Chapter 28
Vanessa
I’d never felt so overwhelmed in my life.
I was suffocating, unable to move one direction or another.
Tears had formed in my eyes from the brutal questions, one coming right after another.
“What do you have to say about being in a fake marriage?”
“Ms. Blair. How did you manage to manipulate Christian Elliot?”
“Ms. Blair. Did you have sex with Mr. Elliot to convince him you were interested in the fake marriage?”
My mind was spinning. “Stop. That’s not right.” I couldn’t believe I’d mumbled anything to the horrible accusations. “Just leave me alone.” What Christian must be thinking. I was shaking all over, barely controlling my anger.
“Were you there when Andres Lopez from Barchella Hotel Group signed with your father?”
“How much were you paid to lie to your fiancé?”
I couldn’t think. I tried to push my way through, but the crowd of reporters refused to budge. My car was blocked off. So was the entrance to Donovan’s apartment.
“Leave me alone. No comment.”
That wasn’t good enough for them.
Every question was more repulsive than the one before. I needed to talk with Christian, but what could I say that he’d believe? Had my father done this? Why? Why would he do something so terrible?
Another reporter pushed his way through, shoving a microphone into my face.
“Ms. Blair. Is it true that your brother, Donovan Blair, was recently arrested for drug possession with intent to sell? Is it true that you used Mr. Elliot’s contacts so your brother would be remanded to a psychiatric facility instead of prison? ”
Psychiatric facility?
I spun and faced the bastard, immediately slapping him across the face without thinking.
My huge ring caught the side of his face, creating a trickle of blood, which the cameras immediately caught.
Gasps could be heard coming from all directions.
“How fucking dare you. My brother isn’t a criminal and I would never use anyone. ”
“Except for millions of dollars for a fake marriage.”
I couldn’t take any more.
Just as I was ready to launch into all of them, the crowd was shoved aside, something pushing their way through. At this point, I was ready to either collapse or continue with physical altercations.
“Leave my fiancée alone.” Christian’s voice boomed, the dark implied threat enough to shut the reporters briefly.
He took me into his arms, using emotion in his eyes to try to calm me.
“Mr. Elliot. What do you have to say about the allegations that Ms. Blair was duping you all along?”
The question felt like being stabbed with a knife.
As I’d done, Christian reared back, but before he could take a swing, suddenly another man stepped in front of him.
“That’s enough. If you have any questions of my clients, you will direct them to me.”
“And who are you?” a female reporter asked.
“Michael Jeffries, attorney at law.” I remembered seeing him in the bar the night Christian and I had first kissed.
“Come on,” Christian said gently. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Ms. Blair. Can you please comment on your brother’s condition? Where is he being held?”
Christian shook his head, placing his finger over his mouth.
I pushed him way just enough to face the reporter. “As I said before. No comment.”
“That’s it,” Michael told the crowd. “All questions are to be directed to my office.” He turned to face us. “Go. I’ll follow you in a minute.”
“Keep them the fuck away from me,” Christian growled.
“I’m trying, buddy. I’m trying.”
As Christian held me, pushing and shoving his way through the crowd, I remained stunned. I had no idea what to think, but one thing I knew with certainty. Christian wasn’t responsible.
“Where are we going?” he asked gently.
I could still hear the roar of the reporters. “Apartment three twenty-two.”
We didn’t make it to the steps before we were approached by another reporter, a cameraman trailing behind.
“Mr. Elliot. Are you still going to marry Ms. Blair even though she lied to and used you? Ms. Blair, I understand your father intervened, preventing your brother from going to prison and getting him in a decent facility while you played house. Is there any truth to that statement?”
What? Was my father behind this? I clung to Christian, unable to form any words.
There was no way to stop Christian from reacting, the man moving quickly.
He threw not one but two brutal punches, the second pitching the reporter into the cameraman, tossing both to the concrete with a savage thud.
The gasps turned into dead silence while the cameras continued to roll.
The quiet didn’t stop Christian, who strode to the two fallen men, glaring down at them.
“Get it through your worthless brains that this beautiful, talented, intelligent woman never lied or used me. Just the opposite. I was the one who blackmailed her into marriage. Something I will regret for the rest of my life.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do, Christian. I can try talking to Lopez.”
Michael had followed us to the house, insisting on trying to help the situation. Both their phones had rung off the hook. I didn’t know about mine since I’d turned my phone off. I don’t how I managed to drive back to the house. I remembered nothing except that I was following Christian.
My heart ached, my stomach in knots and I only prayed no one had found out where Donovan was staying.
Psychiatric hospital. Only one person could be so cruel. My father. Yet he’d made himself out to be the hero. A real family man. All glow and show for Lopez, the Spaniard buying the bullshit.
The only call I’d made was to Amelia, warning her to leave the office, but by then, it had already been too late. She’d been hounded both on the phone and by people stopping by.
What struck me as funny was from what she’d said was that the comments had been half and half. Some calling me a gold-digger while others saying it was obvious from what they’d seen we were in love.
Amelia had handled it like a champ, but I couldn’t stand it for her. Something had to be done. I’d gone from being shocked to being enraged.
Neither Christian nor I had been able to stomach watching the videos posted on every social media outlet and every network. What was the point? To rub it in? Thankfully, Donovan wasn’t allowed outside interference including televisions or radios while on probation. Thank God for small favors.
“Make certain no one knows about Donovan. I don’t give a shit if you need to impose a gag order. If anyone finds out he’s at Rosewood and uses the information, I will sue them. Period.”
I’d never seen the man so angry before and a part of me was grateful while the other was simply numb.
But the rage was winning out, the fuming making the vile thoughts seem reasonable.
“I’ll do my best. What about your father?” Michael asked.
“I’ll handle him.”
“And Carson?” Michael was now trying to lower his voice so I wouldn’t hear.
“If my brother leaked the information, he is dead to me.”
Michael whistled. “Let me do some digging and try and keep you out of a lawsuit from the news station.”
“I don’t give a shit about them. Fuck ‘em.”
“You need to listen to him, Christian. One of the men went to the hospital. They will make a big deal out of this for a million-dollar settlement.” I finally rose to my feet, shaking all over.
“Listen to her,” Michael advised. “I’m going to get on this, but we also need to do some damage control with Lopez. It’s all over the news, as if Elliot Enterprises lost a prized fight. Fuck, man. This isn’t good.”
Christian rubbed his face and glanced toward me. “I don’t care right now.” Before Michael had a chance to interject again, the man I couldn’t help but fall hard for snapped his head toward his friend once again. This time, his voice was more imploring. “Not right now. Okay?”
Michael flitted a quick glance toward me. “Okay. Fair enough.”
At that moment, I hated my father more than ever before.
I know it wasn’t a good thing, but the vile thoughts continued to build.
He’d done this on purpose to hurt me. Just in case I’d been happy.
Oh, he’d tell me he’d done so for my own good, but I knew better.
He’d used the opportunity to get what he wanted.
Crushing me in the process had been nothing more than a bonus.
“Don’t worry, Vanessa. I’ll make sure your brother is safe.”
“Thanks, Michael. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.” He gave Christian a look that I knew meant something between the two of them.
At this point, I had no energy to worry about whatever it was.
What I knew in my heart was that our dangerous game had backfired.
While I wasn’t responsible, I was a part of the ruse by agreeing just like Christian.
However, the rest was disgusting.
I had to do something to help.
After he walked from the room, Christian walked closer. “I’m sorry, Vanessa. It’s likely Carson did this.”
“I don’t think so. From what you told me about your meeting the other day, he’s hurting just as much as you are about your relationship. I can’t imagine he’d do anything else to jeopardize it.”
“Maybe not, but I need to make certain. Whatever the case, I will not allow you to be bothered again, or your brother disturbed during treatment.”
“You can’t handle everything, Christian.
You need to concentrate on your business.
With the news and from what you’ve told me, it’s entirely possible the other potential clients will pull out.
A sham engagement. A fiancée with a supposed nutcase for a brother.
That doesn’t seem like solid family values. ” I laughed bitterly.
“Do you honestly think I give a shit at this point?”
“Well, if you don’t, you should. We’re talking millions, billions of dollars that were stolen from you.”
He laughed. “Do you hear yourself? I created this mess, Vanessa. Not you. Not your brother. Not my brother. Me. By allowing my father to control my life. I’m almost forty fucking years old, but I didn’t see any real harm in lying to you and the rest of the world.”
“I went along with it because I needed the money. Yes, my brother was part of the reason, but let’s face it, I wanted to bail out my company and didn’t see the harm.” I would fix this.
Somehow.
“We’ll get through this. Nothing’s changed.”
“You know that’s not true. Everything has changed. We can’t pretend any longer that we’re madly in love. No one will buy the charade.”
“Are you certain that’s all it is, a charade?”
I knew what I felt in my heart, but right now, that couldn’t matter. I’d never felt so confused. I had to sort out my problems alone. “I think we need some time.”
“To figure everything out together. I agree.”
“No, Christian.” I placed my hand on his arm. “Separately.”
He half snorted, half laughed. “Are you saying you want to break the contract?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. What I’m saying is that I need time to reflect. You need time for damage control. I need to focus on my business and make certain Donovan is doing okay. I hope you can understand. I’m not shutting the door. If you need me to play your wife, I will. Just not right now.”
His exhale was heavy and he rubbed his jaw, his expression one of exhaustion. “You can’t go. I won’t allow it.”
“What?”
“You heard me. You are not leaving.”
Was he really telling me that? Whoa. His face was pinched, his eyes as commanding as his voice. “Why? Because of the contract?”
He sucked in his breath but said nothing.
“You are kidding me.”
For a man who always stated what he wanted even if as a demand, the fact he was remaining silent pissed me off more than if he’d spouted off codicils within the contract.
What a time for him to say nothing. Not one damn thing. I shook my head.
“You’re serious,” I threw in.
“You’re not leaving.”
I took several steps away, throwing up my hands. “You are. Then that makes you an asshole. Thank you for coming to my rescue today. That wasn’t necessary. Maybe we’ll be better off if we handle this separately.”
“You’re not listening to me.”
“And you’re not listening to me or if you are, you don’t care what I want or need.
Like I’ve told you before. Just when I think not only can I start to trust and like you, even maybe fall a little bit in love with you, then you act as if I’m your property or worse.
I can’t handle this right now.” I didn’t care about my things either.
I grabbed my purse on the way to the door.
“Wait. That’s not what I meant, Vanessa. Listen to me.”
“Not now. I told you I need time and you can’t pressure me otherwise. I don’t belong to you, Christian, and you know what? I’m beginning to think I don’t belong in your world at all.”
“Vanessa. Do not walk out that door. Please. We need to talk.”
“You can’t always get everything you want, Christian. Maybe it’s time you learned that.”
I walked out, rushing to the car. Just when I was inside and had started the engine, he raced outside, trying to open my door just as the locks clicked into place.
As I drove away, I stared into the rearview mirror. It felt as if my life had been turned upside down, not once but twice.
This time it hurt much more than before.
Maybe what I’d said about his world was correct, but there were some attributes that I could use that might help.
Even if they couldn’t fix a broken heart.