Page 68 of Don't Date Your Nemesis

“I’m your publicist for a reason, Deepika. If you can’t trust me, then⁠—”

“You wanted to throw him under the bus for some stupid rumor.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I trust you, Blake, but you have to trust me as well.”

She didn’t reply for a moment and then sighed. “You’re right. What you did turned out to be the right decision. The sponsor renewed Liam’s contract, and Joshua gave an interview backing him up. Sofia’s being exposed for lying.” She paused. “If this momentum continues, you might not even have to put up with him for three months. You could end it early.”

I forced enthusiasm into my voice. “Oh. That sounds great.”

“I’ll send you details about the Ananya Mehta meeting. It’s coming soon, so be prepared.”

She hung up, and I sat there, phone in hand, staring at nothing.

I should be happy that we could end this early and go back to our separate lives.

So why did I feel like someone had hollowed out my chest?

21

IS THAT A THREAT?

LIAM

I was at the kitchen counter, staring at my phone, when the podcast clip started playing.

Deepika’s voice filled the space, clear and strong.

“The Liam I know isn’t the man these tabloids describe. My fiancé is loyal, protective, and honest. We’ve known each other since we were kids, as our families are connected. I’ve seen him at his best and his worst. I trust him with my life.”

My fiancé.

My chest felt warm and hot as if someone had lit a match behind my ribs.

She didn’t have to do that. She could have distanced herself from me and protected her career. She could have easily cut me loose and gone to her cousin’s wedding with Marcus Reynolds.

But, no. She chose to defend me publicly, even if it meant there was a chance it could backfire and hurt her career.

I listened to the clip three more times, imagining her face in the studio and shivered.

Why are my cheeks hurting?

I called Xavier with an extra bounce in my step.

“Did you see⁠—”

“The entire internet saw—er, heard,” he said. “Your sponsor just renewed and Joshua backed you up in an interview. Sofia’s being exposed for lying so...”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“No. Your fake fiancée did,” he said and paused. “She’s good for you, you know.”

“It’s fake,” I blurted, as if it were my practiced answer.

“Sure it is.”

He hung up, and I stared at my phone for a long moment, then looked around my pristine kitchen.

I am going to make her dinner, I thought, heaving my chest up.

Chole bhature was her favorite Indian dish. I had heard her mention it once in passing during a conversation with Kiara.