The gala may have ended on a peaceful note, but the next morning unfolded like a carefully orchestrated disaster. Carla awoke to a string of urgent texts from Frances and Geraldine.
Frances: Did you see the news?
Geraldine: OMG, Carla. You're trending.
Frances: And not in a good way.
Carla: What happened?
Geraldine: Just search "Carla Rivera and the Ice King."
Carla groaned, grabbed her tablet, and typed her name into the search bar. Instantly, headlines and photos from the gala flooded the screen.
"Billionaire Sparks Fly: Carla Rivera and Perce in Romantic Tango?"
"Quirky Meets Cold: Are Carla and Perce the Billionaire Power Couple of the Year?"
"Secret Romance Exposed: Inside Carla Rivera's Love Life!"
Her jaw dropped. "Oh, come on!"
In the photos, she and Perce were locked in what looked like an intimate moment during their dance. The media, naturally, had twisted it into an elaborate love story.
Before she could even think about damage control, Geraldine and Frances barged into her penthouse.
"Did you see this?" Frances exclaimed, waving her phone.
"I'm literally looking at it right now," Carla said, tossing her tablet onto the coffee table.
"I think it's hilarious," Geraldine said, plopping onto the couch. "The 'Ice King'? That's such a dramatic name."
Carla threw her hands up. "What part of this is hilarious? They're making it look like we're secretly dating!"
"Are you?" Frances asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No!" Carla snapped. "And even if we were, that's not the point. This is going to be everywhere. Investors, charities, mom—everyone's going to have an opinion!"
As if on cue, her phone buzzed with a call from her mother. Carla held up a finger, signaling her sisters to be quiet, and answered.
"Hi, Mom," she said cautiously.
"Carla Maria Rivera," her mother said, her voice sharp. "Why am I seeing your name next to some cold-looking man in every headline?"
"It's nothing," Carla said quickly. "Just a dance at a gala."
"A dance?" her mother repeated. "You know how people gossip. Do you like this man?"
Carla groaned. "Mom, I'll call you back."
She hung up and glared at her sisters. "This is your fault."
"Our fault?" Geraldine said, laughing. "How is this our fault?"
"You told me to go talk to him!" Carla shot back.
Frances shrugged. "We didn't tell you to fall for him."
"I'm not falling for him!" Carla yelled.
"Sure you're not," Frances said, smirking.
---
Meanwhile, across town, Perce was dealing with his own version of chaos.
He sat at the breakfast table, sipping his coffee, while Liam read the headlines aloud in between fits of laughter.
"'Ice King Melts for Quirky Billionaire'—this is gold," Liam said, clutching his stomach.
"I don't see what's so funny," Perce said, though his clenched jaw suggested otherwise.
Kellan leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone. "You do realize this is going to follow you for weeks, right?"
"It's ridiculous," Perce said. "We danced once. That's it."
"Exactly," Liam said, grinning. "Which means it's hilarious that the world thinks you're secretly in love with her."
"I don't have time for this," Perce muttered, standing up.
"Going to call Carla?" Liam teased.
"No," Perce snapped.
"Liar," Liam called after him.
---
Carla's attempts to lay low for the day were futile. By mid-afternoon, she found herself at an impromptu meeting with her PR team.
"This will blow over," said Fiona, her head of PR. "But we should get ahead of it just in case."
"Get ahead of it how?" Carla asked.
"A statement," Fiona said. "Something simple. Maybe deny the rumors, or—"
"Or lean into them," Geraldine interjected from the couch, where she'd invited herself to the meeting.
"Excuse me?" Fiona said, looking bewildered.
"Think about it," Geraldine said. "If people think Carla and Perce are a thing, it could boost her public image. She's already seen as quirky and fun—add a mysterious billionaire to the mix, and she's unstoppable."
"I am not leaning into this," Carla said firmly.
"Okay, fine," Geraldine said, holding up her hands. "But don't say I didn't warn you when people lose interest in your 'single billionaire philanthropist' shtick."
Carla rolled her eyes. "This is ridiculous."
---
By evening, Carla's frustration reached its peak. She decided to confront the source of the chaos.
She called Perce.
"Hello?" he answered, his voice as calm as ever.
"Have you seen the news?" Carla demanded.
"I've seen it," Perce said.
"And?"
"And what?"
"What are we going to do about it?" Carla asked, pacing her living room.
"Nothing," Perce said simply.
"Nothing?" Carla repeated, incredulous. "The entire world thinks we're secretly dating, and you want to do nothing?"
"Exactly," Perce said. "It's just gossip. It'll die down."
Carla sighed. "You're infuriating."
"I've been told," Perce said, his tone almost amused.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"Why did you call me, Carla?" Perce asked, his voice softer now.
Carla paused. "I... I don't know. I guess I just wanted to see if you were as annoyed as I am."
"I'm not annoyed," Perce said. "If anything, I find it entertaining."
"Of course you do," Carla muttered.
There was a brief silence before Perce added, "But I understand why you're upset. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."
Carla blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. "Thanks... I guess."
"Anytime," Perce said.
---
The next morning, Carla woke up to find a bouquet of flowers on her doorstep. The note read:
"For the quirkiest billionaire I've ever danced with. - P"
Carla couldn't help but laugh. Perce may have been cold and composed, but he had a way of surprising her.
The chaos wasn't over, but for the first time, Carla felt like she could handle it.
And maybe, just maybe, she didn't mind the idea of seeing Perce again.
---