Page 84 of Fake It For Glory

“We’re not going to let you down,” Sarah said.

In the midst of the chaos, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the people I worked alongside. I hired the best developers in the world. I attracted them because they knew I was the best. We were birds of a feather, naturally drawn to one another because we were the best at what we did.

As the excitement in the office continued to build, I was focused on the final preparations for our product launch. The developers and team members were buzzing with enthusiasm, and I was in the midst of a meeting when my assistant informed me that Merida had arrived and wanted to speak with me privately.

I excused myself from the meeting and quickly made my way to the front of the office to greet her. When our eyes met, I couldn’t help but smile. “Merida, it’s nice to see you,” I said, my voice very casual. I kept it professional.

She returned my smile, but there was a hint of something in her eyes that caught my attention. “Jensen, can we talk privately?” she asked, her tone slightly serious.

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. “Of course, let’s go to my office.”

We stepped into my office, and I closed the door behind us, tinting the windows to ensure our privacy. Turning to face Merida, I couldn’t hide my anticipation. “What’s on your mind?” I walked toward her and put my hands on her hips. “I missed you.”

“I missed you,” she replied.

“I’m going to be busting my ass the next few days, but I hope we can see each other soon.”

She took a deep breath, her gaze meeting mine. “Jensen, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Merida, you can tell me anything. You know that.” I slid my hands up her sides. I was hungry for her. I wished I could bend her over my desk just then. I would have to settle for a kiss. My lips brushed hers, but she pulled away.

Something was wrong, and I could sense it in the tension that had suddenly gripped her. “Merida,” I asked softly, pulling back a little. “What’s wrong?”

She looked like she had something big on her mind. I assumed it was something about the new stories making their rounds. It was part of the gig, but I understood how upsetting it was to have your personal life splashed all over the internet.

“Merida—”

Suddenly, the door flew open with a resounding bang. I turned to see Hattie standing there. Her face was flushed, and she appeared out of breath, a stark contrast to her usual composed self.

Before I could even ask what was wrong, Hattie practically exploded. “Jensen, there’s something important you need to read.”

I exchanged a quick, puzzled glance with Merida before turning my attention back to Hattie. “What’s wrong, Hattie?” I asked, my concern growing.

My assumption was it was something about Reid. The guy was probably trying to come at me or Merida. He was such a damn loser that he had probably gone on a media blitz badmouthing me and her. I wasn’t worried. We already had the court of public opinion on our side. Carl could handle it. With as much money as I paid the guy, he could spin the story again.

Hattie hesitated for a moment, her eyes locking onto Merida’s. I wasn’t blind. I saw the anger. She was pissed, and if I had to guess, I would say she was furious with Merida. That didn’t track. The two of them were buddies. “I need to talk to you alone,” Hattie insisted, dismissing Merida with a snotty glare.

I frowned, feeling a sense of urgency. “Hattie, whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of Merida,” I insisted.

Hattie stiffened, clearly reluctant, but she eventually nodded. “Fine. Why not? She should be here for this. In fact, I want to see what she has to say.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Hattie, are you mad at me?” Merida asked.

Hatted stepped forward and thrust her phone at me. “Read it.”

I took the phone which was open to a news article published by Full Disclosure. I vaguely knew the site. It was a little bit gossip and a little bit real news. I rarely read it. I felt it was beneath me. But as I read, my heart sank. My eyes scanned the headline as I read the horrifying words aloud. “My Month with Jensen Loxley.”

My blood ran cold, and I turned to Merida, my eyes wide with shock. “What the hell is this?” I demanded, my voice filled with a mixture of anger and confusion.