I grin and sink into the couch in the lobby, down the hallway from Lily’s office, as Carter leans against the wall.
“So, my plan is going even better than I thought.”
He frowns as he walks over and sits next to me. “What is your plan exactly?”
“My plan is to give Lily and Phillip a chance to make up for real and then put them on every TV show, radio show, and newspaper, showing the love they have for each other. Lily won’t hide her error, but she will make it clear that it was a mistake. Phillip will show forgiveness, and Lily will show her humility. They are a normal couple with real problems, just like everyone else.”
“Your plan won’t work.”
“Are you crazy? Did you not see the two of them together? Their love is infectious.”
“No, Phillip is too nice. He’s not strong enough. He’s a schoolteacher, not a powerful businessman. He’s not seen as an equal to her. And, because of that, their love will never be seen as real. It will be clear that the only reason he’s forgiven her is because she is way out of his league. Everyone will suspect that she is sleeping with hotter, more attractive men behind Phillip’s back.”
“You’re wrong. You’re just upset that Lily is going to love my plan, and you are going to be out of a job soon.” I fold my arms across my chest and wince when I hit my burns a little too hard.
“Are you okay?”
I nod.
Carter takes my hand that has a burn on top of it. He lowers his lips and softly kisses the burn.
My eyes widen, and my breathing stops. It’s just a stupid kiss on the hand, but it’s one of the sweetest things a man has ever done for me. I don’t understand how he could be so cruel one second and then so sweet the next.
He grins. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
I shake my head.
“You shouldn’t. Just like the people of North Carolina wouldn’t trust Lily if she went back to her fiancé.”
I frown. “You and Lily are different. You’re an ass, and she’s…”
He laughs. “She’s a bitch.”
I freeze when he calls Lily that. “I thought you liked her.”
“Of course I like her. Lily and I are a lot alike, which is how I know your plan will never work.”
He grins, and I know he has something up his sleeve. Something he isn’t telling me.
I jump as a loud thump happens down the hallway.
“What was that?” I ask.
Carter frowns as he looks toward Lily’s office. He starts jogging down the hallway, and I follow, not having a clue as to what is going on.
“Oh my God,” I say and cover my mouth with my hands when I see two men fighting, covered in blood.
Lily is screaming for them to stop, and Carter is trying to figure out how to break them up without getting hurt himself.
Finally, Carter grabs hold of Phillip and pulls him away from the other man.
“What is going on?” I ask, looking from Phillip to the other man before it becomes clear who the other man is. I recognize the other man from the sex tape with Lily.
“What are you doing here?” Lily asks Jacob.
“I’m here for you. Your PR team asked me to come, so here I am. I’ll do whatever you want to make this easier on you,” Jacob says.
I turn to Carter, who is still holding Phillip back, realizing what he did. I brought Phillip, and he brought Jacob. We couldn’t have fucked this up more if we had tried.