Be Brave With Me

Chapter One

"People, listen up!"

Aurelia Carmichael had something to say.

"Guys, guys! Will you give me a moment?"

She needed a moment. She needed her moment.

But it was no use. The loud music, the deep bass, the dancing crowd. Her voice was lost in the mayhem of her summer party that had kicked off an hour ago on the yacht of her lovely, loaded godparents.

She needed everyone's attention. All eyes on her. Which - of course - was the return to the natural order of the universe. She was The Aurelia Carmichael. She was the sun. Everyone else was orbiting around her. And supposed to listen when she had news to share.

Time to get back on the table, then.

Under the glow of the fairy lights that were strung across the decks of the Plan B, Aurelia slipped out of her heels and climbed onto the big dining table that stood outdoors on the main deck. No hesitation - and no panty flashing. She had years of practice keeping all eyes on her, while keeping it classy. Her last modeling gig had easily paid six figures. She'd been in the industry for eight years. She was on top of her game.

And now, on top of the table. Without having spilled a single drop of her champagne on her way up. Some heroines don't wear capes.

Aurelia took in the crowd on the decks, dancing and mingling beneath the fairy lights. From fellow models to rising actors, influencers and everything in between, they had all followed her invite. Most of them, because they wanted to bask in her sunlight. A chosen few, her beautiful friends - accustomed to wearing shades and sunscreen in her presence. All of them broke out into loud cheers when they spotted her on the table.

There it was. The rapt attention she'd been looking for.

"Aurelia, we adore you!" "Honey, dance for us!"

She laughed and tried to shush them. "Listen up, guys! I've got a big announcement!" She waved. Ajax noticed her and turned down the volume on his DJ deck. 

Catcalls resounded across the deck, instead.

"All right, I know, I know! This isn't my first time on this table tonight." 

A few appreciative whistles.

Aurelia lifted her champagne flute in a mock salute to herself. "I hope you're having a great time?!"

Cheers of delight.

She cocked her hip and raised her fist into the air as a sign of victory. "That's what I want to hear. Listen, I won't keep you for long. I just need a moment to let you know that I'm so close to reaching ten million!"

Shouts of appreciation.

Aurelia motioned to Jess, her best-friend-and-manager-and-publicist-all- rolled-into-one, to announce the latest numbers. Jess raised her voice from her spot next to the table. "We're at nine point nine nine four million followers! Only five point five thousand to go!"

"You've heard it! Only five thousand to go! I'm sure we can make this happen tonight!?"

Whoops of agreement.

Aurelia raised her flute into the sky. "That's what I thought. How are we gonna make this happen, you ask? Let's have a good time tonight and show it to the world! If things get a little out of hand... a little too risky... a little too drunk... a little too much fun..." She stuck out her tongue. "Well? That's the point. Let's make the most out of tonight!"

A wave of excitement rolled through the crowd. She surfed it down the table, and the party picked up right where it had left off.

"Aurelia, over here! Dance with us!" "Babe, I haven't seen you in ages!"