Spoiled by the Silver Fox

Truth be told, Emily was simply too wiped out to hit the town... She hadn't slept a wink last night, her nerves still jangling, and there was no chance to catch a nap in the morning, what with being whisked away to rub elbows with the high and mighty.

Come afternoon, all she yearned for was to crash and get some solid Z's.

She and Sebastian had cooked up a story to pull the wool over Stephanie's eyes, claiming her mom was bogged down with studio work and couldn't take her out. So, Emily tasked Sebastian with arranging a ride to pick Stephanie up. Stephanie swallowed the tale hook, line, and sinker without a shred of suspicion.

On the way, Stephanie quizzed Sebastian, "Hey Silver Fox, which court are we hitting up, and what are we playing?"

"What's your game?" he asked.

"I can hold my own in basketball and badminton a bit."Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"Let's do badminton then. I'll call Putnam to join..."

"How about I bring Maddie and Gillian Owens along?"

"They free?"

"Don't sweat it, Silver Fox. Maddie wouldn't miss a chance to hang with Putnam! Watch, even if she's booked, she'll make time."

Sure enough, one call was all it took for Maddie Palmer, mid-film shoot, to make a swift exit, snagging a leave and bringing Gillian along for the ride.

The production team couldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole.

Knowing her only as Ms. Maddie was intimidating enough to keep them at bay. But then the rumor mill churned out whispers that she might become the future lady of the Damon family, and that made her downright untouchable. The word on the street was that the big players, led astray by B City's top tycoon, the Ingram family's shot-caller, had gone rogue.

The old playbook of blue-bloods marrying blue-bloods was out. Family heads, those who call the shots, were now seeking mates of their own liking, prying stars from the limelight.

Actresses, they're a dime a dozen, pretty and plentiful, ripe for the picking, right? Do they even grasp the delays they cause on set, each one more untouchable than the last?

The sports complex was a new haunt for Sebastian. Putnam had recommended the place, and Sebastian promptly signed up for a VIP group card, pricey as it was b but it granted unlimited free access for a list of names.

Stephanie, Maddie, and Gillian's names were all on that list.

As for Putnam, he was already a card-carrying member.

Stephanie and Sebastian were the first to

roome, beelining for the locker

room to slip into their sportswear before heading out to warm up on the courts.

It wasn't the weekend, so the place wasn't packed. But Stephanie bumped into a familiar face.

On the next court, Dashiell Wilson was locked in a tennis battle with another guy, slightly older and with a frosty edge.

Stephanie's voice rang out in shock, "Dashiell!"

Dashiell, mid-serve, did a

double-take. And got nailed rightan the forehead by the incoming tennis ball...

I... Clutching his head, he shot a

glare at his brother, "You had to go that hard, huh?"

Phinies just arched a brow at him, silent.

Dashiell then turned to Stephanie, eyes lighting up, "Little lady, you're hitting the courts too?"

Stephanie, all smiles with racket in hand, shouldered her way over, "Silver Fox brought me. It's my first time here."

Dashiell finally noticed the man a few paces behind the spirited girl, "President Ingram's here too... My brother's around, fancy joining us for a match?"

Sebastian glanced at Stephanie, "You up for it?"

"Uh... I've only ever played badminton, never tennis."

"It's pretty similar, just rallying the ball... How about I pair up with you for a few rounds, give it a whirl?"

"Sure... let's give it a shot?" Stephanie replied, a tad uncertain.

She'd never actually played tennis before...