Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Coincidence?
I think not.
So I was only worth talking to now because she’d seen me kissing a famous astronaut?
A text popped up on the screen from Althea.
You were magnificent!
I am so fucking proud of you!
I think Dominic is still in shock you stood up for yourself.
This was followed by three “raise the roof” emojis and three “crying with laughter” emojis and a “blowing a kiss” emoji.
Heart still hammering with annoyance at my mother, I quickly texted Althea back.
It felt good.
I mean I’m shaking, but it was worth it, lol.
Also, I love you. You’re the best.
She texted back that she loved me too, and I tried to let that sentiment overpower the ugly feelings of resentment building in me toward my mom.
When I finally looked up from my phone, it was to find Lia standing mutely in my office.
Oh shit.
“Morning . . . Lia.” I tried to smile, but it appeared more of a grimace. “How was your weekend?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared stonily at me. “Dominic sent me a link to an interesting article this morning.”
Of course he did.
“Chris and I started seeing each other after he was no longer a client. No lines were crossed.”
Lia relaxed, her arms dropping back to her sides. “I thought as much. I just needed to check.”
“I understand.”
She studied me for a moment. “Are you handling this okay? Do you need to take the day off?”
I smiled gratefully. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine. It’s disconcerting and strange, but I’m fine.”
“All right. Well, you know where I am if you need me.”
“Thanks,” I said to her back as she strode out of my office.
I sighed and took a massive gulp of the coffee Althea had given me. Work. I needed to concentrate on work.
Yet, I’d barely started when my office phone rang.
“Hallie Goodman, Lia Zhang Events,” I answered.
“Ms. Goodman, Kyla Dell, Uptown Magazine. I wondered if I could ask you a few questions about your relationship with Captain Christopher Ortiz. How long have you been dating, and is it serious? How does Darcy Hawthorne feel about it considering you’re planning her wedding?”
I gaped at my computer screen.
Was she for real?
“Ms. Goodman?”
“No comment.” I hung up, glaring at the phone.
Shit.
I quickly called Chris and explained what happened. After he let loose a few curse words, he told me I did the right thing and, if they called again, to just keep saying, “No comment.” In the end, I got two more phone calls from local journalists. Definitely freaked out, I informed Lia in case they started calling our main reception too. My boss was amazing. She handled it like it was no big deal and had her assistant, Amber, set up the phones so that my calls came to her first so she could vet them. Our receptionist, Navid, was directed to tell any journalists I was unavailable.
“This will die down,” Lia assured me, repeating what Chris had said. How it was just a puff piece and I would be yesterday’s news tomorrow.
God, I hoped so.
It stressed me out. I hated the thought of our romance being picked apart by strangers.
Back at my desk, I couldn’t help but look at Chris’s Instagram account. It was masochistic, but the urge was too strong. Scrolling through the comments, my heart plummeted at some of the nasty things people said about me. Apparently Chris was out of his mind for jumping from an environmentalist lawyer to a “silly party planner.” Most of the negative comments were sure I was just a “casual” thing. Other people said I wasn’t pretty enough for him. And although there were lots of comments about how cute we were together, the positivity couldn’t win against the way the negativity made me feel.
I closed the app like it had physically burned me and jerked back in my chair.
It took more focus and willpower than I knew I had to continue on with my work that day. Lunch with Althea in a café we liked across the street was fine, and no one paid any attention to me, which made me relax a lot. By the time I got back to the office, I was feeling more myself again, reassured that Chris and Lia were right and that this was just a blip.
Therefore, I was knocked on my ass when Navid came dashing into my office that afternoon, eyes wide with panic. “I tried to tell him he needed an appointment, but he just started searching for you, and he’s out there—”
A man suddenly appeared in my doorway, his eyes on the nameplate on my door.
Navid gave me another wide-eyed look as he stepped aside and mouthed, “I’m so sorry.”
Recognizing the man who was now in my office staring at me, I stood on shaking knees and gestured to Navid. “It’s okay, Navid.”