28. Dani
Dani
This can’t be happening. My chest is tight. My head is spinning.
Ten years. Ten fucking years. He held on to this for ten years. Not just Gavin. Sam.
I could kill him. The jury would understand, right?
Murder seems… reasonable. A normal reaction to finding out your alleged best friend secretly recorded you having sex and threatened to destroy your life if your boyfriend didn’t break up with you.
Bonus points—he’s a hired goon for the same corrupt politician you’re trying to help bring down.
“Dani,” Gavin whispers. His hand brushes against my arm. I flinch and pull away, walking towards the kitchen table, gripping the back of a chair until my knuckles ache. My eyes burn, but I refuse to let the tears fall.
“How could you keep this from me?” I shout at the wall, refusing to look at him.
Gavin inhales deeply. “I was trying to protect you.”
“And you thought abandoning me was protecting me?”
“If it meant keeping that video off the internet, yes. Fuck yes.” His voice cracks.
“I know I hurt you. I know I fucked it up. But do you realize how much worse it would’ve been if that video had gone public?
We might have stayed together, but you would’ve lost your career.
No one would have hired you. I saw the fire in your eyes, Dani.
You were twenty-one, passionate, unstoppable.
Sam… he was threatening that. I did what I thought I had to do. ”
I spin toward him. His eyes are red and glassy. “We could have gone to the police,” I choke out. “We could have stopped him together.”
“He already said he’d release it the second he knew we involved the authorities.”
“You should have told me!” The words tear out of me.
“Sweetheart—” He steps forward. I hold up my hands, cutting him off.
“You… should… have…” My voice breaks. I can’t finish the sentence.
The anger, the betrayal, the fear—it’s too much.
My knees buckle, and I collapse into a ball on the floor.
Shaking, crying, letting it all out. The two men I trusted more than anyone lied to me.
Logically, I know Gavin did it to protect me, but logic doesn’t stop the fury, the grief, the humiliation.
Strong arms wrap around me, and I’m pulled against Gavin. He’s stroking my hair, whispering that it’s going to be okay. That I’m safe.
I slam my fists into his chest, over and over, letting out every ounce of rage and pain.
“It’s okay… let it out… let it out,” he repeats.
When my arms have nothing left in them, I press my face into the crook of his neck. His warmth surrounds me, steadying me, giving me the sense of safety I haven’t felt in hours.
I don’t know how long I cried, but at some point, I must have fallen asleep.
When I open my eyes, the room is dark and quiet. Gavin and I are on the dining room floor, wrapped together, noses touching.
“How long have we been here?” I whisper.
“A few hours,” he sighs. “I didn’t want to move you. You looked so peaceful once you fell asleep.” His fingers brush a few strands of hair behind my ear.
“You stayed with me… on the floor… the entire time?” My voice wobbles.
“Of course.”
I sit up, hugging my knees to my chest, and let out the words I’ve been spinning over in my mind.
“Someone made a sex tape of me. Of us. And threatened to put it online. And I dated that person. For years. He manipulated me… made me fall in love with him. But it was all a lie. I feel… so disgusting.” I turn my face away from him, afraid he’ll see the shame written across it.
“Hey,” he says softly, tilting my face toward his. “Don’t you dare say that. You are not disgusting. He’s the one who deserves that word. You are the most beautiful, talented, kind person I’ve ever met. And don’t you let him take that from you.”
I swallow hard, my chest tight. “I’m scared.”
“Of what, sweetheart?”
“I broke up with him. What’s stopping him from releasing it? How do I know he hasn’t already? Oh my God… what if he did?” My breath comes in ragged gasps.
“Considering how fast things spread online these days, we would’ve heard by now,” he says calmly.
“I guess… that’s true. But how are you so calm? I’m not the only one in that video. It could ruin your career, too.”
He cups my face, fingers pressing gently against my temples. “Because we have each other. Everything’s going to be okay. I didn’t have faith in us before when I should have. But it’s different now.”
“Why?”
His eyes lock with mine. “Because I know we’re it. You and me. You came back into my life after ten years, when I didn’t deserve it. Fate is screaming at us that we’re meant to be. You are the love of my life, Dani. I’m so beyond in love with you, it hurts.”
Tears prick my eyes. “I love you, too. I think… it’s always been you, Gavin.”
He leans in, kissing me soft and slow. His body presses against mine, heart beating in sync with mine, and I know he feels it too.
“Take me upstairs,” I breathe against his lips.
“Don’t we need to figure out—”
“No. I’m not letting that man get between us anymore. We can deal with it tomorrow. Right now… I just want us.”
A low growl escapes him, and before I can protest, he scoops me up in a basket carry.
Our issues can wait. Right now, this—us—is the only thing that matters.
I can’t stop bouncing my knee during the morning story meeting.
On the way to work, Gavin and I agreed that it’s time to tell Mr. White about us and formally report our relationship to HR.
It’s just a formality really, but my chest tightens anyway.
I can’t stop spiraling, imagining the worst. What if they decide we can’t work together?
They can’t fire us over a relationship, but a shift change…
that could happen. And that thought gnaws at me for two reasons:
One, I fought tooth and nail to land the afternoon weekday executive producer slot. That’s prime real estate. I shouldn’t be moved just because of who I’m dating.
Two, if the roles were reversed and I was News Director, with Gavin as Executive Producer? Twenty bucks they wouldn’t even think of moving him. Welcome to misogyny in news. I’ve been navigating it my whole career.
Hopefully I’m blowing this out of proportion, I tell myself.
“Dani? Does that work for you?” one of my producers asks.
I shake myself out of the spiral. “I’m sorry, what was that?”
“I just wanted to make sure you were good with Mia’s story going ahead of Gene’s.”
“Yeah, that works. Let’s wrap up here. Any other questions, feel free to come by my desk. Thanks, everyone.”
There’s a murmur of thanks as people file out of the room.
“Dani,” Gavin calls from the doorway. “Can you come with me?”
I follow him down the hall in silence, until we’re out of earshot of everyone.
“We’re doing this now?” I ask.
“Might as well rip the Band-Aid off,” he says.
Oh wow. This is happening.
“I’m nervous,” I admit, my stomach twisting into knots.
Gavin’s hand brushes mine briefly. “We’ve got this,” he whispers.
I nod, trying to breathe.
“I’m not going to let him take you off your shows. It wouldn’t be fair. You earned that spot. I promise. I’ve got you.”
I give his hand a quick squeeze. “Thank you.”
We reach Mr. White’s office and Gavin gives the door a quick knock.
“Come in!” Mr. White yells from inside.
Gavin opens the door and clears his throat. “Sir, do you have a quick second?”
“Sure. Come on in.” He waves us in and signals to take a seat. “Everything okay?”
“Of course. We need to bring some developments to your attention.”
He raises a brow.
“So, um,” Gavin starts. “We are here to formally notify you that Dani and I are in a relationship.”
Mr. White doesn’t show any reaction. “Alright. We’re going to need you to fill out some forms, legal stuff for HR and such.”
“We expected that,” I chime in.
“And then we will need to discuss the change in producer lineup. Figure out where to put you, Dani. Maybe on the weekends.”
“Excuse me?” Gavin says before I can.
“Well, she can’t work under you if you’re dating,” Mr. White says nonchalantly.
I knew this was going to happen. Heaven forbid I have my career and a love life.
“What was that, Dani?” Mr. White asks.
Crap. Did I say that with my outside voice?
“With all due respect, sir, my career shouldn’t be punished because of who I’m dating. I worked extremely hard to get that position. I was hired long before Gavin showed up. And I’m being moved, not because I’m not the best person for the role, but because of who I happen to go home with at night?”
“There’s an image problem with favoritism.”
“Mr. White, I have a lot of respect for you. But you and I both know that if Gavin’s and my roles were reversed, you would not be moving him to a different show.
The woman always gets punished. I’m bringing in some of your highest numbers in years on the afternoon shows.
You’re really going to risk ruining that because of our relationship?
Also, we have been quietly dating for months, and not once has it impacted our working relationship.
The only reason we’re bringing it to your attention now is because it’s getting more serious. ”
Mr. White nods, not necessarily in agreement, but as if he’s actually listening to me. “I must say, Dani, I haven’t heard you stand up like this before.”
“I just don’t think you’ve been listening enough, Mr. White.” Gavin smiles at me. “On my first day here, you told me Dani wasn’t authoritative. You couldn’t be more wrong.”
“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll keep Dani where she is. But the minute I hear or see issues with the chain of command, I’m making changes.”
I nod. “That’s fair.”
“Now get out of here. I’ll have HR send over the paperwork.”
“Thank you, sir.” Gavin reaches over and shakes Mr. White’s hand.
I offer him a smile and make my way out of the office with Gavin.
We’re walking down the hall when he leans over and whispers, “I’m so proud of you.”
“Show me how much later?” I nudge his shoulder with mine.
“Absolutely.”
We get back to the newsroom and I find Alexa waiting at my desk. I didn’t see her this morning because she was out on an assignment, so I’m preparing myself for the millions of questions.
“Oh my God! Dani!” She practically tackles me as I approach her. “Are you alright? Do you have any prison tattoos? Who do I need to hurt?”
“You are ridiculous,” I laugh. “But we do have a lot to talk about. Can you grab lunch?”
“Lucky for you my story wrapped up early today, so I’m all yours.”
I turn to Gavin. “You want to come?”
“I think it’s best if it’s just you guys. But I’ll be here waiting if you need anything.” He winks and heads back to his office.
I let out a heavy sigh. “Let’s go. We need comfort food. Now.”