Page 99 of Fake It For Glory

“Does he know how you feel?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t think he would believe me if I tried to tell him. I called him last night. He hung up on me and blocked my calls. He doesn’t want anything to do with me. Jensen isn’t the kind of man that trusts easily. He’s such a mystery because he’s a private person. He doesn’t like to put himself out there. He’s not the man that article painted him to be. The man I wrote about was the man he presents to the world for the most part. I didn’t get to really explain who he was.”

“But is it your place to explain who he is?” Her question was soft, but I heard the disapproval in her voice. “He doesn’t have to answer to anyone except whatever higher power he believes in. If he wants to be a world-class asshole, that’s his choice. We all do things that irritate others. Why should he have his faults blasted to the world to judge him for?”

I shrugged, feeling a little defensive. “I wasn’t trying to judge him. I wanted to show the world who he really was. I thought it would help people understand him better.”

“Did you ever consider that he might not want to be understood? That he might be perfectly happy with who he is and doesn’t want anyone meddling in his life?”

I opened my mouth to respond but found that I didn’t have an answer. She was right. I had been so caught up in my own ambition and desire to make a name for myself that I had forgotten that Jensen was a person with feelings and desires of his own. I had taken his trust and betrayed it for the sake of my own career.

As I sat there, feeling guilty and ashamed, Mom patted my hand. “Listen, I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I just want you to think about Jensen’s perspective. He’s allowed to have boundaries and make choices about who he lets into his life. Maybe he’s just not ready for a relationship right now, or maybe he’s dealing with things that you don’t know about.”

She was right. I had been so focused on my own feelings and needs that I hadn’t stopped to consider Jensen’s. “Just for the record, I didn’t want the piece published.”

She laughed and took a bite of her scone. “I know. But now that you’ve had a good night’s sleep and I’ve given you a harsh dose of reality, do you have any clarity about what you need to do?”

I sighed, knowing I needed to act fast. “Yes,” I replied with a heavy heart. “I think I know what I have to do.”

Her eyes were full of understanding as she smiled. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to run a second article,” I confessed, my voice quivering with both determination and fear. “And if my father won’t publish it? Well, I’ll figure that piece out. I have a coworker who owes me a favor after he stabbed me in the back.”

My mother’s brow furrowed in concern. “You’re talking about Dalton?”

I nodded, acknowledging the complicated situation. “Yes, Dalton. He still thinks he did me a favor, but it’s time I tell him the truth. I’ve fallen in love with my subject, and I have to make this right.”

She offered me a reassuring smile. “Did Dalton say why he did what he did?”

“He said he did it for me, but last night, I think there was more to it. I’ve idolized that guy for a long time. He was hitting on me. Wanted me to go back to his place. I think all this time I operated under the impression he was just trying to help me out, but that’s not the case at all. He’s a snake.”

“Your father would not be happy to know that about his star writer,” she said in a tight voice.

“He was right there. I don’t know how he could have missed it.”

“Shame on him. I should have a word with him. His daughter isn’t a toy to be passed around the office or offered as a prize to his top writer.”

I smiled. “Thank you. I think I’m done with that place. It’s not for me. I can’t sell my soul to get a little fame. It isn’t worth it to me. I want more for myself. I don’t want to climb to the top by stepping on others.”

“Good for you! I’m so proud of you. I know my pride isn’t as worthy as your father’s, but I’ve always been proud of the woman you are, not the writer you can be.”

Tears streamed down my face. “Mom, your opinion of me means everything. I’ve always known I had your love and respect. You’ve always made it very clear you were proud of me. I guess I’ve been chasing it from Dad because he just doesn’t want to give it. I feel like I owe it to you guys to be better. To be successful.”

She took my hand in hers and squeezed it gently. “You don’t owe us anything, dear. Just be true to yourself and follow your heart. That’s all we can ask for.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Thank you, Mom. You have no idea how much your support means to me.”

“Anytime, sweetheart.”

“I should go,” I said. “I need to get to work. Thank you so much for giving me a kick in the pants and loving me through it.”

“That’s what I’m here for.”