Famously Fake

Famously Fake By Sarah J. Brooks © Copyright 2023 by Sarah J. Brooks - All rights reserved. Without the prior written permission of the Publisher, no part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, replicated, or transferred in any form or medium, digital, scanning, recording, printing, mechanical, or otherwise, except as permitted under 1976 United States Copyright Act, section 107 or 108. Permission concerns should be directed to the publisher's permission department. Legal Notice This book is copyright protected. It is only to be used for personal purposes. Without the author's or publisher's permission, you cannot paraphrase, quote, copy, distribute, sell, or change any part of the information in this book. Disclaimer Notice This book is written and published independently. Please keep in mind that the material in this publication is solely for educational and entertaining purposes. All efforts have provided authentic, up-to-date, trustworthy, and comprehensive information. There are no express or implied assurances. The purpose of this book's material is to assist readers in having a better understanding of the subject matter. The activities, information, and exercises are provided solely for self-help information. This book is not intended to replace expert psychologists, legal, financial, or other guidance. If you require counseling, please get in touch with a qualified professional. By reading this text, the reader accepts that the author will not be held liable for any damages, indirectly or directly, experienced due to the use of the information included herein, particularly, but not limited to, omissions, errors, or inaccuracies. As a reader, you are accountable for your decisions, actions, and consequences. Table of Contents Chapter One – Leila Chapter Two – Spencer Chapter Three – Leila Chapter Four – Spencer Chapter Five – Leila Chapter Six – Spencer Chapter Seven – Leila Chapter Eight – Spencer Chapter Nine – Leila Chapter Ten – Spencer Chapter Eleven – Leila Chapter Twelve – Spencer Chapter Thirteen – Leila Chapter Fourteen – Spencer Chapter Fifteen – Leila Chapter Sixteen – Spencer Chapter Seventeen – Leila Chapter Eighteen – Spencer Chapter Nineteen – Leila Chapter Twenty – Spencer Chapter Twenty-One – Leila Chapter Twenty-Two – Spencer Chapter Twenty-Three – Leila Chapter Twenty-Four – Spencer Chapter Twenty-Five – Leila Chapter Twenty-Six – Spencer Chapter Twenty-Seven – Leila Chapter Twenty-Eight – Spencer Chapter Twenty-Nine – Leila Chapter Thirty – Spencer Chapter Thirty-One – Leila Chapter Thirty-Two – Spencer Chapter Thirty-Three - Leila Chapter Thirty-Four - Spencer Chapter Thirty-Five - Leila Chapter Thirty-Six - Spencer Chapter Thirty-Seven - Leila Chapter Thirty-Eight - Spencer Chapter Thirty-Nine - Leila Chapter Forty - Spencer Epilogue – Leila Chapter One – Leila I press my phone against my ear with my shoulder as I take a sip of my coffee. It’s a beautiful, sunny Los Angeles afternoon, and I’m out with my dog Shiloh for a long walk through the park to try and ease up on some of his energy. It’s the perfect time to catch up with my best friend, Abby, who still lives on the East Coast. “I’m serious, Abs; it’s been crazy. I’ve been in LA for six months now, and I’m not closer to fixing things at the new California branch of Frills. I’m starting to wonder if this whole thing was a mistake.” Abby huffs in my ear. She exercises for fun, going for runs before work every morning, which is what she’s doing now. These walks with Shiloh, a rambunctious golden retriever, are enough exercise for me, thank you very much. There’s a reason one of us is a personal trainer, and I work as an interior designer. “You’ve only been there six months. I think you need to give it at least a year. I mean, how much can you actually get done in six months?” “We’ve had exactly ten clients in that entire timeframe. Ten! We’d do that many in a week out of the Boston office.” “Well, you knew the market would be more competitive there.” I sigh, switch the coffee cup to the hand holding Shiloh’s leash, and move the phone from my shoulder. The screen is slimy with my sweat. “Yeah, but it shouldn’t be this hard. I assumed Rebecca would’ve had more clients lined up. She expects me to build an entire list out here from the ground up. I don’t know anyone in Los Angeles! How am I supposed to network when I have no friends or contacts out here? I miss home.” Tears well up in my eyes, but I fight them. I’ve seen plenty of girls crying on the streets of LA, most of them done up nice and pretty, probably getting rejected from yet another interview. I’m not about to be one of them. Six months hasn’t changed me into an LA girl yet, though I get closer every day. Which is yet another reason I’m convinced I need to go home. I miss the introverted lifestyle of hiding in my cheap apartment and only going out when my ex-boyfriend wanted to. Since he was working on his residency, he rarely did, which worked out just fine for me. “You’ve never been the type to give up,” Abby points out. I sigh again. “Is it really giving up if the situation is hopeless?” “It still counts. Give it another six months at least.” “You’re only saying that because you’re supposed to come to visit me in four.” Abby laughs. “Maybe.” “I do miss you. I wish you could come sooner.” Before Abby can answer my desperate plea, Shiloh catches the scent of something he wants to chase and pulls the leash right out of my hand, causing my coffee to spill all over the sidewalk. “Shiloh, NO!” I call after him. “Shit, I’ve got to go, Abs. Shiloh is getting away!” “Call me later!” she yells as I’m hanging up. The phone slips out of my hand and onto the sidewalk, but I can’t bother picking it up right now. Shiloh is darting through the crowds of people in this