A TEMPTING ARRANGEMENT

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

When Andrea woke up the next morning the internet was going crazy again. News spread everywhere that Andrea’s fans attacked Lacy at the airport and caused her to twist her ankle as she tried to run away.

They grew rotten fruit, eggs, and withered flowers at Lacy.

Some said Andrea was jealous of Lacy’s fame, others said Andrea didn’t like all the attention Lacy was getting. Some even said Andrea believed the news that Lacy was sleeping with Tate and that’s why she had her fans attack Lacy.

People didn’t quite like people taking advantage of others. So, when they heard Andrea had done with her fans and Lacy, Andrea’s reputation was nearly destroyed.

Andrea’s known for her temper and being honest. Some didn’t believe she was behind this, but they also feared speaking up about it.

Andrea scoffed at the news; all the news channels were covering the news. Everyone wanted a piece of the news. Even her father’s name is being dragged.

This was ridiculous… if I really wanted to hurt Lacy I would do it with my own hands, not hide behind my fans. I’m not her.

Andrea got phone calls from Archer, her manager and father. She ignored them and went to the messages from Tate she wanted to know what he was saying. He wasn’t saying anything, all the messages were from yesterday’s press conference.

She sent a quick text to Archer and her father telling them she was okay. She then also told her manager to hold off on sending the video. She’d wait until later tonight.

She ignored the internet slander and went to see what IC was saying, she realized they weren’t going to protect her, her eyes turned cold in an instant. Tate chose who he was going to support, then she’ll show the man what happens when he betrays her.

She searched her name on google just to see what’s going on and what the public thought of her. She knew she was going to need both Archer and her father to get her out of this mess.

Andrea sat in her room watching the news, she tried to remain indifferent, knowing her fans wouldn’t do something like this. She had to clear her fans’ names; it wasn’t just about clearing her name but her fans’ names as well.

If this was Tate and Lacy’s way of getting back at her, she was going to make then ten times more than her fans have.

She quietly got ready to head to the studio, she wanted to see what Tate would do. He hasn’t sent her any messages.

Dressed in a Harvard sweatshirt she swiped from Archer years ago, she cropped it a few years back. She then grabbed a skinny dark blue jean and a pair of white sneakers.

When she got to work everyone was giving her nasty side eyes. Even the cleaners were saying nasty comments for her to hear. She ignored them and went to straight to her office.

She wanted to see that the gift was Archer left for her.

She grabbed it, placing the small box in her purse before rushing to Tate’s office.

She’d look later what was in the box. She needed to clear her name.

She opened the door, and he was on the phone, she took a seat in front of him and took out her phone, returning the messages from Archer, her brother and father.

Damien was thanking her for the skates she got him and the snacks and care package she sent him.

She smiled and told him; he should tell her if he needs anything she’ll send it to him.

She truly did love her little brother.

“Andrea what were you thinking sending your fans to attack Lacy? Do you know you could be sent to jail for doing that?” he asks her.

Andrea looks up from her phone and looks at her ex-fiancé… She was supposed to spend the rest of her life with this man. He was supposed to explain the pictures from yesterday but instead he was berating her. Did he truly believe she would do something like this? She was truly disappointed in the man. He was willing to throw her under the bus to further his business, yet he claimed to love her with all of his heart. Here he is accusing her without any evidence.

“So instead of explaining the pictures of you from the press conference, you think I actually did this?” Andrea asks, crossing her arms. She truly wanted to see how he’ll talk his way out of this hole.

Tate looks at her stunned for a second. He blinks before he apologizes. “Of course, those pictures are fake. There’s no way I would do that. You know how much I love you, Andrea. I would never cheat on you.” he smiles reassuringly but all Andrea felt was disgust.

To think how many times she fell for that very smile. Now it brought bile up her throat. It took everything in her not to throw up in his face.

Andrea didn’t say anything. Waiting for Tate to come out with it.

Tate smiles, folding his hands together. "Andrea, I was thinking, since the media is on your case for answers and we have no way of knowing how things will go. I think we need a way to help fix your image. I think it would be best if you visited Lacy in the hospital and apologized for her getting hurt on behalf of your fans. It will help with your image and maybe we can get the vogue shoot the end of the year…” he smiles again.

Andrea’s face turned to a scowl. “I should apologize for something I didn’t do; do you even hear yourself Tate? If I wanted to clear my name so badly, I would have called my father and Archer to do it for me…” I remind him I don’t need him. Tate’s jealousy toward Archer sometimes blinded him. Like right now. He has always competed with Archer, it was an unfair fight, Archer was smarter and more successful than Tate, something he achieved on his own.

Tate freezes, he looks at Andrea for a second, before he shakes his head. “Archer can’t help you; you don’t work for him; you work for me Andrea…” he scowls.

Andrea scoffs. Andrea doesn’t say anything but look down at her phone texting to Archer.

“Who are you speaking to?” Tate asks.

“Archer…” Andrea says unconsciously smiling.

Tate’s face turns cold. He hated Archer yet he could never get rid of the man, no matter how hard he tried. Andrea’s father favored Archer; Andrea wouldn’t stop her friendship with Archer either. He knew Andrea’s father wished for Archer to be his son-in-law instead of him.

He knew Archer had feelings for Andrea, he could see it in the way he always looked at Andrea, Andrea didn’t know about Archer’s feelings for her. He knew Andrea loved him and not Archer, but he wasn’t going to let Archer have Andrea.

“Let’s just clear your name then we’ll deal with the rest later, okay? We’ve still got to book shoots for you and Lacy…” Tate tries to reason with Andrea.

Andrea looks up from her phone. She knew exactly why they were forcing this. They wanted to humiliate her on tv. They were going to bring in the press, to force her into admitting she was behind the attack.

There was no way Lacy would let this opportunity go. She was going to milk it for all it’s worth.

Andrea was quiet for a few seconds, Tate second guessed whether she would agree. Andrea was always prideful and never did anything humiliating like apologizing to Lacy who she didn’t even take seriously.

It wasn’t his idea, but Lacy wanted Andrea to pay for what she did to her. Not that he believed Andrea was behind the incident. Andrea wasn’t known for underhanded tactics. If she wanted to hurt Lacy, she would have done it herself. But he couldn’t convince Lacy otherwise.

He knew Andrea’s talent was so much better than Lacy’s, and that she wasn’t jealous of the fame Lacy was receiving, Andrea didn’t need it, but he loved Lacy, and he wanted to give her the world. He loved Andrea too, but she didn’t need him like Lacy did. Lacy was sweet and relied on him, while Andrea was cold and distant.

"You want me to put on a show for the cameras and act as if I’m to blame for what happened to Lacy? Yet the company hasn’t even tried to clear my name?" Andrea asks.

Tate looks at Andrea, thinking about how to get her to agree, he knows just how stubborn she could be.

When Tate doesn’t say anything, Andrea looks down at her phone before nodding. “Fine I’ll do it…” she says softly.

Tate looks at her in surprise. “You’ll do it?” he asks.

She nods. “Yeah, I’ll do it…” Andrea bits her lip but doesn’t say anything else.

Tate eyes her suspiciously, not sure what to say, Andrea never readily agrees to things without thinking things through, he was almost worried she’s going to throw Lacy out the hospital window. “Are you sure?” he asks unsure.

"Well, she did get hurt, didn’t she? As her best friend I should go and see her right?” Andrea smiles sweetly.

A shiver went down Tate’s spine. He couldn’t figure out why it scared him when she smiled oh so sweetly.

Tate couldn’t figure out why Andrea changed her mind so quickly. Or what changed her mind. Did Archer tell her to?

“I’ll get someone to drop you at the hospital…” Tate begins but Andrea declines.

“I have a driver Tate…” she reminds him.

Tate nods. “I thought it would be best if I have extra guards there, there is news of reporters camping outside the hospital…” He warns.

Andrea eyes Tate, she couldn’t find what attracted her to Tate in the first place. She couldn’t for the life of her think of one thing. She couldn’t believe she believed this man loved her once upon a time. His schemes are as clear as day. They were using her as an escape goat, they wanted to humiliate her, they planned to end her career.

Andrea clenched her fists, she had a hot temper, it took all of her will power not to punch the man who’d lied and manipulated her for years.

She hadn’t figured out how long Tate and Lacy’s been sleeping together. She didn’t want to know; it freaked her out just thinking about it.

She’d spent most of her life knowing people would use her to get to her father, she thought Tate was different, he never asked her to ask her father for help. He was hard working; he was in love with her. But it was all a lie.

Andrea’s phone pings. She looks down at her phone. Archer had sent her a house listing two houses down from her parent’s house, she could visit Damien on her way home from work. She could have dinner with her parents and walk home.

Andrea got up and walked out of Tate’s office without saying another word. She made her way out of the building and to her car waiting. She’d already messaged her driver to wait for her. She was going to put on a good show for the whole world to watch.

Once she was in the car she responded to Archer’s message.

Andrea_Beckett: I love the house. But don’t you think nine bedrooms are too much? And what was the point of me moving into your house if you want to buy a new one?

In the middle of a meeting, Archer received Andrea’s message. Archer paused the meeting to read her text.

Archer_Reed: Let’s call it a fresh start. All the more rooms to fill with our children. Imagine Damien teaching them all to skate…

Andrea paused reading Archer’s text, she couldn’t help but think about the two of them having s*x, they haven’t even kissed before, yet alone have s*x, but for the first time heat creeped between Andrea’s legs at the thought of what it would be like to be with Archer behind closed doors.

Is he as controlled and calm? Or does he lose all restraint and cool in the bedroom? She’d love to make him lose all control and ravish her.

Good God. Andrea fanned herself.

She couldn’t help but think about the last time she’d gotten laid. It’s been a while.

After sending Archer a message about putting a deposit down on the house, she went into her manager’s phone number.

Andrea_Beckett: Get ready, I’m on my way to the hospital, I need you upload the rest as planned…

KAbrams: Oh, they planning dirty? I can’t wait to put on a good show, and someone sent me a video of what really happened at the airport. Should I post that as well?

Andrea’s eyebrows rose in surprise. She thinks for a second. Biting her bottom lip.

Andrea_Beckett: No, just upload the video. I can’t wait to see how they’re going to react.

KAbrams: Will do. I’ll release the other video when they least expect it.

KAbrams: Oh, I can’t wait for little miss perfect to fall from her pedestal. She thinks she’s all that, but she doesn’t have your talent. And I’m not saying that because your dad pays my salary…

Andrea smiles, shaking her head.

Andrea_Beckett: Be careful. Don’t forget to use a UK site. Don’t let them trace it back to you…

Once they got to the hospital Andrea got out in front of all the cameras. She didn’t hide, she wasn’t going to. She wanted everyone to see her enter the hospital. She had a plan.

The reporters hounded her for answers, but she ignored them and headed straight in.

Lacy sat inside her private hospital room. Tate got her private room when she cried in his arms all night. She couldn’t believe how easy it was for her to get what she wanted. She couldn’t wait to bring Andrea down to her knees.

When she saw the broad cast, she didn’t expect Andrea to willingly give up the shoot. The video she made might have had people questioning her, but her plan at the airport worked, people have forgotten about the pictures that were leaked.

She gets a text from her assistant telling her Andrea is in the hospital on her way to her.

She couldn’t wait to make Andrea apologize for her fans hurting her since the start of her career she’s been overshadowed by Andrea. Andrea was always on the front cover, everyone wanted to work with Andrea, she was always overlooked. Just because of who her father was. Everyone worshipped Andrea because she was Andre’s daughter and Tate’s fiancée. She was going to destroy Andrea and take her rightful place as Tate’s fiancée.

Tate was going to be hers and there was nothing Andrea could do about it. She wanted Archer Reed, but the man wouldn’t even look at her. She was sure he was gay, there is no way he wasn’t attracted to her. No man has ever ignored her advances. Or the way she would bat her eyes at them. Plus, he has never dated, she couldn’t find any pictures of him any woman, the only woman he was ever photographed with was Andrea.

With Andrea out of the picture she’ll finally be the top model. She wasn’t going to stop until Andrea fell from her high horse. Begging her on her knees for mercy she couldn’t wait until the day arrived.

Lacy slowly exposed traces of a smile, excitement filled her to the brim. She trembled with excitement.