Chapter 17
The moment the reporters got a glimpse inside, they were all over it. Cameras flashing, they eagerly hurled questions at Travis. “Hey Travis, you’ve always been the ‘I’m single, never been in love‘ guy. So, what gives with you and Felicia in bed together?”
“Travis, are you and Felicia just having a fling or is there something more going on here?”
“We’ve heard Felicia’s got some big–name friends in the music industry. Was hooking up with her part of a bigger plan for your career?”
“Aren’t you worried your fans will find out you haven’t been totally upfront with them? What happens if this all comes crashing down?”
“Travis…”
Travis was caught off guard by the reporters‘ rapid–fire questions, feeling a bit lightheaded and unsure of what to say. He looked nervously at Felicia, and the reporters immediately shifted their focus to her.
“Felicia, you’ve always had this wholesome image in the industry. What led you to get close to Travis like that?”
“Is there something going on between you two, or was it just a fleeting moment after a wild night?”
“Felicia, aren’t you concerned about disappointing your fans by stepping out of character?”
Felicia…”
Felicia was floored by the reporters‘ barrage of questions, her face going as pale as a snowdrift. She was completely at a loss for how to handle the situation.
Suddenly, Winona stormed in. Spotting Travis and Felicia looking disheveled on the bed, she charged over, seething with anger. “Travis, Felicia, what in the world were you two up to in the same bed? You’d better have a damn good explanation for this.”
Initially, Felicia and Travis suspected Winona might have orchestrated the whole thing, but seeing her genuine surprise and fury, they quickly brushed the idea aside.
Felicia grabbed Winona’s hand, her voice shaky as she tried to explain. “Winona, please, don’t freak out. Just let me explain, okay? I-”
“Felicia, are you trying to tell me you’re the one who got hurt here?” Winona butted in, her voice edged with worry. “Are you saying Travis took advantage of you when you weren’t in your right mind?”
She stopped, glanced at Travis, and shook her head. “No, that’s not Travis. He’s not the type. He’s gentle and kind–hearted; he wouldn’t do something like that!”
Her gaze hardened as she looked back at Felicia. “He’s always been into me. You must have thrown yourself at him!”
Relief washed over Travis, but he was still on edge. He wasn’t in love with Winona, but with the media’s cameras trained on him, he needed to spin this situation to protect his image.
Travis mused, “Felicia claims she was pushed into bed with Chad but her rep still got slammed. If she owns up to coming on to me this time, I’ll let it slide about her being with that guy.”
Yeah, Felicia really took advantage of me when I was wasted,” Travis told the reporters, putting on a show of innocence and distress. “I was completely out of it, didn’t know what was going on, and then all of you just showed up.”
The reporters immediately turned on Felicia. “How could you do that, Felicia? Taking advantage of Travis when he was
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Chapter 17
drunk and getting him into bed? You’re just so shameless…”
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“No, that’s not what happened at all.” Felicia suddenly shouted, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m the one who got hurt here. I was the one who was drunk last night, and it was Travis who forced himself on me.”
“You’re just lying.” Travis retorted, his eyes flashing with annoyance at Felicia. He subtly nudged her under the covers with his foot, trying to signal her to take the fall.
Felicia stood her ground. “I’m not the one lying here, it’s you, Travis.”
She was set on getting back to the Mosley residence. To do that, she needed to keep her reputation intact and maintain Winona’s trust and support.
Confessing to seducing Travis would be a disaster, especially since Winona had a soft spot for him. There was zero chance Winona would stand behind her if she took the blame for this.
“I was drunk, and Travis was the one who brought me to my room, which means he was more with it than I was,” she reasoned. “How could 1, in that state, possibly seduce him?”
The reporters started murmuring to each other. One of them said, “Travis said he got wasted last night and ended up with her because Felicia lured him in.”
Another chimed in, “Now Felicia’s claiming she was wasted too, and that Travis took advantage of her.”
A third reporter threw in. “So, who’s really telling the truth here?”
Caught up in the reporters‘ whispers, Felicia quickly put on a tearful performance. “If you don’t believe me, look at the elevator camera from last night. It shows Travis walking me back to my room. Once we were inside, he just forced himself
on me….
Travis was furious and taken aback by Felicia’s accusations. “That’s a total lie! As soon as we got inside, you were the one who made the first move, kissing me and pulling me onto the bed. How dare you twist things around like this?”
Felicia turned to Winona for support. “Winona, there’s security footage from the elevator that shows what really happened. I’m the victim here; please don’t believe his story.”
Travis wanted to say more, but he was suddenly interrupted as Winona slapped him square across the face. A red handprint quickly blossomed on Travis’s face, and his lip began to bleed slightly.
Shocked, he gaped at Winona, speechless. She glared at him as she pointed an accusatory finger. “Travis, I used to really care about you, even thought about marrying you. But now it’s clear you’re just a lying scumbag. I’m done with you!”
Travis tried to defend himself, stammering, “That’s not what happened, I-”
Winona’s voice was icy as she cut Travis off. “You assaulted Felicia and now you’re trying to smear her? A guy like you deserves to rot in jail for that.”
She turned to Felicia, taking her hand and speaking with conviction. “Felicia, I’ve always thought of you as my own sister. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’m calling the police right now.”
Felicia, her nerves on edge, quickly interjected, “Winona, there’s no need to call–”
But Winona was resolute, cutting her off. “Don’t you worry, Felicia. I’m getting you the top lawyer money can buy. That scumbag who forced himself on you? We’re going to make sure he pays, big time.”
Travis was floored and frantic. His face turned pale as he turned to Felicia. “Felicia…”
Felicia dodged Travis’s desperate gaze and put on a show of emotion, embracing Winona. “Thank you, Winona, but I really don’t want to involve the police right now. I just want to go home. Can you take me?”
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Chapter 17
She couldn’t let Winona actually make that call; it would be the end of both her and Travis’s careers.
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Travis would be labeled a criminal and end up behind bars, while she’d become the center of a scandal, with everyone looking at her with a mix of pity and judgment.
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