Chapter 77 Sell the Act
Verdict: she wasn’t.
I gave her a sheepish smile, cheeks burning like I’d swallowed a radiator.
I thought I’d been subtle.
Apparently not.
Octavia laughed, a silvery sound. ‘You thought Ash and I were a thing, didn’t you?‘
I groaned. ‘Yeah… I might’ve read that whole situation completely wrong. Sorry, that was just me being dumb.‘
She grinned. ‘Don’t worry, you’re not the first woman to assume that. But trust me–he’s all yours. Ash and I are related.‘
‘You are?‘ I tried to recollect if I’d detected any resemblance in their features, but came up empty; after all, didn’t all beautiful people sort of look alike?
‘I’m a distant cousin on his mum’s side. We weren’t close growing up, only started reconnecting a few years ago.‘
So Dominic Everett had been chatting shit?
Or maybe I’d messed up the name?
Was there another actress he’d been gossiping about?
Before I could untangle that mess, Octavia continued, ‘It’s obvious he really likes you. I’m happy for him, honestly. Took him long enough to find someone he actually wants to marry.‘
She gave me this look–warm and kind and a little nostalgic. ‘Ashton was… difficult as a kid. Bit of a loner. For the longest time, I didn’t think he’d ever settle down.‘
She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t press.
Didn’t seem right to dig into Ashton’s childhood when we were out here lying to half of Skyline City.
And as for her comment about him liking me?
I had no bloody idea where she was getting that from.
Still, I pasted on my best bashful smile.
Octavia studied me.
Then she leaned in across the table, eyes gleaming.
‘Come here. I’ve got a secret for you.‘
I leaned in without thinking, totally hooked.
She cupped one hand around her mouth and whispered into my ear, ‘I’m actually married. Two kids. So you don’t have to worry about me and your husband getting too cosy.‘
My jaw dropped so fast it nearly cracked the floor.
just stared at her, blinking like a malfunctioning android.
Octavia Grey–the goddess of screen, everyone’s favourite unattainable icon–wasn’t just taken.
She had kids. Plural.
She’d never gone around shouting about being single, but no one had ever mentioned a husband, let alone tiny humans she’d
birthed.
Chapter 77 Sell me Act
The woman had been on every screen and billboard since I was fifteen.
When the hell did she have time to grow humans?
She raised one finger to her lips like we were co–conspirators. ‘You’ve got to keep this between us, okay?‘
‘Yeah… of course.‘ I nodded like a dazed puppy, then blurted out, Can I get your autograph?‘
Smooth. Real smooth.
But Yvaine would’ve killed me if I didn’t ask.
Octavia laughed. ‘How many do you want? I’ll sign ‘em all.‘
**
+15 BONUS
Dinner wrapped, and I climbed into Ashton’s car for the ride back.
I was still halfway between impressed and scandalised about Octavia’s mum–life reveal.
The entertainment industry was crawling with secrets, apparently.
On screen, she was the ice–queen CEO type.
In person?
Warm. Funny, Chill,
Meanwhile, Eliza Black, TV’s favourite cupcake in heels, was about as cuddly as a parking warden in rush hour.
Somewhere between red lights, I remembered what Octavia had said earlier–that Ashton liked me.
I peeked sideways.
He was sitting to my right, silent, face unreadable as usual, eyes shadowed in the low lighting
It almost looked as if he was napping, except his posture was anything but relaxed
I dismissed Octavia’s words
Ashton wasn’t in love.
At least not with me.
He had a precious ex stashed somewhere in his chest like a vintage wine no one else was allowed to touch
Still… even if he didn’t like me, not really, he’d been good to me.
That part I couldn’t deny.
He’d been careful. Attentive. Almost gentle, in his own terrifying way.
I sneaked another peek
My gaze stalled on that jawline.
He looked intense even when he wasn’t supposed to be.
The man tackled everything with the same laser–focused, maddeningly sincere attention.
No wonder he’d climbed to the top of the billionaire food chain at an age when most people were still figuring out how not to drown in student loans.
Take our take marriage, for instance.
Chapter 77 Sell the ACT
He hadn’t just planned it, he’d rehearsed it.
Scheduled sessions. Run–throughs. Bullet points.
At the time, I’d thought it was overkill, a kind of neurotic control
reak move.
But apparently it worked.
Octavia, an actress trained to lie for a living, hadn’t suspected a thing.
Speaking of rehearsals…
There was still one scene we hadn’t nailed.
I stole another glance at him.
Despite the polite two inches of distance between us, I could feel the heat radiating off his thighs.
Something in my lower belly fluttered–hot, reckless, and impossible to ignore.
I reached over and pressed a button
The privacy screen between us and the driver slid up.
Ashton glanced at me, eyebrows tugging together.
I twisted my upper body so I was facing him.
“Thanks for bringing me to meet Octavia.‘
Then I leaned in.
One quick kiss. Just a soft press of lips to his cheek.
A second later, I was turning back to face front like it hadn’t just happened.
The car was dark. Quiet.
But I could feel his stare.
When I dared look again, his eyes had gone low and dangerous, lit up with something wild and hungry.
‘That’s not the kind of kiss I want,‘ he said.
‘W–what kind of-
Didn’t finish the sentence.
Couldn’t.
Ashton lunged at me.
+15 BONUS
Chapter 78 The Ciss
