Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
He handed them the files. “Yes.” He drew in a deep breath. “She might not show tomorrow.”
Jacob sat back, crossing his ankle over his knee. He shrugged. “At this point, it’s moot. She knows. She’s angry. We need to brace ourselves for her pushback.” He pointed to Nick’s cheek. “I want pictures of that. I think we should prepare a statement and be ready to file an assault charge if she refuses to go quietly.”
Nick nodded, and Andi took some pictures. I handed him some ice, which he held to his cheek, wincing as it came into contact with his skin. He grinned at Andi. “You should have seen our girl. Kicking ass, telling MJ exactly how it was going to go down.”
Andi grinned back. “I’ve heard her and Sammy talk about Aiden and Van teaching them. Never thought she’d use her ninja skills.”
“Oh, she used them, all right.”
I rolled my eyes. I barely remembered it. I reacted, knowing she was going to hurt Nick again, and I couldn’t allow that to happen. I knew he wouldn’t strike back—he would never hit a woman, even one as vile as MJ. One moment, she was advancing, and the next, she was down. The rest was sort of a blur until I woke up in Nick’s arms.
“Enough,” I groaned. “Not my finest moment.”
Nick leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I disagree. You defended me, Shortcake.” He dropped his voice. “It was fucking hot.”
I looked away, trying not to blush.
Tom looked at his phone with a frown. He stood and went to the balcony, his low voice obviously angry. He came back into the room and went to the TV, turning it on. He flipped through the channels, settling on a show I never watched. Gossip and celebrity news filled the time slot, and I had no time for any of that. “I think we have a problem.”
The face of a commentator known for his malicious streak came on. His smile was smarmy, his expression filled with vindictive delight.
“Tonight,” he began, clapping his hands in glee. “I have the story of the month. The year.” A picture flashed behind him. It was of a couple, their faces blocked out, caught in an embrace.
I recognized my yellow dress. Nick’s hand wrapped around my waist.
“The ever so popular, ever so secretive author has been spotted with a male in a lead role. Or as I discovered, a supporting role. Who is the lady behind the mystery? And who is the troubled actor addicted to her words?” He smiled again, evil and twisted. “What else is he addicted to, and what lengths will he go to in order to cover it up? Come back tonight at ten, and I’ll fill you in on all the gossip.”
The room was silent for a moment. Then Tom shook his head. “That bitch.”
Nick was on his feet. “That was the night we went to Manny’s. I knew she was behind the whole pap swarm.”
“And now she is going to reveal Mila’s identity and smear Nick’s name. All from behind the scenes. Even if we sue, which we will, the damage is done. And that show is notorious for getting away with shit,” Jacob muttered. “They cross the line just far enough to inflict injury and keep their ratings high, but not get shut down.” He slammed his hand on the table. “Dammit.”
Andi sat beside me. “It’s okay, Mila. We’ll figure this out.”
I stood, my mind going a thousand miles an hour. “How quickly can you call a press conference?”
Tom frowned. “Why?”
“Let’s beat her to the punch. Announce Nick and I are together. That I am a Canadian citizen, and my name is Mila.” I laughed. “I am not very exciting, so if she thinks outing me will bring her some sort of retribution, she is wrong.”
“Mila,” Andi admonished. “Your privacy.”
I smiled. “We knew this day would come. My publishers have been dying for me to do some signings. Maybe it’s now. It’ll boost the movie. And once a couple of days go by, who will care? There are a hundred other authors far more interesting than me.”
“Not involved with Nick.”
“I’m protected in Port Albany. No one knows where I’m from. We’ll grant a few interviews and be done with it.”
“I’ll come out about my disorder at the same time. That will be far more newsworthy,” Nick said. “They’ll focus on me. It’ll take the meat out of that asshole’s scoop, and MJ will have nothing left to threaten me with.”
“It would work,” Andi agreed. “Mila, are you sure?”
I was anything but. Except I knew I had to do this. As Nick had pointed out, if we were together, my identity would eventually come out. At least this way, we controlled the message.
“Yes.”
Tom smiled. “If I call a press conference, they’ll catch wind of it and release the story early. I have an even better idea.”