“Yes. I was approached by Elite after an audition in Los Angeles last year, with an offer for a lucrative contract in exchange for providing them with information about Danica Rose’s business plans and insider information. I believe this was to aid Elite in buying out DRM.”
The reporter nods, feigning concern. “And so you decided the only way for you to really get access to that sort of information was to marry into the family.”
“I—” Brooklyn blinks, hesitating for a second. Then she says, “Yes.”
I can barely draw a breath. Why the hell is she doing this? It’s a lie. I approached her about the marriage, not the other way around. Our union was a ploy to help boost Danica Rose’s public relations status—by legitimizing the most notorious Zoric bad boy. Me.
And now here she is on a live feed, acting like it was her plan all along to seduce me.
I don’t understand why she thinks she needs to twist things. We could have laid low for a while, let this blow over, presented the public with the long-term evidence of our happy marriage and a pile ofno comments in the meantime. Why didn’t she come to me first?
“When Luka proposed, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to give Elite what they were asking for. At the end of the day, I’d have the lavish lifestyle I wanted and walk away with money in the bank, and a very fat contract.”
“You’re essentially admitting you’re a gold digger, so to speak,” the reporter prods.
Brooklyn lightly shrugs one shoulder. “I guess I am.”
“Wow,” the reporter says. “People don’t usually admit these kinds of things. Your honesty is shocking. Did Luka know or did he find out when the rest of us did, thanks to Monica Shore’s exposé?”
Brooklyn tenses. It’s very faint, but I see it. “The marriage was a sham,” she says softly. “But Luka had no idea. He didn’t know.”
Emzee glances over at me. I wave her off. “She’s lying. Why is she lying?”
“To protect you, Luka. She’s trying to prevent you from getting sucked under with her.”
Brooklyn folds her hands in her lap and her expression turns stony. I know that face. It’s the one she puts on when she’s determined to see something through, no matter the consequences.
“The truth is, I lied to everyone and I got caught.” She gazes at the camera as if she’s looking right at me and my heart fractures. “Luka thought our marriage was real, that our relationship was real, but none of it was. Nothing was real at all.”
Luka
Chapter 25
After Brooklyn’s live interview streamed online, I stopped waiting for her to waltz through the door at any moment. It was obvious she wasn’t planning to come back home and have a happy reunion with me and Mr. Kibbles, considering that she’d completely thrown herself under the bus for the benefit of my reputation (and DRM’s) and then seemingly washed her hands of us. I still can’t believe she did that. I think I understandwhyshe did it, but I’m still in shock that she publicly disavowed our marriage and then walked away without a look back.
I just wish she’d talk to me, or at least pick up my calls and listen to what I have to say. It’s possible she’s been deleting my voicemails, and I worry she’ll block my number any day now. But if she thinks ignoring me will make me disappear, she’s in for a hell of a surprise.
The one thing that has me encouraged is that Mateo told me she’s just as unhappy as I am. I’d finally caved and called him a few days ago. I’d realized that, as her BFF, he was the most likely person she’d ask to let her move in long-term and on such short notice. And I was right.
“Is she there?” I had asked as soon as Mateo answered the phone. “It’s Luka.”
There’d been a pause, then some shuffling and the soft click of a door closing.
“As a man who keeps his promises, I am not at liberty to answer that,” Mateo had replied.
I took it as a yes. “Is she okay?” I prodded. “Just tell me she’s safe. Please.”
He let out an amused huff. “You know, there was a time I would’ve loved to hear Luka Zoric beg, but given the circumstances, this isn’t as enjoyable as I’d imagined.”
“A yes or no is fine,” I told him. “I’m sure she’d be pissed if she knew you were talking to me, but honestly I’ve been worried sick.”
Mateo sighed. “Wherever she might be, and I’m definitely not saying it’s here, Icanconfirm that she’s safe,” he said. “But also miserable. And also costing me a fortune in Talenti gelato and rosé.”
Relief had flooded through me. “I appreciate it, man,” I’d said. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad she’s with her best friend right now.”
“So am I,” he said. “At least one of us is taking care of her.”
I paused, feeling guilty over the way I’d always cold-shouldered my wife’s best friend, especially since he was now my one remaining lifeline to her. I was about to form an apology when I heard a commotion in the background on Mateo’s end of the call.