped us as the gravity of the situation sank in. But in that tense moment, a mischievous glimmer flickered in my eyes. My smile soon evolved into a chuckle.
Ottavia raised an eyebrow. “Okay, why are you laughing right now?”
“Because I’m thinking how, for once in my life, the media has actually solved one of my problems.”
“Huh?” she asked.
“Think about it. We didn’t know how to convince your dad we were serious about each other.
Well, now we don’t even have to! The media just did our dirty work for us.
By exposing our ‘scandalous affair,’ they’ve made Leo look like a cuck, and your marriage to him would look illegitimate, like the loveless sham that it is.
There’s literally no reason for you to marry him now.
” Wondering why she wasn’t beaming like me, I gently shook her shoulders, trying to hype her up.
“Ottavia! Don’t you see? You’re getting out of the arranged marriage! ”
“Hmm.” Her eyes narrowed skeptically. “Yeah, I dunno, Dakota. I don’t think it’ll be that easy.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ve got a bad feeling. All I know is, none of this makes sense.” Searching for answers, her brow furrowed. “Why would they even write this in the first place?”
“Because the story is sensational, and they’ve had a hate-boner for me for years? And because everyone hates rich people, especially privileged brats who haven’t earned their success? So they get double the satisfaction from seeing us both get torn down.”
“Sure, I get all that,” she said. “But why would they lie and say they saw us together six months ago?”
“Beats me. But I don’t give a fuck. It only helps us, I think.”
She thought it over in silence. “There’s only one explanation I can think of. And I don’t like it at all.”
“What’s that?”
“Remember when we had dinner with my dad, and he pulled me aside so we could talk in private?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“That dinner was three months ago. And at the time, I told him Dad we’d been dating for a few months, and that I’d met you at a bar. So the time frame and the story both fit what I’d told him.”
“So you’re thinking that your dad planted the story?”
“Maybe? I really don’t know. That’s the only thing I can think of, though.”
“But why would he do that? He wants you to marry Leo. He’s made it pretty clear he hates me. Why would he help us out like that?”
“If he did do it, he didn’t do it to help us out.” She paused. “But I can’t think of why anyone else would do it, either.”
“Well, maybe people really are gossiping about us, Ottavia. I mean, it is possible, isn’t it? We are kinda having an ‘affair,’ aren’t we? From their perspective, I mean.”
“Sure, it’s possible, I guess,” she said, but it was clear she didn’t believe it.
She pointed at the pictures in the article.
“But someone was following us around and taking pictures of us for months. And only now did this story come out. The same day you start training camp?” She blew out an anxious breath.
“The timing is strange, Dakota. It’s like they waited until hockey season started for maximum publicity. ”
“I just can’t see why your dad would want something like that written, though.”
“Maybe he’s heard how seriously you’ve been training, and he’s worried about blowback from the fans if Vegas trades you?”
“Hm.” I stroked my chin. “You know, I could see that. It’d make a lot of sense, actually.”
Her brows knitted together with worry. “Can I just come out and say it? The thing I’m worried about most?”
“Of course, babe,” I assured her.
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m worried this is Dad’s master plan to break us up. He needs cover to trade you. And he wants to trade you so we can’t see each other anymore.”
“If that’s his plan, he needs a new one. ’Cause this one won’t work,” I said defiantly. “They can trade me to Montreal if they want. It won’t stop me from wanting to be with you.”
“Really?” she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “Even though we might hardly ever see each other?”
I stared into her eyes with unwavering dedication. “Really, Ottavia. Distance won’t change how I feel about you. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but we’ll find a way to make it work.”
A playful smile danced on her lips. “You won’t be tempted by all those cute girls in Montreal with the sexy French accents?”
I chuckled and shook my head firmly. “Not a chance. I said I won’t ever break your trust, Ottavia, and I meant it.”
Seeking reassurance, she looked into my eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I took her hand and squeezed it in mine. “I don’t care about distance or distractions. I want you in my life. No one else.”
The weight of her worries lifted from her brow, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.
“Okay,” she said, her voice filled with newfound hope.
“God, you’re so beautiful,” I whispered, cradling her face in my hands. “I love to see you smile.”
“Then kiss me,” she whispered back.
I pulled her closer, and our lips met in a tender, lingering kiss, sealing our unbreakable bond.
Every second with Ottavia felt precious—especially these last few days—and I wished time could stand still when we were together. But as much as I wanted to stay with her, hockey awaited, and the alarm on my phone began to wail.
“I gotta go,” I reluctantly said, my fingers gently tracing her cheek.
“I know,” she said, her eyes understanding. “Good luck, Dakota. You’ve worked so hard for this. Go and show them what you’re made of.”
“Thank you.” I pressed my lips to her forehead, savoring the warmth of her presence once more. “That means a lot to me.”
I stood and grabbed my things, but before I headed out the door, I had one last kiss for my girl. “I’ll be back before you know it,” I said.
“I’ll be waiting.”