Chapter 11
11
‘What the hell, Jake?’ I said, staring in horror as he handed my phone back to me. ‘You just hung up on Hayley!’ I wasn’t sure anyone had ever done that before; she was too formidable to even consider it for most people surely.
‘We’ll say it was a bad connection,’ he replied. ‘You really wanted to stand and listen to more of that?’
‘Well, no… but what do we do now?’
‘I don’t know but I appreciate you using “we”.’ Jake shifted his feet. ‘Freya, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you wanted to be an agent, that this trip… that Hayley considered it some kind of test for you to prove yourself to her.’ He sighed. ‘I told her it was a long shot that we’d be able to get my career back on track. I’ve made people really angry, and now I’ve made it even worse. I’m sorry that will affect you. Hayley really shouldn’t have put it all on you for it to work out.’
‘I think that’s the most you’ve ever said to me,’ I blurted out, shocked by his gracious apology.
‘Maybe you talk enough for us both,’ he replied with a small smirk.
I sighed. ‘I was always told off for being a chatterbox at school, that’s true. And sometimes, I do say inappropriate things…’ I trailed off, thinking how he overheard me telling Liv about my sex life. I wondered if he remembered that. I certainly was never going to ask. ‘I embarrass myself a lot. Particularly in front of you.’
‘This time, it was me who did that,’ he replied ruefully. We actually smiled at one another. ‘What now?’
‘We have the evening party. Maybe we can use that to repair some of the damage, and tomorrow, there’s your reader session… You know what I think, though? I think you need to be honest. And tell everyone why you said those things. I saw your face back in that room,’ I said, looking up at him and returning his piercing gaze. ‘You were nervous to start with. And when Davis Mulberry said what he said, you were angry and hurt. I don’t believe you’d have spent years writing romance novels that have made me swoon if you didn’t enjoy doing it.’ I took a breath, talking so fast that even I needed to pause for a moment. ‘So, why did you say those things about romance?’ I continued as Jake watched me. ‘It can’t have been just to shut Davis up or you would admit that. There is another reason. And you don’t have to tell me, but I think if you don’t share it, then Hayley might be right about you not getting another book deal. And yes, you could self-publish but you’ve turned even your biggest fans against you now so would they even want to read it? The question then is – are you willing to tell the truth?’
Jake sighed. ‘I don’t think I can, Freya.’
Disappointment made my chest sag. ‘Then I think it might all be over.’
And I knew it wouldn’t just be over for him, but for me too. Hayley wasn’t going to keep me on as her assistant after this and no one else would want me working with authors. My dream felt the furthest away it ever had done. ‘Maybe I’ll see you at the party. We might as well drown our sorrows while we’re still here…’ I left him then, walking away and feeling his eyes on my back.
I guessed my original impression of him had been right.
There wasn’t any heart underneath that cool exterior of his after all.
* * *
I sent Hayley an email when I got back to my room to say our call had had a bad connection and I was sorry that I’d failed her. I said I would try to repair things but I knew it was unlikely that was possible. All I could do was hope for a miracle before I had to fly home and face her again. She didn’t reply and I knew that was a sign that she had no faith the damage could be undone. I was in no mood to party but it would be a chance to see what the conference was saying about what happened during the panel and if I was honest, I badly needed some alcohol. So, I got ready for the evening drinks.
After throwing on one of my favourite summer dresses, I considered putting on my sandals but I just felt like being comfortable, so I reached for my cowboy boots and left my hair loose over my shoulders. I walked out of my hotel, went into the conference hotel and edged into the event suite.
It was packed out for the drinks’ night. I had messaged Liv and she told me she was by the floor-to-ceiling windows so I picked up a glass of sparkling wine from a server and went to find her.
‘There you are.’ Liv moved away from the three women she was talking to who I didn’t recognise, and gave me a quick hug. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Not really. Hayley is furious about what happened, and I think she might actually fire me over it.’
Liv grimaced. ‘God, I hope not. Can I do anything?’
I shook my head. ‘Unless Jake works out a way to fix what happened… no one can do anything.’ I looked around the room nervously. ‘I suppose everyone is talking about it?’ I saw her hesitate. ‘I need to know, Liv.’
She nodded. ‘Yes. It’s all anyone wants to talk about. We all thought it was unlikely that a journalist would make up that quote but him confirming it… I heard a group of readers talking about having a Jake Richards book-burning ceremony.’
‘Blimey.’ I shuddered at the thought.
‘I definitely didn’t make it up.’
Liv and I both turned in surprise to find a tall woman in a stunning green dress beside us. She smiled. ‘I’m Kelly Shepperd.’
I eyed the journalist responsible for telling the world what Jake had said about writing romance books. Liv and I introduced ourselves to her, and we all shook hands.
‘Ah yes, Hayley Harper, trying to make everyone believe I would fabricate an article. Every word I wrote was true.’
‘We know,’ I said with a sigh. ‘And everyone knows it now too.’
‘Everyone is talking about the panel he was on earlier with Davis Mulberry. He always let that guy wind him up.’
‘I know, but why?’ I wondered aloud, taking a long gulp of my drink.
‘They went to university together. Always been rivals, so I gather. But I think there may be something more personal behind it all. After I overheard him talking to Davis, I told Jake I was going to publish an article about it. I asked if he wanted to put his side over in it, but he said no.’
I stared at her. ‘Why not?’
Kelly shrugged. ‘All I know is Jake didn’t stop me writing that article. He didn’t want to explain himself or refute it. I always felt like there was something else he didn’t want the world to find out about so let me tell them what he’d said to Mulberry instead.’
‘But what you overheard might have ruined his career for good,’ Liv said, eyebrows raised. ‘What could have been that important to keep hidden?’
I was just as surprised as Liv sounded. It seemed like Jake had let Kelly publish that article because he was trying to hide something else. He had risked everything to protect something, or someone.
But what?