Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

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Our driver pulled over in the driveway of Meridian Hotel. I spotted the paparazzi lined up at the entrance on the pink carpet. My palms turned sweaty instantly. I rubbed them against my dress, but the dampness stayed.

“Are you alright?” Brittany asked, her voice soft with concern.

“Yeah.” I said. My throat felt tight and dry.

“Are you sure?” Sam asked, grabbing both my hands. Her fingers were warm against my cold skin. “You look pale.”

“I hate red carpets and the fucking paparazzi,” I admitted. My voice came out smaller than I wanted.

“Well, this is a pink carpet,” Sam said, trying to lighten the moment with a small smile.

“You’ll be fine. We’re with you and you look so good. Always remember that,” Brittany said gently, squeezing my hands.

I took several deep breaths, filling my lungs with air and letting it out slowly. “Let’s go.”

“Yass, girl. That’s the spirit,” Sam said as we stepped out of the car.

“Dr. Page! Over here!”

“Nia, can we get a photo?”

“How was Greece?”

“Dr. Page, who are you wearing?”

“The Beast’s girlfriend is here!”

“Dr. Page, one photo for Beast Nation!”

I froze for half a second before forcing my shoulders to relax.

“Just keep walking,” Sam murmured beside me.

“Smile and blink,” Brittany added under her breath. “If they catch you mid-blink, they’ll use the worst picture imaginable.”

I almost laughed.

Almost.

More cameras lifted in our direction.

“Nia, are you and Maddox still together?”

“Any wedding bells?”

“Dr. Page, can we get one with Samantha and Brittany?”

I pasted on the smile I’d practiced in my bathroom mirror and followed the event coordinator’s instructions.

“Right here, ladies.”

We stopped in front of the branded backdrop.

The flashes came faster.

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1 shifted my weight, trying not to squint.

Sam placed a hand lightly against my back while Brittany linked her arm through mine.

“You’re doing great,” Sam whispered through a smile that never slipped.

Three more seconds,” Brittany added.

Three seconds.

I could survive three seconds.

Then ten more cameras went off at once.

I finally exhaled when the event coordinator guided us toward the garden entrance.

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It was an outdoor brunch set in the garden, not too far from the pool. Round tables with pink chairs filled the area. Balloons floated everywhere, mixed with fresh lilies. Each table had flowers, charger plates, drinks, and snacks. The setup looked beautiful, but my stomach stayed in knots.

“Dr. Page, hi,” a well-dressed woman in balloon pants, a silk camisole, and a structured blazer approached us.

“Hi,” I replied, shaking her hand. My grip felt weak. “I don’t think I know you. Sorry.”

“My bad,” she chuckled. “I’m Eva, creative director for Maybelline.”

“Oh, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said. I watched as she exchanged pleasantries with Sam. Apparently, they knew each

other.

“The pleasure is mine. I’m so glad you could make it. Enjoy the rest of the event,” she replied before walking away.

“She’s such a diva,” Sam whispered.

“Look,” Brittany pointed to a table with three chairs.

“Perfect!” I said as we took our seats.

I released a huge breath I didn’t realize I had been holding. Relief washed over me. I didn’t have to make small talk. I didn’t have the energy for it.

“Excuse me, ladies,” a waiter said, walking up to us and gesturing to the bottle of champagne. “Do you mind if I open your drink?”

Samantha smiled flirtatiously. “Of course not, handsome.”

I watched as she chatted with him while he filled our glasses. The bubbles rose and popped softly.

I picked up my glass and took a generous sip. The cool liquid helped a little, but my nerves stayed tight.

“Easy, girl,” Brittany said, smiling.

I managed to smile back. The truth was, I felt completely out of place. People kept staring at me like I was an object on display. I hated it. I looked down at the table, not wanting to raise my head. I couldn’t look in any direction without locking eyes with someone I didn’t know.

The creative directors spoke about the event and what they hoped to achieve. Background whispers grew louder. Sam tapped me lightly with her elbow.

I lifted my gaze from the table and locked eyes with icy blue ones across the room. Bella was halfway across from me, but it

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was obvious she was staring straight at me.

“Glad you could join us, Miss Laurent,” Eva said, smiling.

Bella looked beautiful as always. She wore an army-green mini dress with thigh-high boots.

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I played with my food as the waiter set it in front of me. I had no appetite. My stomach couldn’t handle food right now

“Excuse me for a moment, please,” I said to Sam and Brit as I stood. “I’ll be back soon.”

I walked out of the garden to the fountain beside the pool and took a deep breath. The water sparkled under the sunlight The fresh air helped a little.

“Nia.” I stiffened as I heard a very familiar voice. “I missed you very much, Nia.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked. My hands started to shake.

“I came to see you,” Trey said, walking closer. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Trey was my boyfriend during my second year of college. We lasted barely two months before I ended things. After the breakup, the late-night calls turned into showing up uninvited. Then came rehab.

“Looking for me, why?” I asked, shaking slightly. “When did you get out of rehab?”

“I got out a week ago. I’m clean now. We can build a life together,” he said, smiling. “I missed you, Nia. So much. Didn’t you

miss me?”

I took a step back. “We’re done, Trey. We have been for over two years

now.”

“We can still come back together. I love you and I know you still love me.” He took another step closer.

My heart pounded in my chest. I watched as Bella walked toward the pool. I stood puzzled as she approached us.

“We’re meant to be, Nia. Can’t you see?” He tried to grab me.

“Leave me alone. I don’t want to be with you. I don’t love you, Trey. Never have,” I spat. My voice came out sharper than I expected.

“Is this man bothering you?” hotel security asked as he approached.

“Yes, he is,” I said, wrapping my arms around myself.

“I’ll have to ask you to leave, sir.” The security escorted him out.

“We’ll see again, Nia,” he said.

“Thanks, Bella.”

“What did he mean by that?” I asked, turning toward Bella.

She kept walking.

“Bella.”

She stopped near the edge of the pool, her back still facing me.

“Trey is an old friend of mine,” she said lightly. “He needed help reconnecting with someone important to him.”

My stomach dropped.

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You brought him here?”

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She finally turned to face me. “Oh, don’t look so horrified. He talked about you constantly. It was actually quite romantic”

“Romantic?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Bella, he stalked me.”

A small crease appeared between her brows before disappearing just as quickly.

“You’re exaggerating.”

I stared at her. “He followed me to work. He waited outside my apartment. I had to change my number because of him.

Bella crossed her arms. “People do irrational things when they’re in love.”

“Are you hearing yourself right now?”

“You act like you’re some helpless victim in every situation.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”

“No,” Bella snapped. “What’s unbelievable is watching you stumble into Maddox’s life and suddenly think you belong there.

I froze.

“There it is,” I said quietly.

Her jaw tightened. “You think you’re special because Hale picked you for this arrangement?” she asked. “You’re temporary.

Nia.

“And what does that make you?” I asked.

Her eyes flashed. “Maddox is going to marry me.”

“Then maybe you should ask him why he keeps making that so difficult.”

The color drained from Bella’s face.

For a second, something raw crossed her expression.

Fear.

Then anger swallowed it whole.

“You think you’ve won?” she whispered.

I shook my head. “This was never a competition.”

I turned toward the garden. “Maddox has no business with manipulative people who think hurting others will make someone love them.”

“At least I’m fighting for what I want,” Bella shot back.

I glanced over my shoulder.

“No, Bella. You’re trying to possess someone who doesn’t want to be possessed.”

I took another step away. “That’s the difference.”

“Don’t walk away from me.”

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I kept walking, and Bella grabbed my arm. I spun around instinctively.

“Let go of me

“You think you’re better than me?”

“I think you need help.”

Bella’s expression cracked.

For the first time since I’d met her, the polished smile disappeared completely.

“What did you say?”

I took a step back. “You heard me.”

“After everything you’ve taken from me, you think you get to judge me?”

“I haven’t taken anything from you, Bella.”