Chapter 32
SLOANE
I drive to Ford and Tessa’s house, like I have every morning for the last week.
It’s a lovely estate, but seems to be built more for security than to show off Ford’s celebrity status or wealth.
There’s a security gate, cameras, and a call box to get let up to the house.
I have a feeling there’s even more security that I can’t see.
I’ve only heard a little of their backstory, but it was enough for me to understand enhanced security measures.
I thought Knox’s place, with a twenty-four hour doorman, codes to enter his elevator, and security cameras had top of the line security.
Turns out his is just normal rich person precautions.
Now I know what high-end security looks like.
There’s a panic room inside the Shaw estate.
Tessa explained when she showed it to me that their best friends had grown up in an abusive environment, and when they tried to break free there was pretty serious backlash.
After the comments about closed FBI files, I decided not to pry.
As long as they aren’t running some kind of criminal organization that I’m going to be drawn into, I don’t want to know.
Whatever it is, it happened in the past. I don’t want to be judged as the poor girl who had too much responsibility too young, or the naive girl who thought a hockey star would fall madly in love with her.
Although, I will say, hearing even the bits and pieces of their story gives me hope that there’s a happily ever after out there for me.
If they can come through all of the obstacles put in their way, maybe I can too.
We’ve been spending the last several days going through the various social media accounts that she’s been running for him. The posts are all pretty impersonal, and mostly just reposted news articles and sports highlights.
Tessa cocks her head to the side and studies me. “What is that look about?”
I hesitate. I’m still getting to know them, but I know that privacy is something they will protect at all costs. “Uhm…it’s just that he doesn’t have the follower count that an athlete of his level should have.”
She sighs. “I know, and his agent said that it is costing him endorsements. Personally, I don’t care if we have more money.
Ford, however, wants to capitalize on this time so we are set for the future.
I keep telling him that he’s literally earned millions, and I don’t care to have a fancy lifestyle, just a life with him. ”
“I can understand what he’s saying though. If he is able to earn enough you will have freedom that you might not. You could both stay home together, run a charity, start a business, really the options are endless if you get set up right now. But—”
“Is this where you tell me that he needs to have more of a personal presence on social media? I’ve heard it a few times, it’s actually how I ended up running his accounts. We don’t feel comfortable exposing our privacy on the internet to entertain strangers.”
“It’s a game in a way,” I begin, and see her frown. I press forward though so she can see my vision. “You make them think it is personal, without actually exposing anything.”
“How would you do that?” she asks, and I can tell she’s actually listening.
“Well, we use the socials to highlight causes and issues that are important to you. We wouldn’t feature your family.
You could let me know if you even want to appear on the pages, though I do recommend it to a slight degree at least. We don’t want him to appear to be single to the media. But we control the narrative.”
She purses her lips. “Can you give me an example?”
“Sure, tell me something you’d like to help improve,” I say.
“I’d really like to help animal shelters. So many have been struggling since the pandemic, and I want to encourage people to adopt pets,” she replies.
“Okay, so something we could do is to create an adoption event, or attend one. I’d film it for social media.
It would be all pictures and short clips of Ford with puppies.
People get to see something that is important to both of you, and they feel like they’re getting an intimate view into your lives, while not actually getting any information that’s deeply personal,” I explain.
“I think we could handle that. I know Ford would like to focus on charities for victims of domestic violence, but I’m afraid that would drag up too much of the past,” she says, while staring off into space.
“Is this something that is already public knowledge?” I ask her.
She nods. “Neither of us like to talk about it though.”
“Maybe we can find a way to do it, nod to the fact that it’s old news, and indicate he doesn’t want to discuss the past. It still wouldn’t provide them new information, and people would think they know him. That will appease the companies wanting to get endorsements with him.”
“I don’t want our kids’ faces put out there,” she says.
“I agree completely,” I reassure her. “We can highlight that he’s a father other ways than showing your kids. He can do some children’s charities, run toy drives, things like that. It shows that he knows what it’s like to be a father without showing the kids.”
“I see what you mean. Let’s do it. There’s a gala coming up next weekend for a scholarship program.
We were just going to donate, because those parties seem so pointless.
Why spend a ton of money to raise a ton of money?
But if it can get more attention to the cause, then I’ll RSVP that we’ll attend.
Education pulled Ford out of a really shitty situation, and we both want to help other kids have the same opportunity. You’ll come with us, right?”
“If you want me there, of course I can. I’ll field the press that is there, take pictures and video, and draft social media posts for you to approve. I’ll just need to find a babysitter for my brother,” I say, mentally running through the very short list of who I could ask.
I don’t have the date of the event yet, maybe Kendall will be home. I don’t want to start assuming that she is going to want to be my go to childcare when she is in town though. That kind of thing can sour a friendship in a hurry.
Tessa waves off my concern. “Why would you find a babysitter? My best friend Benji and his wife Lydia will be coming over to watch Bennie. Just bring your brother. Xander, right?”
“Yeah,” I confirm.
“Bring him over and they will watch them together. We trust them with the most important thing to us, but of course you will meet them when you come over. He’s your only family, right?”
I have to look up to the right because my eyes sting with that question. “Yeah, he is now. My mom never would have left me to take care of him alone if she’d had a choice.”
She smiles sadly. “I know something about that too. Not taking care of someone else, but losing your mom too young when there wasn’t much of a choice. You’re not alone anymore. We take care of each other in this family, and I am declaring it right now, you’re one of us.”
I can’t fight it anymore. A couple tears slide down my face.
Tessa starts waving at her face. “Don’t do that. I’m full of pregnancy hormones. If you start crying, I’m going to cry.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, hiccuping through my effort to stop crying. “A week ago I was as low as I thought I could be, and now I’m just so grateful that I’m here.”
Tessa hugs me, and we cling to each other, laughing and crying at the same time.
“What the hell is going on?” Ford’s voice booms from the doorway.
I look over Tessa’s shoulder and see him on high alert trying to determine where the threat is.
Tessa laughs while she steps back. She wipes her face and smiles at him. She drops her arm around my shoulder. “We’ve got a little sister. I just decided she’s family.”
A serious look comes on his face. I expected him to laugh at our silliness, and chalk it up to two women being emotional. Instead he nods like she made some decree that has long ranging implications.
“I guess we should call the rest of the family and make introductions. I’ve got extra seats at the table we bought.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and walks out of the room as he makes a call.
She lightly shakes me. “I hope you’re ready for this, because you won’t ever be alone again.”
I’m not really sure what she’s talking about, but I like it.
“Are we really going to Ford Shaw’s house?” Xander asks excitedly.
I’ve told him this several times, but it turns out my brother is a bigger football fan than hockey. He still misses Knox, but at least right now he’s distracted by the idea of meeting his favorite football player.
“Yes, but we’re not staying long. Remember? I’ve got that party tonight for the scholarship thing.”
Xander nods. “I know, but I’m also going to meet Bennet Richards! Did you know he has three Olympic gold medals in track?”
“I did know that, but what I didn’t know is that you were so into track and field.”
“It’s the Olympics, Sloane! No one at school is going to believe me,” he sighs.
“They will eventually,” I say. I’m not planning on going anywhere for a long time. I love this job, and love working with Tessa.
Tessa told me to arrive three hours before we needed to leave for the gala.
I’ve never spent more than an hour getting ready for anything in my life, but I didn’t question her.
Even while I was with Knox, I never went to anything like this.
Of course, Knox and I weren’t together very long.
A little less than two months is not long enough to explain how I feel in his absence.
Ford answers the door when I knock. “I apologize in advance for this. Our friends got in early, and they will probably want to interrogate you a little.”
A tall, brooding man comes around the corner and leans against the wall. There’s a menacing air around him. “I would have said get to know you, but Ford tends to be a bit of a drama queen.”
I hear Tessa speak before she enters the foyer. “You guys better not be scaring off my new little sister. I like her, and she makes it so I don’t have to read social media comments anymore.”
She comes over and grabs my hand. Speaking low, so only I can hear her, she says, “Ignore them. They get a bit intense when they’re together.”
I look back over my shoulder at the man who never introduced himself. “I have a feeling your friend is intense no matter what.”
She laughs. “He’s actually mellowed out a lot.”
I shiver, because I don’t think I’d like to have met him before.
There’s a woman with long hair a bit darker than mine, talking to the kids. My brother is staring up at her mesmerized. I’m not very tall at five-four, and she’s a couple inches shorter than me.
She turns around and smiles at Tessa. When she looks at me I’m struck by the most hypnotic blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Kinda freaky, aren’t they?” the scary friend asks.
When I look up at him with a puzzled look, he clarifies, “Her eyes. It makes her seem like some kind of fantasy heroine.”
“Aww, you’ve been reading her books, Sin?” Tessa teases him.
“Sin?” I ask. I must have misheard her. That’s a pretty odd nickname. Though, if I really look at him it does fit.
He holds his hand out to finally introduce himself. “My name is Jackson Sinclair, my friends call me Sin. That is my wife Raven. Ford called and told us he’d found a new member of the family, so we wanted to come up and meet you.”
The way he said family I get a little shiver inside like I’ve just been inducted into a cult. I can’t say that having someone this outwardly terrifying on my side isn’t a plus though. I doubt too many people try to fuck around with him.
I take his hand and shake it. “Sloane Cordero, and this is my little brother, Xander.” I gesture to my brother who has started playing blocks with three year old Bennie.
Raven grabs my other hand and pulls me away. Looking back at her husband she says, “You’re being intense and creepy. Us girls are going to go upstairs and get beautiful now.”
He smiles softly at her. “You’re already beautiful, Princess.”
On our way up the stairs, Raven tells me, “Be careful around the bossy alphaholes. Once they grab your heart they don’t let go.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I whisper.
Raven looks back at me. “Oh, this is a story I have to hear.”
“Me too,” Tessa agrees. “And we’re in luck, because the only thing we need to do is sit and let the stylists fuss over us. I’m glad I get a chance to wear pretty shoes while I can still see my feet.”
My returning smile is shaky, but for some reason, the only thing I want is to let all of this out.
I never really got to do girl talk properly.
I could with Kendall and maybe Sawyer now too, but I was too preoccupied protecting Knox.
I don’t have to do that here. Something tells me this group knows how to keep a secret.