44. Xander
My stomach is in knots as I stand at my kitchen island and stare at my phone, waiting for Makenna’s call. A minute later, her name appears on my phone screen.
Her assistant finally got through to her and she wants to talk about what happened.
I take a breath and answer the FaceTime call. Her face appears on my phone screen.
“Xander,” she says in a shaky voice.
I try to smile. “Hey, Makenna.”
She flashes a sad smile in return. “It’s nice to see you. I-I’m sorry it’s for such an awful reason.”
I let out a heavy breath. “Yeah, this definitely isn’t ideal.”
She blinks quickly, like she’s trying not to cry. She tucks a chunk of her sandy blonde hair behind her ear. “I want you to know, I didn’t release that video of us.”
“I know that, Makenna,” I say gently.
She lets out a shaky breath. “My phone was hacked a week ago. My team handled it though and they assured me that since nothing was released to the news and gossip sites, it was all okay.” She frowns. “But they were wrong. Obviously.”
I nod.
“I don’t know who did this, but I’ve hired an investigator. My lawyers have ordered all the sites that showed the video to stop immediately,” she says.
“Yeah, my lawyer did that too.”
She exhales. “I know that doesn’t erase this mess. I know the person who did this is still out there, getting away with it…” She clears her throat. “I just wanted to call you and tell you face to face that I didn’t do this.” She hesitates, her lips trembling. “I know we didn’t date for long and we haven’t talked in years. I’m just so sorry about this.” Her voice breaks.
“Makenna, it’s not your fault.”
She blinks, her light brown eyes filling with tears. After a second, they tumble down her cheeks. “It is though. I’m the one who recorded that video on my phone. I’m the one who forgot about it and never deleted it.”
She wipes her face. I feel awful knowing that she’s blaming herself when she’s a victim in this too.
“Makenna, listen to me,” I say softly. “I don’t blame you for any of this. I was on board with you filming us. I didn’t give it a second thought. Your privacy was violated too. You’ve been victimized just as much as I have.”
She sniffles and looks at me. “You really think that?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
She flashes a shaky smile. “Thanks, Xander.”
“We’ll get through this mess.”
I ask if she’s getting the support she needs.
“Thankfully, yeah. My family has been great. So has my fiancé.”
I smile. “That’s good to hear.”
“There have been some online trolls, but I have my team report and delete their comments from my social media accounts. I’m all good otherwise.”
“Fuck the haters.”
She lets out a snotty chuckle. “How about you?”
I tell her that my family, teammates, coaches, and the Bashers organization have been standing by me.
She smiles. “That’s really good. And hey, when I looked you up the other day, I saw some photos of you and this really lovely woman. Your girlfriend, I’m assuming?”
I grin wide. “Yeah. Sophie’s amazing. She’s the reason I’m getting through this.”
I think about how every day these past few days, Sophie has been by my side, staying with me at my condo. I think about how she always checks in with me to see that I’m doing okay, but she also gives me the space I need when I want to process things on my own.
“She’s perfect. I’m the luckiest guy on the planet to be with her.”
“Aww, you sound so in love.”
“I am.”
Just then the front door swings open and Sophie runs in.
“Xander! I figured it out!” she blurts, breathless.
She runs up to me and then notices I’m on the phone.
“Oh sorry, I…” Her eyes go wide when she sees Makenna on my phone screen. “Makenna Marley! Oh my god!” Sophie blinks quickly. “I’m such a huge fan of yours.”
Makenna beams. “That’s so sweet, thank you.”
Sophie blinks and her eyes widen slightly. “Wow, your face is so pretty and symmetrical…”
Makenna bursts out laughing. I can’t help but chuckle.
“Thank you,” Makenna says. “Sophie, right?”
Sophie grins and nods, then turns to me. “Sorry, I forgot you said you had a phone call with her.” She turns back to Makenna. “I’m so sorry for interrupting.”
“It’s okay,” Makenna says sweetly. “I’m so happy to meet you, Sophie. Xander’s been raving about you.”
With my free hand, I pull Sophie into a side hug and drop a quick kiss on her mouth.
A relaxed smile appears on Sophie’s angelic face as she looks at me. “He’s sweet like that.”
Then she takes a breath and her expression turns serious. “I need to tell you two something.” She looks at my phone. “I know who leaked the video.”
“You do?” Makenna and I say at the same time.
Sophie looks between us. “It was my ex-boyfriend Ethan.”
She explains that she figured it out after reading an email that he sent her this morning.
She turns to me. “He did it to get back at you for defending me at the fundraiser,” she says, softly.
Rage crashes through me. “That piece of shit.”
Sophie explains to Makenna what happened that night.
“Oh my gosh…” Makenna murmurs. “Sophie, I’m so sorry he did that to you.”
“And I’m so sorry he did this to you,” Sophie says to her, but then she shakes her head. “We shouldn’t be the ones apologizing. It’s not your fault. And it’s not my fault. We didn’t do anything wrong. He’s the monster.”
Makenna nods. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of him sooner,” Sophie says. “He used to be really into computer stuff when he was younger and when we dated,” she says. “He even mentioned hacking into some websites when we were in medical school together.”
“How can we prove he did it?” I ask. “I’m sure he’ll deny it.”
Sophie mentions the email Ethan sent and that his IP address should be trackable on the websites where he posted the leaked video.
“My legal team has a cyber security division that can help with all that,” Makenna says. “As soon as we finish talking, just send me the info you have and we’ll get to work on it.”
Sophie turns to me. “We’ll tell your lawyer too. And the Bashers legal team. We’ll fix this for you.” Emotion flashes in her beautiful blue eyes as she offers a soft smile. She turns to Makenna. “We’ll fix this for both of you.”
Makenna flashes a relieved smile. “You’re incredible, Sophie. Thank you.”
My chest aches as I look at my girlfriend, in complete awe of her. So brilliant and so badass.
I hug her tight and smile down at her. “She’s a genius. Can you believe she’s with a guy like me?”
Both Makenna and Sophie chuckle. We come up with a plan and promise to follow up with each other in a couple of days. We say goodbye, and I end the call.
I set the phone down on the kitchen counter and hug Sophie.
My heart thuds in my chest as I gaze down at this woman. This woman who saved me. This woman who I love more than anyone and anything in this world.
I cup my hands around her face and pull her mouth to mine. We share a slow and teasing kiss. I want to savor her taste, her feel, her everything.
She’s my everything.
When we break the kiss, she gazes up at me, eyes bright.
“You saved me, Sophie,” I whisper, my voice shaky.
“You saved me too.”
I kiss her again. “I love you.”
She beams. “I love you too.