Page 51 of Charming
“The press has been going nuts since the word got out that you two got married. Asher’s been ignoring calls from his publicist and agent refusing to discuss it, so of course the press is having a field day.”
“Well that’s nothing new, right? Asher told me they are like rabid dogs with a bone.”
“That’s true, but word is that even the producers of his upcoming movie are asking questions and he’s not dealing with any of it. Aside from that is the fact that there was a major story that came out about you yesterday.”
“About me? What do you mean?”
“Your father’s wife? She’s stating that you’re mentally unstable. She gave details to the press about how you were supposed to get married and went crazy at the altar. There’s even a sad interview with your ex-fiancé. She said that marrying Asher is the cherry on top of your going crazy sundae and that you aren’t within your right mind. Moreover, she says you’ve been unstable for a number of years. After your mom died? And I guess there’s discussion by the Board of Directors at the company where you work about terminating you.”
“Oh my god,” I whisper, horror making me feel sick to my stomach. Hunter may not know why Angelica would be doing this, but I sure as hell do.
“Sorry to break it to you like this, I thought you would have been told and I couldn’t fathom why you didn’t care.”
“I’m sure Katie is going crazy trying to reach me.”
“I’m sorry to make this worse, but if you care at all about Asher, you will do something about this. This press is really bad for his image. He’s a good guy. He doesn’t get caught up in all the Hollywood hype and shit. He doesn’t deserve to have the image he’s worked hard to maintain dragged through the mud for some chick he met and wanted to hang out with for a week. No offense.”
This isn’t really about Asher – though it’s impacting him – it’s about me. The room is whirling around me. So many thoughts are going through my mind. Angelica is trying to take my company out from under me. I know she’s trying to get the board to side with her and to push me out of my own company. I need to deal with this. And unstable? She’s telling people I have been mentally unstable? And as much as I hate this, Hunter is right. Asher doesn’t deserve this kind of trash attached to his name. This is all because of my family drama and he doesn’t have anything to do with this, but he’ll still reap the consequences all the same. One whispered word against him is too much. “I need to leave. Now.” I look around the room frantically thinking about everything I need to pack but I don’t really see any of it. I want to cry, scream, and throw up in response to my own words.
Looking back at Hunter, he’s looking at me with pity. “I think that would be best.” Each word he says hitting me between the eyes like a hammer.
Nodding absently, I try without success to keep the tears at bay, but they flow down my cheeks freely. Hunter looks at me with a mix of horror and confusion and my anger flares again. “So sorry to burden you with my tears. You can leave now.”
“I just don’t get it.”
“Don’t get what?” I snap at him.
“Why are you crying? This is just a fling for you.”
“Says who? You? Why would you just assume that? You knownothingabout me.”
“Oh come on, you expect me to believe that all of this, the whole sham of a marriage and spending time with Asher all week isn’t you trying to take advantage of him somehow?”
“Take advantage of him? Because of his money? Oh wait, I have my own. So, what then?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.”
“Fuck you. And the horse you rode in on.”
“That’s what I thought,” he has the nerve to say. A smile of triumph on his face.
“You couldn’t be more wrong. I love him. I’m in love with him. And leaving, that’s going to kill me.” More tears fall down my face as my voice breaks with my confession.
Hunter is frozen staring at me with a look of disbelief. “I really don’t care what you think, but it’s the truth. I didn’t ask for him to walk up to me at that party. I wasn’t even the one that suggested getting married. I didn’t come here looking for anything other than to get away from my life in New York for a little while. I never expected to meet Asher. I never expected or thought it was possible to be completely charmed by a man in less than a week and fall in love. I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“God, I had no idea. I’m so sorry,” Hunter’s face falls and I believe his words, but every ounce of my emotion is tied up in my leaving Asher. I don’t have enough in me to care about how Hunter feels.
Walking into the next room, I grab my suitcase and start throwing all of my stuff into it. I don’t take time to fold anything, I just shove anything and everything I can grab inside. Going into the bathroom, I gather all of my things from there too. “Fuck!” I curse suddenly.
“What’s wrong?” Hunter asks, and I jump a little not expecting him to be right there.
“My phone is dead. I need to make a plane reservation, and can’t.”
“Let me help you.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“Please, let me do this. To make up for being an asshole.”
