25. Ana
25
Ana
I ignored the text, hoping it was the wrong number, something that wasn’t meant for me.
But a call came the next morning as I sat in Charlie’s dressing room in the backstage of Madison Square Garden. The same number flashed across my screen and I hesitated before answering.
“Ana.” His voice was low, the same tone I knew so well when he was at his breaking point.
“Jake,” I whispered, and it suddenly all made sense.
“I’m glad you picked up. I didn’t want to leave this in a message.”
“What do you want?” I asked as I stood up, trying to calm the panic rising in my chest.
He chuckled softly, the sound as familiar as it was infuriating. “Still so defensive. Relax, Ana. I’m just here to offer you a little advice. You might want to keep a closer eye on your boyfriend.”
My stomach churned. “What are you talking about?”
“Charlie,” he said, dragging the word out with disgust. “Do you really think you can stay with someone like him? With his track record? He’s a fucking trainwreck, Ana.”
“Don’t,” I snapped. “You don’t know him.”
“Oh, but I do,” Jake said smoothly. “And I know what he’s capable of. For example, I know he paid someone to intimidate Sarah in jail. Did he tell you that? Or did he conveniently forget?”
I froze, a lump forming in my throat. How did he know that? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“So you did know,” he said casually. “But perhaps what you didn’t know ws that I handled it for him. I had them just do the fucking deed, something that should have been done a long time ago.”
A wave of nausea crashed over me. “You… you did that?”
“You’re welcome,” he said, his tone light, almost playful. “And don’t worry. I’ve made sure Charlie’s involvement won’t come back to haunt him. For now.”
“For now?” I choked out, dread swirling in my chest.
“Here’s the thing,” he said, his voice going low. “Charlie’s…messy. His obvious obsession with you. The impulsiveness. The carelessness. I’m surprised you’ve stayed this long, actually. He’s one step away from ruining you, Ana. And when he does, I won’t be able to clean up the mess. In fact, I might be forced to make sure the mess sticks—to him, not me.”
“Why are you doing this?” I whispered, tears stinging my eyes.
“Because I’m the only one who knows how to protect you, to make you happy,” he said coldly. “You’ve let him into your life, into Sloane’s life, and he’s going to destroy everything. Look at Callan. Look at the damage already done.”
I froze. “What about Callan?”
There was a pause before he spoke. “You mean he hasn’t told you? That’s interesting. I thought you’d know by now.” He paused again. “Callan’s been drinking. And it’s not just a little relapse. We’re talking full-on spiral. I have proof, of course. Video evidence, photos. Do you think Sloane knows? Do you think she’d stick around if she did?”
“You’re lying,” I said weakly, though a sinking feeling in my gut told me he wasn’t.
“You know I’m not,” Jake said smoothly. “He’s reckless, Ana, and dangerous. Just like Charlie. And when it all comes crashing down, you’ll be the one picking up the pieces. Unless you do something now.”
My chest tightened with anxiety and I struggled to find my voice. “What do you want from me?”
“Simple,” he said casually, like we were discussing the weather. “End it with Charlie. Make it clear that it’s over. Come back to me. Otherwise, I’ll make sure the truth about Charlie comes out. And trust me, Ana, once the media gets ahold of it, and the police, there won’t be anything left to salvage.”
I scoffed. “What the fuck are you doing, Jacob? Haven’t you taken enough from me already?” I asked bitterly.
There was a pause before he answered. “And haven’t you taken enough from me ? If you would’ve just stood by me, like the good fucking wife you were supposed to be, we would have made it through everything! And now you’re playing house with this twenty-something, immature rockstar who worships you, when you’re supposed to be mine !”
The muffled sound from the music on the stage stopped and I panicked, knowing Charlie would be in to check on me at any moment. “You’re crazy if you think I’ll come back to you,” I muttered coldly.
“And you’re crazy if you don’t think I’ll ruin Charlie like a drop of the hat,” he bit back. “You don’t have any other choice, Ana. Leave him. Figure it out, or he’s gone.”
The call ended.
What the fuck am I going to do?
Charlie burst through the door, sweat clinging to his shirt, his eyes hungry for me. But he must have noticed something was off because his expression quickly shifted to worry.
“What’s wrong, mi diosa ?” he asked quietly, pulling me close to him.
There was no way I could leave Charlie. There was no way I could put him through that. He wouldn’t survive it.
“I just missed you,” I said, forcing a small smile, though I could feel tears pricking at my eyes.
He studied my face, the worry etched across his face. “I’ll call it a day,” he said softly. “Let’s go home.”
* * *
The days that followed were torture. I checked on Sloane constantly, making sure she and Callan were okay. If Jake was telling the truth about Callan’s relapse, Sloane didn’t seem to know.
When I called her, she sounded cheerful, blissfully unaware. “We just did a walkthrough of the wedding venue today, Mom. It’s gonna be perfect.”
My heart ached. “And I was thinking,” she added hesitantly. “Maybe you could walk me down the aisle. I know Dad won’t. I don’t think he’ll even come.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Don’t worry about your father. I would love to walk you down the aisle, mi pequena .”
As the days dragged on, my mind kept circling back to Jake. He kept sending messages, continuing the threats:
Do you remember the day we fucked for hours under the stars at the lake house? I’ll bet the kid you’re with now has no idea how to fuck a woman like you.
Ana, you’re running out of time. You need to leave him. I can do more than just expose him. Look what happened to Sarah. Don’t test me.
Do it soon. I can’t wait much longer.
A thought kept circling back to me: If Jake wanted me to leave Charlie, maybe I could pretend. Play along, lower his guard, and buy us some time. But the thought of deceiving Charlie felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
I kept wracking my brain, desperate for a way to gain the upper hand with Jake. What could I use against him? He’d been clean as a whistle during his presidency. Callan once joked he was a boy scout, the kind who always played by the rules. So how did he end up like this? Was it the forced resignation? Our divorce? Losing Sloane? Had all of it driven him to this obsessive, vengeful asshole?
The questions plagued my mind and yet the answer seemed painfully clear. What if I did go back to him—but not really? What if I pretended to leave Charlie, make Jake believe I had given in? Maybe it would buy me enough time to figure out how to stop him for good.
But the thought sent a wave of nausea through me. Charlie would die if I left him—emotionally, perhaps even physically. I could see the devastation in his eyes, the way it would break him. How do I do this?
I have to tell him. He deserves the truth, doesn’t he? But if I did, he’d do something reckless, something impulsive, something that would destroy everything and put him at even greater risk. I can’t tell him. But I have to. There’s no other way.
The cycle of my thoughts was suffocating, my chest tightening with the outcome of the impossible decision. Every option led to ruin, every path riddled with danger. And yet, somehow, I had to choose one. For Charlie. For Sloane. For all of us.
* * *
It was only a week before Charlie’s tour started. We made love for hours, each touch and kiss more desperate than the last, as if we both knew we were running out of time. The intensity grew with every moment, our emotions spilling out in a tangle of passion and grief. When it was over, he lay beside me, his face buried in my neck like he couldn’t bear to let go.
But eventually, he had to. With trembling hands, Charlie packed a bag, his movements slow, as if each item he placed inside was a piece of his heart he was leaving behind. I stood by the door, watching helplessly as he zipped it closed and slung it over his shoulder.
“I’m coming back to you, Charlie,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I clutched his face in my hands. “Please don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone. Please.”
His eyes glistened with unshed tears, his jaw tightening as he nodded. “I’ll be waiting, mi diosa .”
The elevator doors opened and he stepped inside. He turned to look at me one last time, his composure barely holding, before the doors slid shut, cutting us off.
I stood frozen, staring at the closed elevator, my chest heaving. I’m sorry, Charlie. I’m so sorry.
I knew Jake had to be watching. Or if not him, then one of his people. He would want proof that I had done as he demanded. Every moment I had shared with Charlie had likely been under their surveillance. The thought made my stomach turn, but I forced myself to stay calm. I waited ten minutes, pacing the length of my apartment as my heart raced, before finally picking up my phone and dialing Jake’s number.
He answered on the first ring. “Ana,” he said smoothly, his voice oozing triumph.
I swallowed hard. “I did it,” I said, my tone flat. “He’s gone, Jake. You won.”
There was a pause and I could almost hear the smirk in his voice when he replied. “Good girl, Ana. I’ll send a car over for you.”
I ended the call without another word, my hand trembling as I lowered the phone. The weight of what I’d just done settled heavily on my chest, but I couldn’t break down—not now. Not yet.
One step closer, I told myself, though the thought offered little comfort.
An hour later, a sleek black SUV was idling at the curb. I hesitated before getting in, clutching a small travel bag like it was the last piece of stability I had. The driver was someone new, silent and professional, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. I didn’t bother making small talk. My thoughts were too scattered, my chest too tight as the lights of the city faded behind me.
We headed south towards the lake house in Maryland. The same house I once tried to escape to when I learned of Jake’s betrayal. Now, it felt cruelly fitting that I was heading there again, this time to betray Charlie.
No. You’re not betraying him . You’re saving him.
But the mantra did little to soothe the gnawing guilt. I promised Charlie I wouldn’t let Jake touch me, that I would hold firm. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t that simple. Jake’s texts had been laced with reminders of our past, of the passion we once shared, and I wasn’t naive enough to think he wouldn’t push for more.
My phone vibrated relentlessly in my bag, pulling me from my thoughts. Charlie’s name flashed across the screen over and over, and each time I saw it, my chest tightened.
Stop, Charlie. Please stop.
I typed out a quick reply, my fingers shaking. You have to trust me. I’ll call you when it’s safe. I deleted his messages to erase any evidence Jake might look for.
When the car finally pulled up to the lakefront property, I felt a wave of bittersweet nostalgia. The house was as beautiful as I remembered—large, bright, with its glass windows glowing warmly in the night. It was a place of so many good memories, now irreversibly tainted.
Jake was already waiting. His shadow moved towards the door as we pulled in, tall and confident as ever. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly styled, his sleeves rolled up casually, and his hands rested just inside the front pockets of his jeans. His light eyes, once so familiar, almost betrayed a softness, though I knew better.
“Ana,” he greeted warmly, a smug smile on his lips.
“Jacob,” I replied curtly, my tone sharper than I intended. Careful, Ana. I couldn’t afford to be this defensive yet.
His eyes swept over me, lingering in ways that made my skin crawl. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? You look better than ever,” he said with a hint of self-satisfaction.
I swallowed hard, biting back the retort that sprang to my tongue. It’s because I got rid of you. Instead, I forced a tight smile, letting him believe he had power over me.
“Come in,” he said smoothly, gesturing towards the open door. “I’ve just opened a bottle of wine. Your favorite.”
I hesitated briefly, my hands tightening around my coat. Then, with a deep breath, I walked past him and into the house. The familiar scent hit me immediately—clean wood, faint cologne, and the past I tried to leave behind.
I shrugged off my peacoat, hanging it on the coat rack, and made my way to the kitchen. I needed the wine—anything to steady my nerves. The dark hardwood floors of the hall creaked slightly as I made my way further into the house. I walked through the living room, everything looking exactly as it was the last time we were here; the built-in bookshelves lining the walls, books overflowing throughout. The couches nestled atop a cozy rug, one I had picked out with Sloane when she was little. My heart ached. I need to focus.
I was finally in the kitchen and rested my palms against the black marble countertop, bracing myself as I heard Jake’s footsteps approaching behind me.
He circled around me, moving to the counter to pour two glasses. His movements were smooth, confident, the smirk I used to love tugging at his lips as he slid a glass towards me. I took a large sip, the wine burning slightly as it went down, and carefully set the glass back on the counter.
“So,” I said, keeping my tone calm, even though I felt anything but. “Now what? You’ve got me here. What’s the plan?”
“Straight to the point, as always.” Jake took a small sip of his wine, studying me with that infuriating smirk. “Now, we reconnect. Catch up. I’ve missed you, Ana.” His voice was soft, almost tender, as if this were some kind of romantic reunion.
I let out a bitter laugh. “And we just ignore the fact that you’ve blackmailed and threatened people I love to bring me here?”
His expression darkened briefly before he regained his composure. “You just needed a little push. I couldn’t let twenty years go down the drain because of one mistake.”
“One mistake?” My voice rose, my anger bubbling instantly. “That’s what you’re calling it? Sleeping with Sarah—someone who put Callan through hell, who you knew was unstable? You risked everything. For what?”
Jake’s jaw tightened as he gripped the edge of the counter. “You don’t need to keep reminding me,” he said sharply. “I’ve paid the price. I lost Sloane. I lost you. But I’m trying to make things right.”
I scoffed, my laugh bitter. “Right? You’re doing a great job of that, Jake. Threatening people? Manipulating? Who even are you anymore?”
His eyes flashed with anger and he stepped closer. “Don’t act like you’re some saint, Ana. Letting that narcissist parade you around like a trophy. You used to be strong, independent. Now you’re just his…toy.”
The words struck like a slap, but I recovered quickly, glaring at him. “You have no idea what our relationship is like. Charlie loves me, and he’s not afraid to show it. You never did that, Jake. You never fought for me the way he does.”
Jake’s anger flared and he closed the distance between us in one swift movement. His hands gripped my hips, pulling me against him. “You want passion? You want me desperate and reckless? Well, you’ve got it, Ana,” he growled, his face inches from mine.
I tried to push him away, my fists weakly pressing against his chest. “Stop,” I whispered, the guilt and fear swirling in my chest.
But Jake didn’t stop. His grip tightened and his voice dropped to a low, menacing whisper. “You missed me. You missed this .” He pressed his erection into my stomach. “Say it, Ana.”
My voice trembled as I whispered, “I missed you.”
His smirk returned, wicked and triumphant. He believed he won. That was exactly what I needed him to think.
He turned me around, pressing my body firmly against the counter. He pulled my jeans down in one quick motion, sliding his fingers between my thighs, feeling the inevitable heat.
“See?” he whispered into my neck. “So wet for papa, just like always. Like the fucking whore you’ve always been, just for me,” he continued, sticking a finger deep into me while another rubbed my clit.
“Stop, Jake. Wait,” I whispered, using every last ounce of my pride to reluctantly protest, tears stinging my eyes as the guilt gnawed deep within me.
“I’m not waiting any longer, Ana,” he groaned into my ear, then as he swiftly removed his fingers, his cock thrust deep into me, making my wince and shudder, the pleasure and guilt hitting me like a block to my chest.
His nails dug into my hips as he held onto me, thrusting wildly against me, his grunts loud and erratic.
“I’m taking back what’s mine, Ana,” he said between breaths. “This pussy. This body. It’s always been mine,” he growled.
I gripped the counter, pushing against him, coaxing reactions I desperately tried to suppress, the pleasure igniting in my core like a wildfire.
“No,” I protested under my breath, as if that could dim the guilt that clawed at my chest.
Jake didn’t hear me, or if he did, he ignored it.
“Come on, Ana. Come on my cock like a good girl,” he said breathlessly, his fingers finding their way back to my clit.
My pussy instantly seized and I let out a sob, the guilt overwhelming me. Jake grunted loudly, his hips slapping hard against mine, spilling himself into me.
Charlie, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.