Chapter 2: The Name on the Screen
The announcer said it clearly.
No hesitation.
No mistake.
My name.
Marcus went completely still.
His fork hovered over his plate.
Jennifer's water glass stopped halfway to her lips.
The announcer kept going.
"Alexandra Reeves, the founder and CEO of Reeves Media Group, has signed an exclusive eight-year content partnership valued at 3.8 billion dollars, making it the largest creator-led deal in streaming history..."
Nobody at the table moved.
Mom's hand came up slowly and covered her mouth.
Dad set his wineglass down.
It touched the table harder than he meant it to.
Marcus turned to look at me.
His face had gone the color of the white china.
"That's...
that's not—" he started.
"The same Alexandra?" I said quietly.
"Yes."
Jennifer's bracelet caught the light as her hand lowered to the table.
She didn't finish whatever she was about to say.
Marcus looked at the television.
Then back at me.
Then at my bag sitting on the chair beside me.
The bag he had walked past all evening without a second glance.
"You knew," he said.
His voice came out flat.
"You sat here and let me—"
"You didn't ask," I said.
Mom made a small sound that wasn't quite a word.
Then my phone lit up on the table.
May you like
A name appeared on the screen that made Dad lean forward to read it.
His face changed completely.
