Chapter 29
Morgan
Idig through my purse in the dressing room, but remember, Daddy took my phone. Regular and burner. I woke up and it was gone. He hasn’t mentioned it, but we both know he found it.
“Goodness,” says Ingrid. “That was a long Faith & Fellowship fundraiser.” She collapses into a swivel chair.
I nod, but I am too wired to be tired.
I prolonged the event by talking more than usual. I need to stay busy. It’s the only way I can keep my mind off Jack and the airport nightmare that shook me to my core.
My heart thunders against my chest and palms sweat as his words begin to replay. When my throat starts to tighten, I recite my internal coaching:
Don’t go there, Morgan. It didn’t happen. Nope. Nothing happened. Just a normal farewell. You didn’t break his heart. He didn’t break yours. I’m fine.
Gabe walks into the room, snapping me from my downward spiral. He takes a seat near Ingrid like he has any right to be in my dressing room.
I squint at him, glaring, letting him silently know he needs to leave.
He doesn’t.
His arms wrap around himself, seemingly unsure of how to sit comfortably. He clears his throat.
“Shall we talk about how Morgan’s marketing isn’t working?”
“Come again?” says Ingrid, her tone defensive.
“Ninety percent of the attendees were old men.”
“A fan is a fan,” Ingrid hisses. “A follower is a follower. And a Christian is a Christian.”
Gabe’s cheeks flush red, but he doesn’t back down. “They want to sleep with Morgan, not hear her preach.”
Ingrid and I gasp, shocked by Gabe’s boldness.
“It’s true,” he defends. “She needs to change her persona to attract her target audience. Sorry, Ingrid, but everyone knows it.”
She jumps to her feet, her chunky white sneakers squeak on the tile. “Morgan’s persona is a success. She is bigger than you on follower count.”
He looks between his shoes at the floor and mutters, “Her outfits need to be looser. Less tempting.”
My eyes widen. I can’t believe he is discussing something related to sexual desires about me. He is way out of line.
By now, Ingrid’s hands are balled into fists and her nostrils flare.
“Your opinion is noted, Gabe. You can leave now.”
He doesn’t make eye contact. Just holds up his phone that displays a picture. “This was sent to my e-mail.”
We creep closer, and my stomach instantly lurches at the sight.
It’s a candid photo of me and Jack at the street racing night. I am wearing the skin-tight red dress. His tattooed arm holds my backside close to his body. It is dark, but he’s nuzzling my neck. The shadows conceal that his lips were kissing my neck.
Ingrid covers her mouth in horror, though, because it is a scandalous image.
“That’s not me!” I yip.
Gabe rolls his eyes, and swipes to a closer photo of me and Ingrid next to a car.
Shoot.
“Uh... Who sent those to you?” I ask.
“Carter, one of our youth service members. He was there and recognized you.”
I cross my arms and frown, ashamed of myself.
He continues, “If this gets out, you will be seen as a hypocrite.”
I shudder.
Gabe slips his phone into his pocket. “We need to pray Carter keeps this a secret. It’s important we dress Morgan more modestly.”
A scoff rips from my throat. “We?”
Ingrid nods fast. “Yeah, we?”
Gabe rubs the back of his neck. “We must unify. I am trying to help and do damage control because it appeared in my inbox.” His gaze sears into mine. “Morgan, it isn’t just your attire. The unsavory gentleman you are with—”
“Unsavory!” I hiss. The accusation makes my skin burn hot. “Jack is twice the man you are! Let’s face it. You are jealous and intimidated after he beat you up for trying to rape me!”
Ingrid freezes and all the color drains from her face.
“Excuse me?” she whispers.
Gabe’s mouth opens and closes several times, speechless.
“It’s true. Gabe assaulted me,” I finally admit aloud. “Jack saved me before it went all the way.”
My words that gut me. Jack saved me.
And I ended things like he meant nothing.
Gabe draws in a deep breath, then clears his throat once more. This time, his uneasiness fades into something more stoic and chillingly calm.
“I am sorry you still think our intimate moment was anything but consensual. A moment that was violently interrupted by a deeply disturbed man.”
“It was not consensual.” I gasp, incredulous. “And Jack is not a disturbed man.”
Ingrid grabs my wrist. “This really happened? Gabe tried to rape you?”
“No,” he barks. “If I had, why didn’t Morgan call the police? Why would she hide it from you, Ingrid. She was obviously ashamed that she kept coming onto me. I tried to tell her we needed to slow down.”
“You liar!” I yell.
“Morgan, I know this hard for you to accept. That man brainwashed you. He has put the devil’s words into your soul and re-wrote history.
The truth remains the truth. You and I had an intimate relationship.
Jack entered your life and now...” He holds up the picture.
“Now you have transformed into someone unrecognizable.”
I can’t believe he has the audacity to twist that night into something it wasn’t.
When I glance at Ingrid, her eyes carry doubt, as if she needs a moment to digest these two wildly opposite stories.
Whether she means it or not, that doubt stabs.
I didn’t expect my best friend to respond that way.
I don’t know what I expected, but not that.
Panicked and feeling ambushed, I grab my purse and run out of the room.
Gabe follows.
With tears coating my cheeks, I run to escape because I don’t want him to see how he still affects me. I don’t want him to know his little plan just blew up my already crumbling world.
“Morgan, wait. Please!” he calls out.
I don’t.
I won’t.
“I spoke to your dad.”
My body no longer responds to my will. My feet plant and my heart stops beating. Slowly, I turn to face him.
The words scrape out of my throat, my voice shaky.
“You told my dad?”
“Just about the photo.”
“How convenient. You left out—”
Gabe holds up his hands. “Father Montgomery is deeply concerned about his daughter’s salvation. He told me about your lover showing up at the airport with no regard for optics. He thinks it’s best we spend some time together.”
I know what that means.
“Are you seriously suggesting we go on a date?”
“Not me, Morgan. Your dad suggested it. I told him no, but he insisted. How could I say no to my boss?”
“Easy. No.” I walk away. “No, no, no.”
He doesn’t follow, but speaks.
“It’d be a shame if Jack was exposed as the man responsible for corrupting Morgan Leigh Montgomery.”
“Wha— what?”
“Jack would be known as the embodiment of evil. A man who took down a famously pure and virtuous woman. He made her dress and act like a whore. The Center for Special Hearts would collapse. Who wants to support a charity run by a man who was responsible for a sexual scandal?”
My fingertips tremble, dizziness sets in, and I fear I may pass out. My palm braces the wall, balancing me.
Gabe moves in front of me. “I’ll pick you up Friday night. Seven.”