Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Okay, I will.”
They ended the call and Kristin clasped my hand.
“Those people in the media don’t know you, and they never will,” she said. “Don’t read a single word they write and never show a hint of emotion when they’re following you. You owe them nothing, so give them exactly that. Do you hear me?”
I nodded. “And Tyler?”
“Tell him that you need to talk sooner rather than later. I’m sure he has some things he wants to say to you, too.”
“He thinks this lifestyle is normal. He won’t understand.”
“Have you talked to him about it yet?”
I said nothing.
“Exactly,” she said. “You don’t know yet. How’s your private doctor treating you?”
“Amazing,” I admitted. “That’s the only good part about this. She also hasn’t asked me to commit any felonies or watch criminal YouTube videos…yet.”
She laughed and leaned against the counter. “Want to give me a royal tour of his condo to clear your mind?”
“Sure.” I slid off the stool and motioned for her to follow me down the hall. I showed her everything except Tyler’s office and bedroom, and when we were looking over the living room view of the city, her cell phone buzzed with her agent’s ringtone.
An actual emergency.
“One of these days, I’ll be able to throw this thing right into the sea.” She hugged me. “I have to go, but I’ll call you first thing in the morning, okay?”
“Okay.” I hugged her tightly and escorted her to the door.
When I opened it, Tyler was standing there, looking as hurt as I felt.
Kristin shot me a final goodbye and walked away.
“What did you envision differently?” Tyler asked.
“I wasn’t…” I looked into his eyes. “I didn’t know you were coming back so soon.”
“I’ve been trying to call and tell you.” He moved closer, tilting my chin up with his fingertips. “Tell me how you wanted this to be.”
“It’s too late. It doesn’t matter.”
“I promise it does.”
“Privacy, for one.”
“That’s a given. What else?”
I shrugged.
“Tell me, Chloe.” He spoke softly. “What would make this better? Even if it was just in the short-term.”
“A trip to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, where I could just relax and enjoy everything one last time before everything changes.”
He ran his fingers through my hair, looking deep into my eyes. Then he pulled his phone from his pocket and held it up to his ear.
“Dillon? I need your assistance with something important.”
Clouds in the Sky
Chloe
Eight hours later
Tyler pulled an eye mask from around my head, revealing a tranquil world of tall pine trees, a large crystal lake, and a small wooden cabin in the distance.
“There are no other guests here,” Tyler said, reading my mind. “Every staff member signed the strictest NDA on the planet, and we have the entire park to ourselves. Does that work for you?”
I nodded. “How long do we get to stay?”
“Five days.” He cupped my face in his hands. “That’s as long as I could get on short notice.”
“Thank you, Tyler.”
“You’re very welcome, Chloe.” He kissed me, whispering, “Give me a chance to figure this out for the long term. You’re all I care about, and I’ll always do what’s best for you…No matter what.”
“Can you say nice stuff like to me all weekend?” I smiled. “Like nonstop?”
“Of course.”
An Unwanted House Guest
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
25 weeks pregnant
Tyler’s plane flew over Washington hours after checkout, right as fog slithered across the coast.
“Are you going into work today?” I asked.
“Briefly.”
“And you’re going back to London for the Queen’s party?”
“I’ll be back within the same day.” He kissed my forehead.
“What are you planning to do about Hazel?” I asked.
“I can’t work with someone who hurts the woman I care about.” He trailed his finger down my neck. “I told her she needs to resign. Effective immediately.”
“And my job?”
“Yours to keep, but I personally think you’re better off working on your art than working around people who will use your most mundane moments for gossip.”
“What if I just ignore them and hyper-focus on my work?”
“I wish it was that easy.” He gave me a sympathetic look. “It’s about trust at this point, and you can’t deal with the people who don’t have your best interests at heart.” He paused. “Sandra doesn’t, by the way.”
“I noticed…You don’t think it’ll ever be worth explaining my side of things?”
“Not at all.” He tilted my chin up and kissed my lips. “It’s not about the truth, Chloe. It’s about what sells…”
“What about personal, one-on-one interviews?” I asked. “Do those work?”
“No.” He kissed me again. “People only hear what they want to hear.”
I leaned against his chest, and he caressed me until we landed.
* * *
Once Tyler was back in the air, bound for London, I set up an art studio in his living room. Seven new easels stared at me, ready for new adventures.
As I was cleaning the brushes, a security guard knocked on the door.