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I grimaced. “She did it on purpose.”
“Probably. I’ll deal with her later, but right now, we’re not done. Turn over,” Paul commanded as he pulled off his shirt.
I moved onto my stomach, no longer caring about the intrusion. Paul had just made it very clear who he was with. As much as I hated that she’d just walked in, I hoped that she’d get the picture. One she wasn’t a part of.
Paul and I were finally a team.
No, we’re not done.
The lights of New York City came closer as we lowered towards the airport. Goosebumps broke across my skin, and my pulse moved to an erratic pace. The last time I was here, we left each other. Paul took my hand and kissed the back of it. We touched down and there were only a few feet before we were in the car, but Paul was already speaking with Laurence, who checked before we disembarked.
“There’s press.”
Ingrid didn’t say a word, but she left the plane first. She disappeared inside a BMW without a glance back. I guess she didn’t think Paul would spend every minute with me instead of brainstorming with her. And maybe the fact that we kept having sex after she tried to interrupt upset her, too. I was happy she left, but was prepared for her to resurface. It was our time next. There were photographers and many security guards on the tarmac, and some were shouting questions.
“Are you going to settle your lawsuit against Landon Styles, Mr. Crane?”
“Nadia, are you aware that Landon’s lawyers have shown us proof of your
deleted profile as an escort seeking a rich man on the Lollipop website?”
“If the case moves to trial, will you testify in open court?”
“Do you care to comment?”
Paul moved at a relaxed pace and didn’t answer, and I also kept quiet. My skin flushed, and my body broke out in a sweat. What proof? But I knew the answer. I applied to be a sugar baby on the Lollipop website. And everyone in the world knows. Paul had taken care of removing me, but this was a lawsuit against the wealthy and connected. They probably have their own investigators, no doubt. I wanted to crawl away and hide, but I could only move within the tight circle toward the car.
I stumbled next to the door, and Paul took my waist and helped me the rest of the way into the backseat. Laurence closed the door, and the security guards held the press back as he took the driver’s seat, and we sped off.
“Everyone is waiting for us in the office, Paul,” Laurence called back.
“Great. We’ll meet with them now. Thanks, Laurence.”
Good. I didn’t believe my nerves could withstand waiting to know what we would do. I licked my lips and stared at the passing traffic on the highway.
The world knows I was seeking a rich guy? No one will ever believe I love him. But I do so much. My eyes watered, and Paul took my hand and squeezed it. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Is it, Paul?” I rasped.
“Yes, Nadia. We will get through it.” He took out his phone and made calls.
He’d done it before. And we may find ourselves here again. As Dani, Paul, and even Gunnar told me, lawsuits were a part of their lives. But for me, it felt intrusive. They knew my name and probably more about my life than I ever wanted to be made public.
I took out my phone, and Paul placed his hand over it. “Don’t look at social media.”
I hunched my shoulders and put it back in my bag. What about my parents? Dad never wanted me to worry, but I had to know they were okay. I pulled out my phone again and mumbled, “Calling my parents.” Both phones went to voicemail. I frowned and checked the time. It’s not that late in Milwaukee. I checked my phone again, seeing there was a new voicemail from Xander.
“I’ve heard the news about your case moving to a hearing. Wyatt said they announced at Givenchy that you had left for New York City. I canceled my flight back to stay longer over here with Wyatt, but now I’m rebooking through Nicole to return early. Fuck them, they don’t know you. I do, and I’ll tell them all to go to hell. See you soon.”
I was grateful for Xander’s support, but hearing Givenchy brought an ache in my chest. I couldn’t imagine what Tomas had to tell everyone. In Paris, I mostly lived freely. The staff was kind and helpful. No one even brought up the scandal back in New York City. And just arriving here brought the cruelty of the press and public back. Would Tomas even want me to return with all the controversy? Would I even want to, knowing people may believe I was a gold digger or an escort?
I covered my mouth with my hand as my stomach twisted in knots.
The car stopped, and Paul ended his call. “We’re here.”
I hadn’t been to Paul’s office in Midtown. However, I knew Crane Holding and Enterprise’s main U.S. office occupied most of 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan. Photographers were stationed at the main entrance, but Laurence and Ben parked and went inside for more security before we went through the glass doors.
A guard held the elevator open, and we went inside and rode to the fifty-fifth floor.
