Page 194 of Off Limits Mogul

“How did she react?”

“She accused me of being a jealous and envious bitch. She told me I was lying about Paxton asking me out. I wasn’t his type.She was. I insisted she read the thread of our conversation on social media, but she refused. Then she became verbally abusive. It didn’t take long for her to grate on my last nerve. Instead of spiting more truths in her face, I hightailed it out of the house the four of us shared and stayed in a hotel for a few days.”

“I’m sorry you had to endure that. Chelle had so much baggage, it could qualify as cargo.”

He hits the nail on the head.

“She went on a date with Paxton in the end.”

“Not surprising given what you just shared,” he says.

“Paxton never wanted to date her,” I say. “He wanted to humiliate her.”

“What do you mean?”

“Italian food was Chelle’s favorite. Because her life was an open book, the world knew she missed pasta so much, she joked she would be willing to give up a vital organ if it meant she could eat it without gaining weight––”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“In many ways Chelle and Paxton were a perfect pair––they both documented every aspect of their lives on social media.” I let out a loud sigh. “The asshole took her to an Italian restaurant and proceeded to order practically every dish on the menu. I’m willing to bet he paid the waitstaff to stack the heaping dishes of food in front of Chelle. It was too well staged for it to be a fluke. The creep used the perfect devastating photo op to his advantage––”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“It’s classic Paxton. From my understanding, he cajoled Chelle into having a forkful of fettuccine alfredo. One forkful led to another. And pretty soon, Chelle was eating to her heart’s content. Paxton not-so-candidly snapped photos, alternating with shooting a few video clips.”

“Jesus Christ,” Rhys says.

“The next day, the internet was littered with unflattering images of Chelle eating with gusto. The mocking memes ensued. It was horrible. Stupid me, I swallowed my pride and returned to the house to comfort her. Bad move. Her wrath was unbearable. I promised myself it was the last time I gave two shits about her. Later that day, news leaked, exposing the date as a big fat joke. Paxton lost an ultimate dare challenge to afriend who happens to be a social media personality with over forty-four million subscribers––”

“It was a prank?”

“Sadly, it was.”

“Motherfucker.”

“Chelle became the laughingstock of the internet. It took her three days to muster up the courage to set foot outside again. Trinity told me Henley and her were heading out for a day of shopping therapy. The paparazzi ambushed them.” I let out a loud breath. “They never came back.”

“Paxton Foley has a black heart.” Disdain colors his words.

“He’s a snake with a god complex who’s still grinning for the camera, blissfully unaware of his role in Chelle’s and Henley’s demise.”

“Chelle’s mom is pointing the finger at the wrong person,” Rhys says.

I let out a loud sigh. “I’ve made peace with the fact I may never get through to Mrs. Camden.”

Chapter 38

Keira

The last two days have been so hectic, I’m surprised I didn’t forget to breathe. It’s coming at me from all directions. It’s all good, though. The reaction from the press and the public after Flint’s photoshoot caught us off guard. That pales in comparison to the frenzy that followed the red-carpet gala. Orders for SCORE Yours are coming in monster waves. Mind-blowing doesn’t even start to describe it.

As a result, I’m the new ‘It’ girl.

Considering my non-model height, I’m taken aback by the number of fashion related sponsorship opportunities pouring in from big brands. I suppose when I’m sitting down, I could pass for an Amazonian. If those companies are willing to pay me handsomely, I’ll gladly sign on the dotted line.

This deluge of goodness is a lot to take in. I’m still trying to wrap my head around seeing my face everywhere. Noah is beside himself and can’t get over my shooting star. Michaela is as thrilled. She’s upset she’s on the other side of the country and not in LA, soaking in all the excitement by my side. Arianne and Phoebe have made it their mission to text meanytime my name pops up in the media. At this rate, it’ll soon be their full-time job.

After another frantic day as SCORE Yours’ face, I’m back at Rhys’s place. Since it’s late afternoon, and I don’t expect him back until much later because he’s having drinks with a friend, I gear up, hop on one of his bikes, and hit the road. There’s nothing like the adrenaline rush of riding a motorcycle to wash the day away. Cue‘Born To Be Wild’, ‘Bad To The Bone’,followed by‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’.