The Fine Print

a prison break. "First rule of Operation Freedom: make it messy eno

still damp from the earlier tears she hadn't meant to shed, but Jasmine had insisted they "start somewhere normal" - hence Central Park, caffeine

out me ending up on Page Six?" Leil

ischief sparkled in her eyes. "E

an sky. The world around them buzzed - joggers, tourists, children chasing pig

could go nuclear. Like, 'you're cut off, pack y

g a beat. "We'll start a podcast and get sponsorships from

as more exhale than amusement. "I d

serious, her voice softenin

per than Lei

d at a cab; a dog barked; a cyclist cursed under their breath. But all she heard

m," Leila whispered. "Why

t conviction. "Because I've seen what men like him do to women like you. Not with fists. Not with scre

And hated more that part of her still wondered if it would be easier to

. I'm s

gently. "That means

path played a shaky version of "Someone Like You." Somewhere behind them, a kid squealed with j

d on passion careers and pretending everything was normal. Leila tried on a pair of oversized sunglasses. Jasmine pos

illusion

nto that golden, reflective dusk where the city looked softer tha

er keys on the marble counter

Jasmine raised an e

it looks like a lu

nort. "Then let

We need scandalous but classy. Think heiress misbehaving - not sloppy,

r eyes. "You want

ring into her closet. "An entanglement. Hookup

az

ust

at kissed her curves without begging for attention. Her collarbones glint

pride. "You look like a pro

I feel like I'm

his is battle. But we fight

otepads, wine, and leftover sushi. The city glowed

t was a tactical weapon. "A scandal needs three

les on the back of

e A

b rumors. Something that makes people whisper,

p bar. Low lighting. Intimate

e. Perfect lighting. Intimate boo

Wit

rg. She owes me a favor. We give her the perfect setup - blurry pho

eyebrow. "You'

effec

ystery

grinned.

iend D

ady, flirtatious, and completely safe. No risk of feelings,

er eyes. "Jazz

ough to

ack to the kitchen and leaned on the counter,

said over poached eggs. "He's from a

echoed. As if she were an

them, stunned. "You want

iage," her father rep

walked in and handed her an

ack to the day I s

n oversized hoodie; Leila still hadn't changed. The wind

your life would be if no on

in Tulum right now, running a rooftop b

a la

Jasmine added. "And tha

er fingers curled tight

r see me as more than a s

. "No. So stop tryi

n silence

t. Vesper Lounge. Damien's in. Zara's ready.

voice barely a whi

, the marble floors cool under her skin. She paused by the massive floor-to-cei

ck search of James Stevens pulled up a clean-cut image: navy sui

ed, calculated, poised. His image was so carefully

e like that do wi

o change me? W

s voice: "This is what strong families do,

omach

press conferences. James with politicians. James with CEOs. James

es. No gossip. No s

ho'd never needed to fig

e down like it was