Page 153 of Fe
He was pleased Cooper looked flustered. “Ah yes. Judd, I believe you’ve already met. Next to him is Alexa, Helena is at the end.”
Fen nodded. All three ignored him.
“Do take a seat.” Cooper gestured towards a chair. “Is there anything we can get you? Coffee, tea, water?”
A less battered heart?“No thank you.”
“Well, let’s get down to it,” Bella said. “Obviously, this is a very distressing time for Charlotte and the children, who are completely innocent parties.”
Helena stifled a make-believe sob, was comforted by her sister, and Fen sucked in his cheeks.
“And I’m not an innocent party too?” he asked quietly.
Bella put her hand on Helena’s shoulder. “Charlotte and the children have done nothing to deserve this.”
“No, we haven’t,” Alexa snapped. “You’re a gold-digger. I don’t believe you are our half-brother. You don’t look anything like us. You need to leave our family alone.”
Helena and Alexa wrapped their arms around each other. Judd sat with his head and shoulders down, looking uncomfortable. But not as uncomfortable as Fen felt. Though anger was now bubbling through the flood of emotions that had swamped him the moment he’d entered the room. A brother and sisters he wanted and yet didn’t want. A family who had no interest in him. None of this was his fault.
“I didn’t go to the press,” Fen said. “My mum and I are victims too.”
Alexa made a loud scoffing sound. “What crap!”
“Let’s not apportion blame,” Bella said. “We’re on damage limitation. Crisis management. Sorry to be giving you more bad news, but this is going to be out tomorrow.”
She handed Fen a couple of sheets of paper. Him and Ripley being set upon near Fen’s flat.Oh shit.At least Ripley’s face wasn’t clear, but Fen’s was.Drunk and disorderly. AGAIN!Fen skim-read the copy and shuddered.
“I was attacked. I wasn’t drunk. I don’t drink to excess. I’m not a thief. I’ve never taken drugs. That photo of me in leather gear was taken on my eighteenth birthday when me and my friends wanted to have a fun night out. I was assaulted then too.”
He wondered why he’d bothered. Blank faces stared at him. No one here believed him. Though Judd sat looking miserable.
“You do seem to be a magnet for trouble,” Bella said. “The one thing you’ve done right is not speak to the press.”
Fuck you!“I’ve not done anything wrong.”
“TheToday Showare clamouring for all four of you to be on next week,” Bella said.
“Are they?” Helena’s eyes widened. “That’s good, isn’t it? It would help our brand.”
Fen pushed to his feet. “Was that all you wanted? To warn me of the next headline?” He turned to Helena. “And all you care about is your brand? Lies about me are flooding the internet and you want to push your next handbag or lipstick or organic bloody smoothie.”
“Please sit down,” Cooper said.
As Fen sat, his father walked into the room followed by Ripley. The two were together?What the hell?Fen pressed his lips together—hard.
“Daddy!” Helena and Alexa both rushed into Jack’s arms.
“Girls! Girls! It’s all fine. Don’t worry,” Jack said.
Fen looked at the three of them hugging, then stared at the floor.
Ripley dropped down at his side. “Sorry I didn’t come with you.”
“You’re with him?” Fen whispered.
“Of course not. We shared the lift. Didn’t speak.”
Fen snuck another glance. Jack Miller dropped onto a chair. A middle-aged man in a grey suit jacket, white T-shirt and jeans. A face women swooned over. A star adored by millions. He was nothing to Fen. Never had been. Never would be. Just as well Fen hadn’t been holding out for some soppy reunion. The bastard wasn’t looking Fen’s way.
