Failed Escape
She leaned slightly toward Aaron, her voice low, almost conspiratorial.
"The paparazzi are all camped at the front. If they see me and Claire walking in one after the other, they'll say I'm stealing her man."
Then she turned to me, forcing an apologetic smile.
"Claire... maybe you should leave through the back door?"
I paused, then let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Vivian...you really expect me to believe those paparazzi just happen to be here?"
Her face flickered, a hint of unease betraying her carefully constructed act, then she returned to her fragile, trembling persona.