A TEMPTING ARRANGEMENT

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Andrea Beckett-Reed

POV

"Good morning, everyone. I hate that I even have to make this video, the last couple of days have been really hard for me. From giving up a shoot I've worked hard for, to my best friend getting attacked and now this..." I pause letting my tears fall. "It's clear to everyone that someone is trying to not only attack me but my relationships as well. Lacy is my best friend she'd never..." another dramatic pause. Wiping my tears. "Lacy would never betray me. Tate and I have been together for years..." I look down at the ring Archer gave me on my ring finger. I've swapped out my engagement ring actually. I hid that thing so far away I didn't want to see. I'll give it back to Tate as soon as we finally end this charade.

I looked terrible. I had bags under my eyes because I barely slept last night after that kiss and waking up early to wish Archer on a safe flight. My hair was greasy in need of a wash. It was tied in a messy bun on top of my head. I'm wearing an old sweatshirt that has seen better days. I look heart broken and homeless. I didn't mean to look this way, but it works in my favor.

“I don’t know what I’ve done to receive someone’s hatred to fabricate lies about my fiancé. Tate…” I pause placing my hand over my heart, taking a deep breath, making sure tears pooled in my eyes. “Tate loves me with all his heart. We have a happy and a true relationship. We’re getting married in two months. We’ve got plans to start a family. Build a life together and Lacy supports our plans. She wouldn’t dare do something to hurt me.” I pause once more when I see movement behind my phone.

I nearly fumble when I see my father standing watching me.

I pause my live.

He frowns but doesn’t say anything for a second. “You’re using the wrong words bug. You need to pull in your audience. Words like it breaks my heart, I’m deeply hurt. Remember you’re not only trying to get public sympathy, but you want them to feel like your statement has been forced by Tate and Lacy. You’re playing the part of a not delusional but a woman in denial. People have to feel like you’re being played by Tate…” My father explains.

I nod.

“Try it now…” he tells me.

I nod.

“People love drama. They don’t care who is in the right. But now there is a cheating party involved. There’s nothing women hate more than a man who cheats and doesn’t own up to it.” My father says.

I nod.

I take a deep breath before starting another live.

I smile sadly looking into the camera. “I apologize for disappearing like that. My father was here…” I pause. I wipe away a tear.

I’ve asked my father to look into who is behind all of this, I can’t sleep well at night, knowing someone hates me this much. I-“ I pause closing my eyes, tears running down my face. “It breaks my heart knowing that the video exists. That it was on the internet for everyone to see. Fabricating the video…” I grab a tissue from my side and blow my nose. “I’m sorry… I just…”

“I just wanted my fans to know my father looked into the airport incident and none of my fans are involved in the incident. Soon video footage of the airport will be released. I just wanted you all to hear it from me first.”

I pause reading a comment.

Nas23- Do you truly believe the video is fake?

I look down at my hands. My hair falling in my face, I pull my hair back. “I-I. The video has to be a fake… It is…” I rush the last part, so it sounds like I’m covering up my reaction.

Haizley94- R U Rly gvg up on da Pink Shoot?

“The last couple of days have been exhausting. I will be taking the next three weeks off. I need to focus on myself and my family right now… I’ve spent the last three days at my parents’ house by myself and it made me think about other families who didn’t have the same opportunities I had growing up. Who struggles to put food on the table. So, the next project I pick out, I’ll donate my entire salary to a charity of my fans chose. I have so many people I want to help, and I’ll start close to home…” I answer.

Many people are angry about me taking time off. Because they believe Tate is making me take time off.

I nearly smiled.

“Thank you everyone for taking time out of your day to listen to me rant for a half an hour. It truly means the world to me. Sometimes this life can feel lonely and feel like there’s no one in your corner. So, I really appreciate you all being here for me.” I blow a kiss into the camera before ending the live.

I relax my entire face; I wipe the remaining tears on my face and look at my father. “How do you think that went?” I ask.

My father laughs. “Chills bug. Chills. I nearly believed every word you said.” My father teases.

Many people know my father as a famous producer, before my mother had me, she was an actress. That’s how my parents met, their love for the arts is what drew them to one another. A love story for ages. My father would come home with scripts and my mother would read them to me as a child. She’d act out a couple as well. I didn’t love acting. It didn’t mean I could if I wanted to. How do you think I got away with most of the s**t I’ve done as a teenager?

My mother walks into my bedroom. She frowns when she sees me. “You look terrible. Are you taking drugs?” she asks.

I roll my eyes.

“I heard Arch was here? Has he left already?” she asks looking around the room.

I nod. I think back on the emotional goodbye we had this morning. It was one of the reasons I was taking the next three weeks off. That and I wanted to stay out of the public eye for a bit.

“Your father’s filled me in on your plan. It’s crazy if you ask me. I would just write that money off…” my mother shrugs her shoulders. Her eyes are on the contents of my room. “Did Arch sleep in here last night?” she asks.

“This isn’t about the money, mom. This is about the betrayal. Tate used me to get to dad. He can’t just get away with using me. He has to learn that if you use someone it will come back to bite you in the ass. He made a fool out of me. I was going to marry the man; he would have robbed me blind…” I tell my mother.

My father takes a seat beside me on my bed. “You should get ready to Lacy’s response. She’s going to jump on your band wagon, she’s going to try to blame you again, this is going to be a battle of wits. As much as I hate to say this, Lacy’s got a good head on her shoulders when it comes to playing the victim. You’ll have to push her so far into a corner that she’s got no leg to stand on.” he says.

I nod. “How about we order lunch, and we enjoy a nice family lunch?” I ask.

My father readily agrees. While my parents order lunch I hide out in my room. I wasn’t ready for my mother’s questions about Archer just yet. I wanted to stay in the little bubble for now.

I wasn’t sure what was going on with Archer. We’ve gone months without seeing each other and the thought of not seeing him for three weeks terrifies me.

Seeing him last night when I got home brought me comfort, I didn’t know I needed. The anxiousness I didn’t even know I had left me as soon as I hugged him.

I know Acher’s always been that person to me. I could tell him anything and he’d never judge me. Hell, most of the time he was helping me with my crazy schemes.

My phone rings brings me out of my thoughts. I see its Tate. I roll my eyes and answer.

“Thank f**k you finally answered. I’m outside your parents’ estate. I saw your live. I’m glad you believe me, Andrea. When I couldn’t reach you last night, I came over, but I couldn’t get a hold of you. I rushed over first thing this morning... I thought you believed the video was real and was breaking up with me and calling off the wedding.” he goes on, but I block out the rest.

I wonder how he’d react when he knew the wedding was off, that I married Archer. That we’d never get married, that I was going to milk him for all he is worth. He wasn’t going to get away with cheating on me.

“Why don’t you come out or let me in. So, we can talk things through? I want to see you Andrea…” Tate insists.

I sigh. “I’m having lunch with my parents right now. And they’re still really angry. They believe the video and don’t want to see you right now…” I tell him. I sound regretful.

He sighs as well. “I understand. Try talking to them for me. I want your father to know I would never do anything to hurt you... That I love you with all my heart. I’ll handle the media…” he says sounding anxious.

I smile. “Don’t worry I’ll speak to them. They’ll understand as soon as this blows over everything will go back to normal...” I lie through my teeth.

“Good. Good. Andrea, what should I do about your schedule for the next three weeks? You’re booked full. I can’t reschedule most of them. You’ll lose those contracts and we’ll be liable to pay breach of contract penalties. I wish you would have spoken to me first before you made this announcement.” Tate actually sounds angry.

“I’m not in the right frame of mind. Even if I did go to work, I wouldn’t be at my best. I need these three weeks a break to deal with my emotions…” I say.

Tate sighs deeply. “I understand, but next time you make big decisions like this speak to me first…”

I let out a laugh… “Tate I’m exhausted I didn’t get any sleep last night. I spent the entire night in the gym working through my emotions. I’m exhausted, I just want to have lunch and get a nap...” I tell him before hanging up on him.

I lay down on my bed and let out a sigh. f**k it was getting harder and harder pretending I don’t hate him or that I don’t want to punch his face in.

My father calls me for lunch and as I expected before I could even get the chicken in my mouth my mother asks about Archer.

“So, what exactly did you do it get Archer to marry you?” my mother asks.

“I got him drunk and f****d him, so he had no choice but to marry me.” I say sarcastically.

My father glares at me. “That’s not what happened. The two are giving their marriage a fair chance. As soon as Andrea’s dissolved her relationship with that-that man, Archer and Andrea are going to announce their marriage.” My father goes into further detail about Archer and my marriage.

Much more detail than Archer has ever spoken about too.