Page 7 of Tempt My Heart

“Tell me,” her mom said immediately, leaning forward across the table to take Ali’s hand as she sipped her coffee with the other.

So Ali explained what Jared had sent her and what had happened when she’d met him outside the office, as well as his 'request' if she wanted to keep her sex life private and off of the porn sites.

"Fuck him," her mom said, predictably. "Let him release them," she followed up, this time taking Ali aback.

"What? No."

"There's absolutely no shame in sex, sweetie.”

"I don’t think he’s bluffing." Though it was true that threats were one thing, actually following through was another.

"What do you have to lose?"

"My dignity? My professional reputation? I didn't know that he was recording us."

"Okay," she said, clearly understanding that Ali was never going to just let Jared leak the video or pictures of her. "What about the police?"

"Maybe," she murmured, taking a sip of her latte and melting at the rich flavor. "Freya did say she knew a guy. But I'm just not sure what they would be able to do to help."

"Arrest him?"

Ali rolled her eyes. "I love your optimism. They said until Jared actually makes a move or I have more firm proof there’s not much they can do."

“What about a restraining order?”

She’d considered that too while she’d been stressing out in the shower. “They take a while to get and keeping him away from me doesn’t delete the video he has.”

“Well.” Her mom sighed as she drained her mug and reached for the muffin she’d ordered while Ali had been speaking. "You know the shitbag better than I do, sweetie. Do you think he'd go through with it? Could you talk him down?"

She wasn't sure why talking him down should be her responsibility—by all accounts it seemed like he'd dated her just long enough to get what he needed to blackmail her. "I think he planned this from the start." The thought was more than a little depressing. Sure, Jared was never going to be a forever-boyfriend, more of a grief-driven rebound, but she still hadn't expected him to violate her trust this way.

"You've got a tough choice to make."

"I know."

"Talking to him couldn't hurt."

"I'll try."

"You know I'm here if you need me."

Ali smiled. She did know. "Love you."

"I love you too, kiddo."

* * *

“How’d it go?”Freya asked as Ali walked in the door and kicked off her shoes.

"She told me to let him release the tapes and that there was nothing wrong with enjoying sex."

Freya snorted as she continued making her post-workout meal. "I don't know how we didn't see that response coming to be honest."

"I think I'm going to try and talk to Jared face-to-face again. I mean, the fact that his plan relies on Christopher taking me to the wedding already makes things impossible." Freya hummed in response and Ali looked at her sharply. "What?"

"Dude wants to bang you," said a gravelly voice from behind her and Ali jumped as she realized Jesse had come out of her room behind Ali's chair.

"What are you talking about?" She could only hope her face wasn't as red as she suspected it was. The smirk on Freya's face made it clear that hope was futile. “And did you only just wake up? That makes me feel better, to be honest.”

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