Chapter 48
Forty-Eight
Jaclyn
Present
“How was your vacation? We missed you here,” Jules says.
She’s sitting across from me in her chair with a notepad in front of her. I have mine laid on my lap.
It’s my first day back in the office and right when I walked out of the elevator, Jules' assistant told me that Jules wanted to see me.
She probably wants to go through the article with me in depth and then my next project.
“It was good. I had a good break from work and just regular life I guess,” I say with a kind smile on my face.
“I heard the wedding got canceled on the news. Any clue why? No statements were put out, TMZ just stated that Nicole and Hayden’s wedding was canceled.”
I shrug my shoulders. “No clue. My friend just told me that they were sending everyone home,” I lie, straight through my teeth.
I think since the moment Hayden saw me at the fight, that wedding was doomed.
Nicole stood no chance because of Hayden seeing me and I may not know for sure if Nicole liked him or not, but I still feel horrible and guilty that Hayden canceled everything and did all that for me.
Hayden and I haven’t talked about what will happen after he grows closer with Junior or if he will be revealing he has a son to the public.
I think that Hayden revealing he has a son is his decision but revealing that it’s Junior is something completely different.
I know I’m already pretty well known, not A-List celebrity well known, but journalist well known while Hayden is known by almost everyone in the world. So, everyone who knows Hayden would know who Junior is and me.
Which means, no more privacy or peace.
Let’s not forget about the fact that Hayden still comes with history.
Plus, he has no idea who I’ve become since leaving that room.
“Jaclyn,” Jules says, making me look at her.
“Yes? Sorry, I spaced.”
“It’s fine. I was asking how you even got invited to Hayden Night’s wedding. Who’s the friend who invited you? I just can’t believe they even let a journalist join.”
“My friend is Hayden’s sister. We were friends in college and just reconnected recently. We aren’t close or anything.” I lie.
Jules raises her eyebrows in shock. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
I shrug again. “I didn’t think we would ever talk again. It didn’t seem important.”
Jules nods her head, still wanting to ask questions but she stays silent. “Well, I’m glad you had fun, nonetheless. If you do end up finding more information on Hayden Night and Nicole Earnings let me know,” she says, but I won’t. Mostly because I want to respect both of their privacy. I’m not a paparazzi. I’m a journalist who likes writing stories and learning more about people that I talk to and meet, not by finding out myself from online. “For now, here is your next project. I already emailed this CEO about a meeting, and he is trying to find time in his schedule. A lot of people are just wanting to know how he got so successful and wealthy at a young age. Pretty easy and basic.” Jules slides a folder my way about the CEO.
I take the folder and smile before leaving her office quietly.
I walk into my office and Brandon is sitting across from my desk. I place the folder on the desk and start to get to work.
I just need to quiet my mind, especially from all the thoughts of Hayden.
“Everything okay?” Brandon asks.
He’s been wanting to know what Hayden said to me after he dropped us off at home yesterday. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to Brandon, so I sent him home. I honestly don’t feel like talking to anyone about Hayden.
My mind thinks about Hayden enough.
“Yea, everything’s fine. Just getting back to work,” I say quietly, not looking at him.
“Bullshit. You're anxious. You’re trying to distract yourself. Talk to me. Is it about him?”
“No. I’m just tired, that's all. Jet lag,” I lie.
I just don’t want him to worry about me.
Plus, Hayden is my problem. I don’t want Brandon to worry about Hayden and I or just Hayden in general.
Hayden and I are the ones who need to figure out our shit, with no one else involved.
My phone starts buzzing, making me look down.
Hayden’s name pops up on the screen and I sigh. Brandon looks at the call and gives me a worried look. I ignore him and answer the call.
“Hi.”
“Hi,” Hayden replies. Us saying ‘hi’ was our thing. He would say a simple ‘hi’ making me smile and say it back. I don’t know why a simple ‘hi’ from him would always make me nervous or blush. “What are you doing?”
“I’m working right now. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. I finished training with Freddie. He told me to tell you he said ‘hello’.”
“I’ll have to catch up with him one of these days,” I say as Brandon watches me talk to Hayden on the phone.
“Yea, about that. I wanted to ask if you and Junior wanted to come to Utah for the weekend. I want my family to meet Junior and I want Junior to meet more of his family,” Hayden asks.
Is he fucking serious?
He is the one who wants time.
He needed time to process him being mad at me for keeping Junior away from him and now he wants to fucking go to Utah as a family?
He told me that not even 24 hours ago.
Is he okay or something?
“No. It’s too fast. I don’t want Junior meeting so many people at once. I need him to get used to being with you and the fact that you're his father now.”
“I’ve always been his father,” Hayden argues.
“Yes, but you are now in his life, and he needs to be comfortable with that and grow a relationship with you before meeting more people from your side. He all of a sudden can’t just have this whole other family after four years of not having one.”
“I want my son to meet my family.”
His son?
Is he kidding me?
What the fuck is his problem?
“I’m not saying no, Hayden, I’m just saying to wait for a little bit. Let Junior process his time with you and enjoy being with you.”
I can hear Hayden sigh over the phone making me assume he is a little frustrated.
“Okay. When are you off work?”
“5:30.”
“I’ll be at your place at 6:00 for a movie night,” Hayden says before hanging up, not even giving me the chance to say no.
I toss the phone on the desk and rest my head against my chair before closing my eyes.
He’s making things so hard.
Why does everything have to be so hard?
I swear the pills weren’t making me feel this crazy.
It has to be the pills.
“Wow, you are in love. And it’s scaring you.”
I look at Brandon and furrow my eyebrows. “What?”
“You’re still in love with him. That’s why you’re being mean to him and pushing him away. You don’t want to love him or have these feelings, but you do. And you hate it.”
I shake my head and lick my bottom lip. “You’re wrong.”
“I’m not. And you know I’m not.” Brandon stands up and he leaves my office without another word.
God, I wish he was wrong.