“You arrogant, smug, half-naked jerk!” Lana yelled, still wrapped in Ryan’s silk blanket like it was armor. “You think you can just sleep with whoever you want and act like it doesn’t matter?!”Ryan sat calmly on the couch, sipping water like she wasn’t mid-meltdown.“You were into it,” he said. “A lot.”“I was drunk!”He tilted his head. “Still knew what you were doing.”“You’re unbelievable!” she shouted, gathering her clothes off the floor in a frantic storm.He watched her with a tired smirk.“Little Cat, why are you like this?”She froze, spun around, eyes blazing. “Don’t call me that. I’m not your little anything.”He shrugged. “You kinda purred in your sleep.”“UGH!” she growled, storming off toward the door.He watched her go, still shirtless. The door slammed behind her.

—

Across the street, crouched behind a bush with coffee and a zoom lens, a freelance paparazzo named Dan—who hadn’t slept in 28 hours—grinned like he won the lottery.He zoomed in just as Lana stomped down the steps, her hair a mess, makeup smeared, wearing a man’s oversized shirt.

Click.

Then Ryan showed up at the door, shirtless, scratching his head.

Click. Click.

Dan muttered to himself, “Thank you, Hollywood gods.”---At a small downtown media office, Dan slammed a memory card into his laptop.His editor, Marcy, didn’t even look up. “If this is another blurry shot of a celebrity’s elbow—”“Nope. Jackpot,” Dan said, spinning the screen toward her.Marcy blinked. Then smiled.“That’s Ryan Kane.”“And mystery girl,” Dan said.She zoomed in. “She looks like she just survived a hurricane.”“Exactly.”Marcy was already typing.Headline: "Ryan Kane's Morning Mystery: Fling or Girlfriend?"Subhead: Spotted! Hollywood's favorite playboy seen with unknown woman leaving his LA home.

—

Lana stepped into her tiny apartment, dropped her keys on the table, and stood there for a second like her brain had stopped.She dragged herself into the shower.The hot water helped, but not enough.She closed her eyes.Flashes of the night came back in pieces.His mouth on her neck.Her hands pulling at his shirt.The sound of his voice, low and dangerous.Her lips parted.“God, Lana. Why...” she whispered to herself, banging her head lightly against the shower tile.After drying off, she wrapped herself in a towel and checked her phone.Natalie: “Girl WHERE did you go last night?? I went back to get you and you vanished.”Natalie: “You okay???”Lana typed back:Lana: “I’ll explain later. Just... a lot. Meet after work?”She got dressed fast, threw her hair in a ponytail, and rushed out the door.

—

Back at Ryan’s place, he had just finished making a lazy omelette when Caleb showed up.“Dude,” Caleb said, walking straight into the kitchen. “Where the hell did you go last night?”“Restroom,” Ryan said, flipping the egg.“And then disappeared for hours?”Ryan shrugged. “Got busy.”Caleb snorted. “Busy? You—oh wait. You didn’t.”Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Did.”Caleb pulled out his phone as it buzzed. One glance and he froze.“Oh my God,” he whispered.“What?”He turned the phone toward Ryan.

"BREAKING: Ryan Kane's New Flame? Spotted with Unknown Girl Leaving His House This Morning!"

Underneath were clear photos of Lana looking wrecked with Ryan standing at the door.Ryan blinked.“Well, sh*t.”His phone rang immediately. It was Vic.“Answer it,” Caleb said. “He’s probably halfway to a stroke.”Ryan sighed and picked up.“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” Vic screamed through the speaker.Ryan winced. “Hey, morning to you too.”“Do you know what you’ve done?! The article is everywhere! Everyone thinks you have a girlfriend!”

“Technically, they think I f*cked a stranger.” Ryan said

“You want to give me a heart attack?! You want me DEAD?! Stay in the house. Don’t talk to anyone. I’m on my way.”Click.Ryan tossed his phone onto the couch.Caleb stared at him.“So?”Ryan ran a hand through his hair.“Oh, sh*t,” he muttered.