Page 201 of Pure Recklessness

‘Now I understand why you stopped letting us visit.’ Seb nodded.

‘I know you’ll need to report me to the board,’ I said, ‘and I take full responsibility for my actions. But I can’t apologise for falling in love. I won’t. Everyone in this room is the best at what they do, so I trust you to handle this. Tell me what you need from me to minimise the damage to the company and I’ll do it. But on one condition: don’t let Ellie suffer. I’m the one you should punish, not her. Now if you’ll excuse me,’ I stood up then strode towards the boardroom door, ‘I need to find my girlfriend to check that she’s okay. And to tell her I love her.’

76

ELLIE

Ipaced back and forth in the living room for the millionth time, then tried dialling Blake’s phone again.

Straight to voicemail.

Shit.

I needed to know how Blake was. Make sure he was okay.

Ever since Pandora had dropped the bomb, my stomach had been in knots.

Once I’d spoken to Dana and Joe, Seb took me to a private exit where his car was waiting. He dropped me off at the penthouse en route to his meeting at the office with Blake and the directors. And I’d been here worrying ever since.

After crying for what felt like hours, I’d tortured myself by scrolling through all of the stories about us online. Whilst some focused on the app and Jake’s involvement, the majority mentioned the scandal.

Those articles featured unflattering photos of us including snaps of Blake throwing the photographer’s camera on the floor and an image of him gripping my shoulders which looked aggressive instead of what it really was: a concerned boyfriend checking that his girlfriend was okay.

This wasn’t good.

Now Blake would lose everything because of me.

Just as I dialled Blake’s phone again, I heard the penthouse lift doors open.

‘Blake!’ I shouted before sprinting over.

When he stepped out, my stomach twisted.

His shoulders were slumped and his normally sparkly blue eyes looked bloodshot and tired.

Seeing the man I loved, who was normally so confident, look so defeated and exhausted was heartbreaking.

‘Blake!’ I repeated, throwing my arms around him. He hugged me weakly.

‘Hey, Doc.’ He pulled back and stroked my cheek. ‘Are you okay? I’m so sorry about everything.’

‘Never mind me.’ I led him to the sofa. ‘Tell me about you! What happened? Are they going to report you to the board? I’ll resign if that makes it easier.’

‘You’ll do no such thing,’ he said firmly. ‘SatisFya was your idea in the first place. I won’t allow it. No matter what, your job will be safe. I promise.’

‘And what about yours?’

‘The team are handling things. It’s out of my hands now. But I don’t care. If they want to kick me out, let them. I’m not giving you up. I…’ He paused. ‘If it wasn’t obvious already, Ellie, I love you.’

My heart somersaulted and a billion butterflies danced in my belly.

Blake loved me.

The man I was totally and utterly besotted with felt the same way about me as I did about him.

I knew he cared for me. I saw it when he looked at me. But hearing him say the L word right here, right now after everything that had gone down tonight meant the world.

Hope bloomed in my chest.