Page 92 of Have To Be Mine

Sebastian gladly filled her in. “The one from Corfu. Dash and some woman looking very cozy on set. She’s gorgeous, by the way. But that’s no surprise for Dash. Still, good work.”

Everyone at the table turned to look at me. I could feel their eyes boring into me.

“That’s Krista,” Elizabeth said. “The consultant.”

“Ohhh,” Sebastian drew out the word. “The one Adrian hired to keep Dash in line. Interesting development.”

“It’s not a development,” I said.

“The picture says otherwise,” Bernadette chimed in over the phone. “You’re looking at her like she hung the moon.”

“It’s one picture taken out of context.”

Mom leaned forward. “Are you two dating? Are you finally going to get serious about someone?”

“No and no,” I said, holding up my hands.

“But you were dating,” Mandy said. It wasn’t a question. “I can tell. You have that look.”

“What look?”

“Damn, he does,” Briggs said.

I set down my fork. “There’s nothing going on between me and Krista. We work together. That’s it.”

Adrian was watching me with that analytical expression he got when he was trying to figure something out. I knew he could see right through my bullshit, but thankfully he didn’t call me on it.

“Well, she’s very pretty,” Mom said diplomatically.

I shrugged. “It’s a professional relationship, nothing more.”

After dinner wrapped up, everyone started heading back to their respective villas. Mom kissed my cheek and told me again how proud she was. Adrian clapped me on the shoulder. Briggs gave me a fist bump. Elizabeth hugged me and whispered that she couldn’t wait to see the show.

“Dash.”

I turned to find Callum standing there, hands in his pockets.

“Yeah?”

“Can we talk for a minute?”

I nodded and gestured toward the edge of the terrace where we’d have some privacy. “I wanted to clear the air,” I said before he could speak. “What’s your picture of tomorrow look like?”

He raised an eyebrow. “My picture?”

“Yeah. Because my picture is you staying in your front-row seat the whole time and not overstepping. This is my show, Callum. I’ve worked my ass off for this, and I don’t need anyone swooping in thinking they’re going to take over or critique or whatever it is you’re planning.”

He looked at me for several seconds and then laughed.

“What’s funny?” I asked, irritation flaring.

“You think I’m here to step on your toes?” He shook his head, still chuckling. “Man, that’s not it at all.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Just like I said, research purposes only,” he said, holding up his hands. “I promise. Cleo and I want to host our own exclusive launch. We’re talking high-end, invitation-only runway shows. But my old man thinks runway is dead. He’s convinced it’s all about digital now, influencer campaigns, that kind of thing. I think he’s just mad none of his children want to work in the movie industry with him.”

I nodded. “Dad insisted we join the family business, so I can only imagine Uncle Max isn’t all that different.”