Alaric

I scoffed, defensively folding my arms across my chest. "I was literally just taking a swim. I don’t understand why a multi-million dollar company is throwing a tantrum over that."

"Well, it didn’t look like a casual swim to anyone else," she countered sharply. "Which is exactly why the brand management crew has made an executive decision. Both of you are required to do a joint live stream together tonight. You need to show the fans that everything is fine and that whatever happened on the beach was just a massive misunderstanding."

I groaned even louder, the sound echoing off the walls. "A live stream? With that obnoxious, annoying brat? There is absolutely no way in hell."

There was a certainty in my chest—there was no way I could face Nico right now after the look he had given me.

No way.

"You don’t have a choice, Alaric. It is the only solution to fix the PR damage. Because from the video’s framing, it also looks like you were the main instigator of the fight."

I bounded to my feet, my temper instantly flaring as I shouted, "No, I didn’t! Why the hell would anyone think that I started it? Oh, good god."

I clenched my jaw so tightly that the muscles ached, the frustration making my lips press together until they felt like they would tear.

"And the comments online are only getting worse by the minute," Dorothy continued relentlessly, looking back down at her screen. "Listen to this: ’Alaric always looks like he has an attitude problem,’ and ’Nico looks like he’s just trying to handle a difficult diva.’ They are tearing your sportsmanship apart and that is not all. They are calling you dramatic, some even said that you are acting proud now because you won the second prix.’’

I fiercely ruffled my hair, throwing my fists up in the air in absolute exasperation. "I didn’t start a single thing! I was literally minding my own business when he came out of nowhere and—" I abruptly cut myself off, the memory of Harold stopping the words in my throat. I swallowed hard, forcing my hands back down. "So... the live stream has to happen? That’s final?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

She nodded firmly.

I let out a defeated breath. "Fine. Whatever. I’ll do the damn live."

"But..." Dorothy hesitated, her voice dropping an octave.

"What now?!" I groaned, completely exhausted as I flopped back down onto the plush couch of my private villa, staring blankly out the expansive glass windows at the ocean view. "Is there something else wrong? What are they demanding again?’’

Dorothy cleared her throat nervously. "The catch is... after he walked off the set, Nico flatly refused to participate in the live stream. In fact, he actually offered to pay the entire contract termination fee out of his own pocket just to drop the collaboration entirely. He wants nothing to do with you right now."

My eyes widened. "He wants to pay the fee?"

"Yes, but the team refuses to let the campaign go to waste over a misunderstanding," Dorothy explained, giving me a desperate look. "So, somehow, you have to be the one to convince Nico to do the live stream and finish the sportswear shoot. And the brand gave us a strict deadline. You only have twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four hours! Why the hell should I be the one to go bend the knee and convince him?" I snapped, my temper boiling right back over. "He’s the one who manufactured a whole scenario in his head, assumed I was drowning, and threw a massive tantrum on set! Fuck him and his obnoxious, self-righteous attitude. Why the hell should I care what is happening to him?’’

Dorothy let out a ragged groan, standing up from her chair and looking at me as if she were aged beyond her years. "Alaric, I swear you are going to shave years off my life at this point. Please, just meet up with him and find a way to talk him into this. I already spoke with his manager, and he managed to get Nico to stay put, so please. Do this for the team."

I frowned, casting a deeply skeptical, questioning look at her. "Why the hell do you even—never mind," I muttered, throwing my hands up in defeat. "Fine. I will go find him and try to convince him. I’ll do it exactly once . But if he gives me any of his usual attitude or says no, I don’t care anymore—I’ll match his offer and pay the rest of the termination fee out of my own pocket. I don’t have the time or the patience to suck up to an annoying brat."

Dorothy clapped her hands together excitedly, a look of immense relief washing over her face. "Great! Perfect. His manager, Dylan, contacted me a moment ago. He said Nico took off to clear his head and is currently at a private, restricted lounge area further down the beach—a spot where the tourists and crew aren’t allowed to go."

I scoffed, turning my gaze back toward the window. "Whatever. As long as he listened to me because I don’t think I can convince him more than that. ’’

If Nico gave me even the slightest bit of attitude when I got there, I was going to turn right around and walk away.

​"Oh, that is absolutely not going to happen," Dorothy assured me, her voice dripping with an effortless, unshakable certainty.

​I furrowed my brows at her, staring at her with a mix of exhaustion and genuine suspicion. I couldn’t help but wonder where the hell she was suddenly getting all this confidence from. What the hell made her think she could predict exactly how a volatile brat like Nico was going to react?

​"You’re talking as if you’ve already gone ahead and settled this whole mess with Nico behind my back," I muttered, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. "Is that why you’re acting so smug right now?"

​Dorothy merely shrugged her shoulders, a mysterious, frustratingly calm smile playing on her lips. "I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?"

​I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I turned away from her. "Good riddance.’’