Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
But he’d hauled that dumbass bear out of there before the night Luca and I made love for the first time. I’m shaking slightly as I put a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Patrick. All they would have caught was us watching TV on his tablet and a couple of make-out sessions.”
“But they would have gotten more if I hadn’t ridden in like the white knight I am?” he asks as though he already knows the answer.
I nod. “A lot more. I loved him.”
Patrick sighs, and his expression is softer than I’ve seen before. “See. That’s naïve right there, and Anika, I wish it had worked out for you. I’m sorry. You can tell them I won’t talk. Get your job back and maybe you can get your man back, too.”
As if. “He’s not my man if he can’t stand up for what’s right. And I don’t want a job where I have to be silent. You should know I’ve already contacted a lawyer.”
He turns, looking me straight in the eyes. “It’s not going to work. Any lawyer you can afford will be easily defeated by the unholy amount of money Pinnacle can throw their way.”
“It took a long time to bring Weinstein down, but they did it. Two women reporters risked their careers to do it. Nothing changes if we aren’t willing to take a risk.”
“They were getting paid to do that job,” he counters. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the money for a lawyer. They’ve already reached out to me with a piece of crap offer.”
My heart clenches. I might end up the loser in this war. The only one who loses it all. “What did they offer?”
“Twenty thousand if I sign an NDA.” He sighs. “I could use that money.”
If he won’t talk, then I have no leverage. I’m nothing more than a bitter voice speaking out against a man who likely turned me down. That’s how they’ll play it, and they’ll use the show to paint me as the worst woman in the world. I’ll be getting the villain edit.
“But I think I can use my freaking dignity more,” he says firmly. “I talked to my parents, and they want me to go after him. They said a lot of stuff about David and Goliath and how no matter what I’ll rest better if I fight so no one else has to go through this again. It’ll be easier if I’m not alone.”
I squeeze his arm. “You’re not alone.”
He nods, and there’s a sheen of tears in his eyes. “I knew you would be trouble, Fox.”
So much trouble. At least I have some good news. “And don’t worry about money. My best friend has this mentor and she has mountains of cash that she likes to spend…well, mostly on shoes and her dog, but occasionally she’ll take up a cause. She also thinks Jessica Wallace is a faux feminist. Jessica thinks she’s stepping on a PA with no power, but she’s about to find out she’s really fighting CeCe Foust.”
His eyes widen. “Are you kidding me? The CeCe Foust? Billionaire tech investor?”
“Yep. I’ve known her since I was in high school and she scared the crap out of me,” I admit. “She mostly calls me Ivy’s Little Blonde Friend, but she slipped up today. She knows my name.”
It had been oddly satisfying to hear after all these years.
His jaw tightens, and I can see him getting emotional. “We have a chance?”
“We have a chance. Someone is going to contact you tomorrow about taking in your story,” I admit. “I should have called but I was busy crying.”
“Because you loved him.”
“Because I loved him.”
He puts an arm around me, the gesture awkward as though giving affection isn’t normal for him. “Thank you, Ani. Thank you for seeing me. I’m sorry about the king.”
“I hope he picks Shelby and she makes his life hell.” I don’t, but I need some bravado right now.
“No, you don’t.” He sees right through me.
We sit there as day becomes night and get ready for the fight.
Chapter Twenty-Four
I stand in the lobby where all this crap started and wonder why I bothered to show up. Jessica’s assistant called the night before and asked if I would take a meeting with her at noon. It’s been three long days since the king gave me the cut direct. I’m calling him the king for now. I’m sure I’ll get back to thinking of him as Luca, but for the foreseeable future I have to pretend that Luca didn’t really exist. I’m sure a therapist would call it a coping mechanism.
“She’s ready for you.” Abby, Jessica’s longtime receptionist, gives me a sympathetic look. I don’t know if she’s aware of what’s truly happened, but it’s obvious she knows I’m in trouble. “Are you okay? Can I get you anything before you go in? Some coffee?”