Page 66 of The Golden Scoop

“I guess you’ll never know.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“It’s fun,” I argue.

“It’s dangerous,” he replies.

There’s something exciting about playing with fire. Especially when it’s just teasing. But nothing feels like a joke anymore.

“I’ll see you tonight?” I deflect.

Matt laughs, probably content he won this round.

“Meet you at the Club Lounge when you’re ready.”

There’s another knock on the door at two sharp. Before I can decide if I should be impressed or nervous about their punctuality, there’s another one. Insistent this time.

“Miss Miller, we’re from S&S. I’m Omar. We’ll be prepping you for tonight’s fundraiser,” he says, extending his hand with practiced confidence.

“Emma, please,” I answer, shaking it. “What’s S&S?”

“Silk and Signature. We handle in-house fashion and makeup services for upscale clients like Mr. Hunt when they’re in town.”

I step aside to let them in.

“Ah. Got it.”

Thank God I tidied and showered before they showed up. The team looks like they mean business. A friendly, yet hostile, takeover. This is Matt’s world, and right about now I’m wishing I’d been trained on how to act.

“Would you like some champagne?” he asks.

I shake my head. Alcohol hypes me up, and I don’t need any of that if I’m trying to seem classy.

“Don’t be shy to ask. Anything you need. We’ll be good-to-go in a few minutes.”

The door is my shield, as I watch them move around like a flock of birds. Controlled chaos I’m not qualified to interrupt. I might as well be a piece of furniture myself.

This is… a lot.

An SOS message sits in Matt’s text thread, just in case. Then I remember Julia’s been through this a million times by now. She’s an expert.

So… don’t ask me how I got here, but I need your advice.

I’m in New York, spent the night at the Ritz. Glam squad just arrived and there’s about three trillion people in my room. Am I supposed to do anything special?

Julia

Emma, what the hell?

Is this for work?

Sort of?

It’s for Matt. I’m his date for a gala.

Julia

No way! I’m telling Josh right now.