Jace
“It was an appropriate reaction,” I say, defending myself as I avoid my mother’s enraged stare and look over at Gordon instead.
“Calm down, Evelyn. You know how the media gets. They got a tiny morsel and ran with it. Tall tales or unrealistic facts, whatever they get they create a story and more often than not, there’s not a damn thing we can do about it.
His response to the accident was normal and platonic, the media is just doing what they do.
” He banters back with her, defending me as usual.
He’s right, the leaked video is platonic for all intents and purposes, but it’s completely unstaged so, my true self shows, not the filtered version the press usually gets.
And I completely freaked out.
One of the extras hid a phone during filming and started recording Lennox as he hung from the rafters.
It caught the entire sequence of events, from the moment the rod popped off and Lennox rappelled until his harness snagged him.
It caught the detailed sound of everything collapsing until Lennox hit the ground and everything toppled over the top of him.
There were blurred out images of that part of the recording but what everyone is focusing on is me screaming for Lennox. The way my voice cracked as I broke through the hold the crew had on me, in an attempt to hold me back to keep me safe from anything else that could have fallen.
But, the adrenaline made that impossible. I ran to the stage, tossing the metal debris aside until he was uncovered and pulled him out. I sat on the stage with him laying in my lap while he was unconscious and the only thing that kept me sane was the fact I felt he still had a heartbeat.
I gently caressed his head, talking to him until the ambulance arrived which was faster than most circumstances. They quickly got him on the gurney and whisked him away, not allowing me to ride with them.
So, I insisted Raymond drive me to the hospital and when I arrived, well…the scene I made there was an even bigger deal.
The made-up headlines and interpretation of my reaction was gold for the media.
JACE WILDER brAWLS WITH HOSPITAL STAFF, DESPERATE TO SEE LENNOX ROME.
LENNOX ROME AND JACE WILDER, ON-SCREEN AND OFF-SCREEN LOVERS?
JACE WILDER DATING LENNOX ROME IN REAL LIFE!
IRON HORIZON ON-SCREEN DUO FALLS IN LOVE.
JACE WILDER COMES OUT, UNINTENTIONALLY?
LENNOX ROME AND JACE WILDER. THIS MUST BE LOVE.
“His response was unnecessary and it was a vain attempt for attention.”
“Nothing is further from the truth, Evelyn,” Gordon answers for me.
I’ve never been the one to want attention. In fact, I wish I could vanish in a hole most days.
My mother doesn’t reply and instead turns to me. “I’ve arranged the rest of your public appearances after you wrap on your film tomorrow. The rest of your schedule is booked until you start filming again in New York next month.”
“What?” I reply as I sit up.
“It’s within my rights to do so and you know it,” she threatens.
Gordon gives me a sideways look, defeated, because we both know the conservatorship overrides anything that he can do for me as my agent. Unless it’s in a contract for a press tour, conference, or appearance, I have absolutely no choice but to do what she tells me to.
“I don’t need to tell you that after filming ends tomorrow you will no longer see Lennox Rome.
He’s a bad influence on you and there’s been nothing but negative media attention since you started filming this movie,” she says the last word with disgust. “Let’s just say, we don’t need you repeating the same mistake. ”
Her words stab straight through my chest. Guilt and rage battle inside me, tearing everything apart.
My heart drops at the fact that tomorrow is the last day I’ll get to spend with Lennox. I can’t sneak off and see him. It’s too risky if we get caught by the media and there’s nothing I can do about the circumstances I’m in.
And maybe she’s right, what if I fuck up again and make some stupid decision that hurts one of us?
“Mother—”
“Jace, don’t talk to your mother with that tone.
She’s only trying to help.” My father walks in the room and now I know I don’t have a leg to stand on.
Not that I did when it was just her but still, my father will just appease my mother by helping her tame me.
I don’t think he really cares one way or the other, but his life is easier if his actions favor my mom.
“Your father is right. I’m just protecting you because you’re incapable of making responsible decisions on your own.”
I palm my face hard, pressing my fingers into my eye sockets as if it would help make this all easier to deal with.
I hate that the freedom I crave battles with the guilt I live with, and she’s so quick to remind me of it every time.
The guilt always wins. She always wins.
“I need to ensure the media changes direction on all of this Lennox talk.” My mother twirls her hand in the air dismissing him like he’s a germ. “You have a date with Elodie St. John on Sunday night.”