Chapter 485
“Photo together? Autograph?”
Effie nodded, her voice tentative. “You wouldn’t… turn me down, would you?”
Maurice’s lips quirked into a smile. “What do you think? How could I possibly say no to you?”
Relief washed over Effie. Around them, the others burst into excited cheers.
After Maurice had signed autographs and posed for photos with everyone, the crowd finally dispersed, satisfied.
At last, Maurice had a moment to check on what Effie was up to.
He noticed her tapping away on her phone. “Texting Mitchell Lloyd again?”
Effie paused, slipped her phone away, and looked at Maurice. “Wow, you’re a bit out of the loop, aren’t you? You know I work here now, but you didn’t hear that Mitchell and I broke up?”
Maurice grinned. “I saw you on the stream, that’s how I knew you got the job here.”
Wait-something about that didn’t add up.
He realized he’d missed the important part. “Wait. Broke up?” Maurice blinked, then broke into a broad grin. “Good for you! Brilliant, honestly. That’s fantastic news.”
Effie rolled her eyes.
Maurice suddenly stopped, eyeing her, suspicious. “Hold on. Was it you who broke things off, or him?”
“Does it matter?”
Maurice looked appalled. “Of course it matters! If he dumped you, I’ll make him regret it. If you did, then hats off, you did the right thing.”
Effie’s mouth twitched. “You and your double standards…”
He just grinned wider. “Enough about him-bad luck! When an ex is gone, just act like he doesn’t exist.”
“Agreed,” Effie said.
But Maurice paused, staring at her intently, as if trying to read her mind.
“Wait a second. That’s suspiciously calm. Are you… really okay?”
Effie smiled-she knew Maurice was just worried about her, but honestly, she felt fine.
She said, “The wrong relationship is like shoes that don’t fit: if they hurt, it’s time to get a new pair.”
Maurice finally relaxed, laughing again. He shot her a teasing look. “Well then, maybe you should consider me?”
Effie burst out laughing.
Maurice straightened up, crossing his arms sternly. “What’s so funny? Be serious for once!”
Effie cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t dare. Your fans would tear me apart.”
“Whatever, I’m starving,” Maurice said with a dismissive wave. “Get Nita and let’s all go.”
“Sure,” Effie agreed.
Then, after a beat, she added, “If Hannah hears you’re back, she’ll be over the moon.”
Maurice scoffed. “Please. She’s more into my autograph than me. She took my signed photo and sold it online!”
Effie shot Maurice a look. Maybe she’d help him out with other things, but on this, she was firmly on Nita’s side.
“Well, what did you expect? You gave her a signed photo for her birthday and nothing else. She’s not some obsessed fangirl-if she can make someone else happy and earn a few bucks, why not?”
Her voice trailed off under Maurice’s stare.
Effie gave an awkward laugh. “So… what do you think?”
Maurice huffed. “No matter how mad I am, she shouldn’t have sold my photo.” He hesitated, then added, “It was actually my assistant’s fault. I hadn’t even put the real present in before he mailed it out.”
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“Oh, so it was the assistant’s mistake?” Effie echoed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She looked Maurice up and down, eyes saying, Do you really expect me to buy that?