Right after the live interview wrapped up, I shook Laila's hand and said goodbye. I tossed out a few rushed "thank yous" to the crew in the studio before hurrying back to the car. I desperately needed to get to the hotel Beth booked so I could change and get my makeup done before the Vanity Gala tonight. The second I stepped out of the studio, Beth was already waiting, walking right in step behind me.
"Good job! That went way smoother than I expected," she said, handing me a bottle of Acqua Panna water.
"Oh, thanks!" I grabbed it and chugged about two-thirds of it in one go. "And also way more surprising than I thought!" I shrugged and twisted the cap back on.
"That's showbiz for you! But hey, this could really work in our favor. We should totally use the moment."
I gave her a half-smile. She wasn't wrong. This was the perfect chance to cool off that whole fake-dating rumor with Lucia. Probably started because we had way too many steamy scenes in Lovestruck, right? And of course, those bloodhound paparazzi caught us grabbing dinner a few times post-filming and decided to go all in on the "reel love turned real" drama.
It's not like I'm scared of those cheesy romance scandals. I just don't want Grandma to see the headlines and start grilling me over the phone, asking a million questions and demanding to "meet the girlfriend" next time I visit. Seriously. The worst.
I was staring out the car window, lost in thought, when Beth's voice cut in.
"Lucia's gonna be at the event tonight, by the way. I heard this year's Vanity Gala is inviting everyone who's signed on for A-List Escape."
"You mean Lucia's gonna be on that show, too?"
"Yep! I'd bet 90% she's in."
"Dammit! No wonder Laila kept hinting about what fans are 'hoping for' between me and Lucia—and then boom! She drops the A-List Escape news. So basically, out of the frying pan and into the fire. I thought I could finally shake off the rumors about Lucia... Oh man!"
"Just speculation," Beth said with a shrug. "But hey, don't stress. Even if it's true, remember—there'll be other girls and guys on that island."
I raised an eyebrow and smirked back. "Plenty, huh?"
"Well, ten celebs total. Five guys, five girls—including you. They throw everyone on an isolated island and let y'all date it out for the audience. That's the whole deal."
"Wow. That sounds... totally simple," I said, my face blank.
Beth giggled. "Well, at least it's a chance to actually fall in love, right? Maybe find your soulmate or something?"
"Please. Spare me."
"Oh? You scared of how your queen grandma will react? Haha!"
"Stop! Don't bring her up again!! We'll cross that bridge when we get there." I folded my arms and frowned a little while Beth kept chuckling.
---
By exactly 7:30 PM, we rolled up to Saint Bay, the venue for tonight's Vanity Gala. A well-dressed security guy opened the car door for me. A stunning red carpet stretched out in front of the building, roped off on both sides and guarded by security. Swarms of paparazzi pushed up against the barriers, shouting my name as soon as I stepped out.
I waved and gave them my best friendly smile. Beth followed right behind as we walked through the security check.
"Hey, wait! Don't forget your boutonniere!" she called, rushing up to me and pinning the little flower onto my chest pocket.
"Oops, my bad! They made me take it off earlier—guess it's metal or something? And I totally forgot to put it back on."
"You're lucky," Beth laughed. "Some people with jewelry and crazy accessories had to strip half their look at the security gate."
"They do this every year. What's even the point?"
"Who knows? Rules are rules."
"Anyway, thanks Beth! I'm heading over there."
"Good luck! I'll be right here watching."
As I stepped up to the backdrop, a flood of camera flashes hit me instantly. Dozens of photographers yelled my name, trying to direct me to their lenses. I turned left, right, struck a pose. And then felt a little bump from behind.
I turned around and found myself face-to-face with... well, her. This ridiculously pretty girl with a sweet, wide-eyed look and a slightly clumsy vibe. Everyone here looked like stars, but she had this mix of adorable and stunning that totally made her stand out. I couldn't look away.
"Oh gosh—I'm so sorry! Really!" she gasped, putting her hands up like she was trying to calm both of us down.
She took a small step back, but her flowy denim dress was heavy and swishy, and she nearly toppled backward. I instinctively caught her by the waist and steadied her.
"You okay?" I asked, surprised by how quickly I'd moved.
"Yes! I'm fine. I'm so sorry," she said again, bowing slightly, her voice soft and adorable.
And then—"Over here, please!" "To the right!" "Look this way!" "A bit to the left!" "Right here!" "Hold that pose!" The photographers were yelling nonstop.
Still holding her waist, I turned toward the cameras with her, both of us blinking into the flashstorm, not really knowing what we were doing. My brain was still stuck on her face—and those eyes.
That's when one of the event hosts popped up and broke the tension.
"Good evening! How lovely to welcome our charming prince back to the gala tonight!"
I gave the girl a small bow and she nodded politely in return. Then I turned toward the host.
"Hi Kathy!"
"How're you feeling tonight, Prince Patrick?" she asked with her usual sparkle.
"Excited, of course! I can't wait to see everyone and check out what crazy outfits they're wearing this year."
"Well, I love your classy suit tonight. So classic but totally fresh."
"Oh, thanks! And your dress? Totally epic."
"Aww, that's sweet of you! Alright, enjoy the gala tonight! See you around!"
"Cheers!" I waved goodbye to the host and left the backdrop.
Spotting Beth, I snapped my fingers a few times to call her over.
"What's up? Need something?"
"That girl... who is she?" I pointed in the direction of the stunning stranger from before.
"Who? Oh, the one who bumped into you? No clue. She looked kinda nervous, probably her first gala. Wait, lemme check."
Beth pulled out her phone and opened an app I'd never seen before. She zoomed in on the girl, took a quick snapshot. A second later, a full profile popped up.
"Beth, you're a freaking genius! Straight-up tech wizard."
"Haha! This app is a secret weapon. My cousin's AI company made it. It can ID any celeb by face, voice, even their singing. Total game-changer."
"Dude. That's cool."
Beth grinned. "Best part? You can snapshot anyone and instantly post it to the app's private forum. It's still in beta, only close friends and staff get to test it."
"Save me a spot on the test crew!"
"Deal!" Beth winked. "Anyway, here we go! Her name's Mimi. Real name: Miki. She's Japanese-Australian and part of this Asian idol group called Bonnie."
She kept going, eyes lit up. "They've only been active globally for like a year, mostly in the U.S., but they've already blown up. Over 20 million Insta followers, most of their music vids are pushing a billion views, tons of music awards. And Mimi herself? She's got over 15 million followers on her personal account! Their fandom is massive!"
"Dang... that's some serious pressure," I murmured, totally impressed, my eyes drifting toward where Mimi was standing.
Beth nudged me hard. "Hey hey hey!" she said, shoving her phone in my face. "She's gonna be on A-List Escape too!! Look, Pat!!"