MY FAKE LOVE AFFAIR

flight attendant said as she

e. "Do you need anything else? We' l

way and took her seat at t

ow as the jet glided a

busy few months. I missed New York.

Penelope, my always nervous, very high-strung assistant

. "It's hectic, but I've made it work." "I hop

ft me exhausted." "You've got a few mo

ng with the board of

n getting those end-of-year reports together. App

ed out." I was barely listening. I

g able to buy happiness. It bought me s

l and couldn't get off. The more mo

eed the money, but it was like being on

out being entirely sure what she said.

ly, which was her default. "Don't te l me-Brock's fans have arranged

issed. They didn't have to date the as

lping the situation," she said. I ro

you see me chasing after a man that is hot, wealthy, and

ther man. I refuse to be a photo op. I'm done with a l of that. Ne

e murmured. I sighed an

g to be like this w

er with an ego the size of Texas. I ha

in the wings of his concerts and have him s

y he was singing to me. He wanted the

r tablet. "Security has been filtering thro

dead. What the he l is that about?

cried," she said dryly. "He's using t

him. I should demand half of whatever he makes from t

d?" I asked. "Are any o

g to be meeting us at

t chaotic." "I'm used to chaos," I said. "I can handle it." "They th

g canceled?" I as

s, but I don't think it's going

e a hit first quarter, but it' l be mi

ting my businesses because I broke up with

friend?" Penelope a

together for about a month before he went on to

because we didn't have time to officia ly break up. I hate that everyone

ile tapping out a text message on one of the t

she said and pu

ating one of the hottest artists in the

a celebrity. I just want to run my businesses, go into a bar and

lebrity status don't want to lose

laugh. "You win the lottery at t

invest it and quadruple your net worth." I smile

block. Not Jenny's block, but my

ved to Manhattan, and even though he claimed he hated i

o get home," I s

ss your

means nothing without him," I said. I

n my pj's with a hot pizza, a twelve-pack of bee

d like I was seventy. There was an alert from one o

specifica ly for those accounts, and I watch

fore putting the phone back in

er trending hashtag

on any social med

ever

over," she

I just want to go home. I made a l th

y businesses before I met Brock. It's n

people can think otherw

ck," she said. "They're mad at you for

to see my dad, and I wanted to sleep in my own bed, but I knew it was going to be ugly. I wasn't go

tled on about this and that. I missed the day

h a smile on his face and

eks since I got one

ssed those hugs until my life i

l. The jet hit the tarmac, a slight bounce before it

a stop. I was sti l in a safe zone, but

us on the tarmac,"

bags and stuff get to your penthous

"I can carry my purse and

Someone could grab

asped. "Am I in

id with zero

e death threa

th stood and waited for the door

ith a few people holding signs and papara

or and onto the step

that was holding back a throng of peop

ting messages. "Go," Pen

our stuff to

. "I'm going straight to my da

'm fine," I said with irritation.

th my head held high. I ignored the vile words

to shield my eyes. I wasn't goi

s they rushed me across the tarmac and into

e man that hopped in t

eel. "There's a crowd outside the gate,"

t see me,"

That's when I realized he was afraid t

n stopped. I could hear the shouts. People pounded on th

sked aloud. I didn't expect an answer. T

dress in Manhattan," the driv

e in Rye," he said. "I'm going to my fa

The security guard looked

sure?"

ere he lives. At leas

e ahead to scout t

and watched as another private jet

turn, which slammed my

"We' l need to lose these guys

o glad Penelope had the foresight to get security set up.

otorcycle taking pictures of me in the back seat. Or att