I stare after him, my heart galloping all over the place.
I just got promoted.
I am now the fucking COO.
Holy. Fuck.
I pull out my phone.
Jessica: I know you’re sleeping, but I just got promoted.
He’s not sleeping, though. My phone lights up with his face as he FaceTime calls me.
“Congratulations, sweetheart. It’s about time Ashton got his shit together.”
“I agree, but holy shit, Jack, I didn’t know this would feel so good.”
“This new role doesn’t require you to work more, does it? No, scrap that question. I’ll take care of it if it does.”
I roll my eyes. “This new caveman thing you’ve got going on is disturbingly hot while also being annoyingly clichéd.”
He grins and it settles itself deep in my core like those sexy grins of his always do. “The contradictory nature of that statement leaves me unsure of your preferences going forward.”
“I’m sure the caveman in you will help you out. Why are you awake?”
“I was up late writing.”
I smile. “I love that reason. It beats the reason I thought you might give me.”
The grin dies on his lips. “You saw the story?”
“No, but Ashton caught me up on it. Not that he wanted to. I forced him into it because I needed to know who to add to my shit list. I’m sorry she made all those lies up.”
“This will all eventually go away. I need you to know that. Some other poor bastard will catch their attention, and they’ll forget about us.”
“I know.” I pause, not wanting to let him go but knowing I need to. “Okay, as much as it pains me to say this, I have to go. I’d much rather force you into taking your clothes off and doing something useful, but I’m on a tight schedule here. I’ll call you tonight.”
“I love you, Jessica.”
“I love you too. Go get some sleep.”
We end the call, and I gather my laptop and handbag before slipping out of the conference room. Axe is stationed outside, and quickly falls in line behind me. Jack insisted I bring him to New York, and with the new stories on social media, I’m glad I agreed. I came across a few photographers last night who’d discovered my location. I’m guessing more have filtered in this morning.
“Where are you heading?” Axe asks, moving next to me, his face more serious than usual.
“I need to go to the front desk. Why?”
“Let’s just say the crowd has increased significantly today. The good news is I’ve spoken to the hotel, and they’re not letting these guys in.”
I shoot him a regretful look. “I bet you’re wishing I hadn’t been so stubborn as to only agree to one of you guys coming with me.” Jack had pushed for all four to come. I’d told him he was being ridiculous. We’d argued for a good hour over it, at which point he’d thrown his hands in the air and told me I wasn’t taking this situation seriously enough. I should have let him send two men. I make a mental note not to be so stubborn in future.
“No point wishing for shit,” Axe says. He’s a man of few words. I like his efficiency.
We take the elevator down to the lobby and I take care of the business I came down here for. We’re on our way back to the elevator when a guy shoves his phone in my face and snaps a few photos. Axe is on him instantly and drags him outside. The incident is over before it even really began. However, Axe leaving me to get rid of this guy gives another two men the ability to approach me. It turns out the hotel isn’t that great at keeping these assholes out.
They’re taking photos before I realise what’s happening. And they’re throwing questions out faster than I can keep up.
“How did it feel to have Jack force you into having threesomes with other women?”
“Did you become a lesbian because of Jack?”
“Did he make you hate men?”
“How does it feel knowing you ruined Jack’s career?”
“Are you guys just taking a break or is it over for good now?”
I’m a woman who can handle herself in most situations. I’m never lost for words. I always know what to do. And I can stare down a motherfucker if I need to.
This situation, though, catches me right off guard. All these questions they’re bombarding me with mess with my ability to respond.
It’s because this concerns Jack.
One of my seven.
One of the people I would lie, steal, cheat, or kill for.
It turns out that while I will absolutely do all of those things for him, I just need a minute to get my shit together when the time to do them arrives.
I stand in the lobby gathering myself when I catch sight of Axe striding my way, a feral look on his face. Dear God, I make a mental note never to anger this man. I feel a little scared, and I’m the one he’s coming to save.
“The fuck do you think you’re doing?” he roars at the two men, barrelling his way into them, taking hold of them both, and dragging them towards the front door.
He’s like a tornado the way he crashes his way through the situation.
“Wait,” I call out as he stalks away with them. I’ve finally gathered myself and have something to say.
Axe doesn’t hear me, though. By the time I catch his attention, he’s at the front door and almost has them outside. I glance out there and before I can stop myself, I’m striding out those doors and coming face-to-face with the crowd of paparazzi on the footpath.
“Jesus, Jessica,” Axe says, moving behind me. “What the fuck are you doing?”
I look at him, feeling like myself again. “I’ll just be a minute. After that, you can carry me back inside if you need to. I won’t even put up a fight.”
Turning back to the paps, I say, “I’ve only got a minute, but let me clear some things up for you assholes. Jack and I have not broken up and will not be breaking up again. He did not insist I watch while he shared his dick with other women. I did not fall in love with one of those women I supposedly shared his dick with. He also didn’t share his dick with anyone while I wasn’t watching. In case you’re dumb and not getting this, Jack did not share his dick around while we were together. Also, I did not make him drink or take drugs. And while none of this is actually any of your business, Jack has not started drinking again. I’m only telling you that because I’m proud as hell of him for not letting you assholes get to him. You have no idea how hard this stuff is to live through. Relationships and life are difficult at the best of times. Take a fucking second and think about how you’d manage yours if assholes were posting lies about you.”
I puff out an angry breath before turning to Axe and nodding to let him know I’m done. He takes me at my word when I told him he could carry me back inside and hoists me into his arms. He then uses sheer force to push his way through the crowd that has caged us in and gets me back inside the hotel to safety.
When he deposits me on the floor inside, he says, “A little notice would be good next time. And perhaps a press release rather than an impromptu press conference would be just as effective.”
“I’ll take it under advisement.”
“I’d appreciate it. Jack will bust my fucking balls if something happens to you.”