Page 82 of Saving Ian Pope

He grumbled something, and then said, “Okay. I’ll check on it. Give me ten minutes.”

As soon as I ended the call, I texted Chloe, who was on standby. He’s checking it.

She gave my text a thumbs up, and I cupped my phone in my hand, staring at the display until my eyes watered. I refused to blink—too scared I’d miss something.

I jerked forward when I saw bubbles in response to my previous message to Matt. The text finally came through. It’s still there someone is fucking with you.

I gave his message a heart, and with a shaky finger I tapped my phone to answer Chloe’s call. “Well?”

“Bingo, bitch. The fuckwad has the flash drive hidden behind his Bob Marley poster in the living room. It must be taped to the back of it or to the wall ‘cuz he lifted one corner of the poster and peeked behind it.”

I doubled over with a sigh as my head throbbed with the tension of the past several minutes.

Chloe’s voice chirped over the line. “Now, I’ll put the next part of the plan in action. I’ll go over there and steal it.”

“No, you won’t. You’re going to wait for me, so you don’t do anything stupid or get into trouble. I have to be the one to get that flash drive. I have a better reason to be at his place than you do. It’ll be suspicious if you show up at his place again.”

“You’re coming home?” Chloe squealed. “I can’t wait to see you but hurry up. Matt has the drive behind the poster now, but he could change the hiding place. Maybe he’ll finally decide he’s too old to tape posters on his living room walls and buy a safe.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can arrange it. I’m going to put a stop to this deceit once and for all.”

“Are you going to tell Ian everything? I meaneverything?”

“Yeah, I think it’s time.”

***

I twirled in front of the mirror, grabbing handfuls of the silky material comprising the short, green dress. “I like this one. What do you think, baby?”

Ian looked up from adjusting the cuffs of his fitted black jacket. “You look beautiful in everything, but you look smokin’ hot in that one. I’m sorry you have to do this. I know you hate it, but I really want you by my side.”

“It’s fine. I’m excited to be there for you.” Once I had my business settled with Matt, I’d be more than happy to attend public events with Ian. His record company was throwing a bash in a few weeks, complete with red carpet, for several of its artists releasing new music, although Ian would be the biggest star there. This would be our first public appearance together after months of speculation about my identity. Nervous didn’t come close to describing how I’d be feeling, but Ian needed me.

“My mate Charlie should be there. He’ll be in England because his mum is unwell. I told him he didn’t have to show up and to head home to his family, but he said one night wouldn’t make a difference.”

“I’m sorry to hear about his mom. Is it serious?”

“Cancer.”

“That’s rough. If he does make it to the release party, I’ll be excited to meet him. I hope he’ll let me take a selfie with him. Chloe would melt.” I winked at Ian in the mirror. “Sorry, Charlie was always Chloe’s favorite.”

Ian’s stylist, Sarah, bustled into the room with another jacket for Ian. “I think this one would be a better fit—ooh.” She stopped in the middle of the room. “That dress looks stunning on you, Ivy. Sexy but classy, and we’ll pinch it in at the waist a bit.”

“Don’t she look beautiful?” Ian came up behind me as I faced the mirror.

I turned in his arms. “If you’re wearing that suit with the black shirt unbuttoned down to there, all eyes will be on you. Absolute fire.”

He took me in his arms, running his hand down my bare back, where the dress cut-away. “My eyes will be on you...always.”

As we kissed, Sarah clicked her tongue. “Stop snogging, you two. You’re going to wrinkle everything before I have a chance to have it tailored. You might affect the fit.”

Ian and I grinned at each other like a couple of naughty children. Then he squeezed my bum and walked back to Sarah, shrugging out of his jacket. “What’s wrong with this one?”

“This one’s a better fit for an athletic build. You’ve been working out so much and gaining so much muscle, that other one is too tight across your back and shoulders.”

“I might bust the seams like The Hulk.” He struck a pose worthy of Arnold and growled.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Next time we do this, I’m demanding separate fittings for the two of you. There’s way too much teasing and touching and messing around, and then there’s Scruffy prancing in and out getting dog hair on myhaute couture.”

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