Chapter 6

The heavy door of the black Maybach slammed shut. The noise of the paparazzi screaming her name outside was instantly cut off.

Katy kicked off her stilettos. They hit the floorboard with a dull thud. She collapsed against the soft leather seat.

She closed her eyes and pressed her fingers hard against her throbbing temples. Arther's voice echoed in her head. I thought you were a fan.

In the front passenger seat, Paige let out a sharp, panicked gasp.

Katy opened her eyes. She glared at the back of Paige's head. "What now?"

Paige's face was completely white. Her hands shook as she passed an iPad over the center console into the back seat.

"It's bad," Paige stuttered.

Katy snatched the iPad. She looked at the screen. Her lungs stopped pulling in air.

At the very top of the X trending list, highlighted in bright red, was a single hashtag: KatyRiddleArtherKnowles.

Right beneath it was a video with over two million views.

Katy's trembling finger tapped the play button.

It was a high-definition video shot from the shadows of the ballroom. It showed Arther on stage. Then, the camera zoomed in drastically, focusing entirely on Katy's face in the audience.

The video had been slowed down. A romantic, slow song played over the footage.

On the screen, Katy's mask was completely gone. Her eyes were wide, tracking Arther's every movement. The raw, obsessive adoration in her expression was impossible to hide. She looked like a woman starved, staring at water.

Then, the video cut to the final second. The camera angle shifted slightly, catching the glare of the chandelier. As Katy raised her hand to adjust her silver strap, the lens perfectly focused on her wrist. Peeking out from beneath a massive diamond cuff was a frayed, black braided string bracelet with a distinct silver bead. It was a private, handmade token she had worn for years.

Katy dropped the iPad. It hit the leather seat and bounced. The world tilted on its axis.

She stared at the ceiling of the car. Her stomach violently cramped.

The comment section was a warzone. Millions of people were shipping the "Ice Queen and the Cold King."

Katy grabbed her phone from her clutch. Her fingers fumbled over the screen. She dialed Julian.

He answered immediately. "I know. The PR team is already on it."

"Take it down," Katy screamed. Her voice cracked, raw with terror. "Erase it. Now."

"Katy, listen to me," Julian argued. "This is free marketing. Your new movie drops next month. The internet loves this. We should let it ride for a few days."

"I said take it down!" Katy roared. Her chest heaved. "I do not need to use a man for clicks! I refuse to look like a desperate groupie!"

"It's just a rumor-"

"His fans are insane!" Katy lied, her voice shaking. "I don't want them attacking me. Pay whatever it takes. Get the platform to kill the tag."

Julian sighed. "Fine. I'll make the call."

Katy threw her phone onto the seat. She grabbed her hair and pulled, the physical pain grounding her spiraling panic.

If Arther saw this video. If he saw that look on her face.

Worse. If he saw that bracelet. If he connected that frayed string to the crazy fan who had dropped it at his feet five years ago. Her entire life would be over.

Paige reached back and offered a plastic bottle of water. "It's going to be okay, Miss Riddle."

Katy snatched the bottle. She didn't open it. She squeezed the plastic so hard it crunched loudly in the quiet car.

"Drive faster," Katy ordered the driver.

The Maybach sped up, tearing through the dark streets.

Katy picked up the iPad again. She refreshed the page. The hashtag dropped from number one to number four. Julian's money was working.

She let out a shaky breath. She was safe.

She had no idea that across the city, the video was already playing on a different screen.