Ava' s agent,

ller's office. They said you turned down 'City of Ech

couch, staring at the

doing i

can't let a personal squabble ruin your career

a said, her voice

the other end of the line. "

brok

can work with this. But turning down the role is a

Ava said. "I'm not taking a

urther, Ava heard a knock

ier with a package. It was from Jake's company.

tiny diamonds. She recognized it immediately. She had sent a picture of it to her friend weeks ago, saying it was the most b

insult. A trinket t

r gossip site. The headline read: CEO Jake Miller

e smiling, looking very much like a couple. And on Chloe's wrist was the exact

the gift that was meant for her. Or ma

small TV role she had booked before everything fell apart. She nee

he almost collided with a woman

mile on her perfectly made-up face. "A

. She just wante

bracelet catch the light. "Beautiful, isn't it? Jake gave it

ld me all about his little hobbies. You were one of them, weren't you? It must

er hands clenched in

continued, her smile widening. "But he knows

d her voice. "Ge

ound that grated on Ava's nerves. "Of

e in the hallway were staring, whispering. For three years, Jake had insisted they keep their relationship private. He said it was to protect her from t

something, anything. The call went straight to voicemail.