Max swallows hard. I can see the lie all over the fucker’s face.
Jack turns his attention to Nisha whose mouth is hanging open. “I take it everyone is talking about the pictures online?”
“Yes, Jack.” Her expression hardens. “Everyone thinks Bonnie had a one-night stand with you that went wrong.”
He nods, sighing, and looks around the room. “Then it’s probably better I address the rumours head-on.”
Head-on?
What the hell is he going to do?
His dark eyes blaze as he stares at me for a long beat.
Clearing his throat, he addresses the floor. “Since I already have everyone’s attention,” he says dryly, “I want to clear up a few rumours so you can all get back to work.” He pauses. “A week ago, I made a mistake. A very public mistake that ended up splashed over social media. It was my fault.”
Jack doesn’t look in the least nervous about his public announcement. I, on the other hand, am about to empty my bladder in the middle of the aisle.
“The paps claimed it was a one-night stand. It’s not. Bonnie and I are in a serious relationship. Unfortunately, when you’re in the public eye, sometimes things you do get distorted. Exaggerated,” he adds. “Those pictures were of a couple’s discussion. That’s it. No drama. There’s nothing to know.”
He shrugs.
“Bradshaw and Brown know about us, and nothing is against any work policy of either of the companies.” His jaw tightens. “Not that it fucking matters what they think,” he mutters to himself glancing at me.
“So,” he continues casually with a hint of his signature smirk, “any questions?”
He’s opening the floor toquestions?
My palm clasped in Jack’s sweats as curious eyes inspect me. For a second I panic that the floodgates will open and people will ask intimate questions such asis Jack’s dick as big as his kiss-and-tells claim?
Jack leans in to me. “It’s fine, Bonnie. You’ll see.”
My face floods with heat. I look at Nisha helplessly and she smiles, eyes wide.
There’s an unbearably long pause. Then slowly, everyone gets back to work. Row by row, they go back to tapping on their laptops.
“No questions,” Jack murmurs in my ear. “Sounds like there’s nothing left to gossip about.”
“I have a question,” Darren pipes up beside me.
Nisha shoves her elbow into his ribs.
Jack’s brows lift.
“Nothing,” Darren mumbles sheepishly. “Bonnie can ask youlater.”
“Great.” Jack nods to me. “Bonnie, let’s go.”
He beckons for me to follow him back to the lifts. This is so surreal.
What just happened?
He slows down his stride so I can match his as we walk down the office. I throw glances up at him but don’t dare speak.
The entire walk mustn’t last more than a minute but feels like a slow marathon.
He presses the lift button and pulls me inside in silence.
When the doors close, his eyes lock on mine, and the Jack Knight confidence that owned the office floor disappears.