Page 76 of The Encounter
A text pinged through on Maddie’s phone, and she plucked it off her desk to find a message from Jace waiting for her.
Have you seen Celebrity Status today?
No… Should I have?
The dots danced across the screen, indicating that he was writing a message.
It might be best if you looked, but please don’t get upset. Everyone knows that tabloid is trash.
Maddie turned to her computer and typed the tabloid’s name into the search bar. The first picture that popped onto the screen was a photo of her and Jace.
“Shit,” Maddie muttered.
“You okay over there?” Kailynn asked.
“I made the tabloids.”
Kailynn walked over to the computer and bent over to stare at the screen. “Wow.”
Wow was right. The picture was from the event when they were on the red carpet walking up to the hotel. Jace was smiling and looking as fantastic as ever in his tux, but Maddie had a frown on her face and her eyes were half closed. They took possibly the most unflattering picture they could find and used it.
“Seriously? That’s the best they could do?”
Kailynn patted Maddie’s back. “Honey, I’m sure that was intentional. But, on the bright side, you look gorgeous.”
Maddie tilted her head. She did look stunning in that dress. Everything was on point… except her smile.
“Thanks to your dress.”
“No, thanks toyou. That dress couldn’t look more amazing on anyone else.”
Maddie smiled back at Kailynn before clicking on the article associated with the photo.
“Jace Locke’s newest squeeze is a marketer who works for a clothing company. Her name is Madelyn Carter, but she was less than impressive. Her poor taste in designer clothing had her bringing a dress that her boss made, rather than showing up in the couture expected of her.”
Kailynn huffed. “Couture expected of you? That dress was perfect for you and was just as amazing as some expensive thing you could have gotten in New York.”
“Madelyn was seen bidding on a silent auction for a necklace from a local jeweler, but was outbid by yours truly. If Jace wasn’t willing to buy the necklace outright for her, could he truly care for her?”
Maddie’s face flamed, and she saw red. “I didn’twantJace to buy it for me.”
Kailynn stomped back to her desk and grabbed her phone. “They’re going to get a piece of my mind.”
Maddie took a deep breath and saw the byline said Samantha Barnes.
“Don’t bother, Kailynn. She’s trying to get a rise out of us. You know she’s going to publish anything we say, but try to twist it to her advantage.”
Kailynn huffed and ended the call on her phone. “You’re right. I know you are. But that was not cool.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Maddie whispered.
“I’m going to have Chase sue them.”
Maddie barked out a laugh. “For what?”
“I don’t know. Is that considered defamation? He’ll find a reason.”
Maddie giggled. “Don’t bother. She’s dumb.”
