Fallen Woman(71)

~~~

“Have you seen the paper or the news today?” Hart’s voice came through the speakerphone loud and clear.

“No, why?” Jase asked.

For Hart to call this early in the morning and ask that question, whatever he saw wasn’t good, and I dreaded hearing his response.

“You didn’t tell me there was a paper contract about Gianna’s arrangement.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Angry didn’t even begin to describe his tone or the look on his face.

“Holland leaked it to the press. I’m assuming it was Holland. Surely, none of the other men would have done it. It’s on the front page. You and Gianna need to lay low and stay out of sight.”

“Gianna’s name isn’t on it. And how could the group writing an agreement about paying for someone’s time be misconstrued.”

“Her name might not be on it, but the press knows it involves her. They’ve already put pictures of her with each guy together. Jase, she’s in expensive clothes on the arms of some of the city’s most powerful men, and the press doesn’t hesitate to mention she was living in The Village before she moved her four kids in with you.”

“She didn’t do anything illegal, Hart. And one of those kids is mine.”

My heart could’ve opened up and swallowed him. I loved the way he treated all the kids, but Derrick was special. He was still waiting for full custody of him, but he had another couple of days left in his wait. I hoped like hell this wouldn’t change any of that. He’d never forgive me if he lost him.

“And she didn’t ask to move in here. I practically had to force her to.”

“Well, let’s not tell the press that. The whole situation looks bad from the outside.”

“That’s bullshit. You know I love her, Hart. You know I don’t live with women—or hell, even date them. I refuse to allow her to be treated like or talked about as though she’s any less than exactly what I feel.”

“Get ready, Jase. It’s going to get ugly. You’re going to need to make a statement, but I want to try to reach Holland’s lawyer before that happens. It might be hard to do on the weekend.”

“What does he have to gain from this? His name is on there just like everyone else’s. Why would he want the public to think he’d hired a prostitute?” Jase was bewildered as much as I was, but I kept my mouth shut and just listened.

“Think about it, Jase. Would you rather someone believe you hired a prostitute that looked and carried herself like Gianna? Or would you rather the public think you raped a woman with three kids who lived in poverty? If the press and the public, in general, believe she was a high-end hooker, they’re not only going to be less sympathetic toward her, but they won’t believe she was raped.”

“She tested positive for Rohypnol!”

“Yeah, but she didn’t press charges and hasn’t come forward. And don’t forget, Jase, she went out with Holland several times, and they talked on the phone regularly. The public as a whole believes women ask for it—they will not have sympathy for her unless she’s honest about her situation, Emmy’s illness, and what actually happened.”

“Fuck!” he roared. Even from across the bar I could feel the change in the air.

“I’ll call you back after I reach his attorney, but you two need to get prepared to either wage war or defend yourselves.”

Jase disconnected the call, and I sat in stunned silence. I had no clue what to do. Part of me just wanted to run and hide, but I knew I had to fight. I sensed him moving but didn’t take my eyes off the counter as I contemplated what this was going to mean for him. For me. For us.

Standing behind me, he caged me in with his arms. “Talk to me, love. What are you thinking?”

I leaned back into him and closed my eyes before I spoke. “I’m scared.”

“Of?”

“What this is going to do to you. How it’s going to affect me. I’m terrified it’s going to change us.”

“How do you think it’s going to change us?” His cage went from a box around me to a protective ring enclosing me, hugging me.

The tears had started before I got the first word out. “I don’t want to lose you.”

He let go of me to spin me around on the stool to face him. I hid in my hands, not wanting him to see me cry. “Gia, I’m in this for the long haul. We haven’t talked about it, and I’m sure it would seem sudden to outsiders, but you’re my best friend. I love you. If I thought I could talk you into taking my last name, we’d be at the courthouse Monday morning. But I want to do this right. I don’t want you to question us or my loyalty to you. If I’d known then what I know now, I never would have let my friends into your life. I knew what I wanted the day I met you…I just didn’t have a clue how to get it.”

He wiped the tears from my face as I looked up at him like a lost child.

“I’m in my thirties and have never had a serious relationship. I don’t know what I’m doing. All I know is I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to tuck those kids in bed at night. I want them to call me daddy and you to share my name.” He sighed. “Regardless of what happens, you and I are in this together.”

I was shocked by his revelation, and of all the things I honed in on, it wasn’t that he wanted to tuck my kids in bed or for them to all call him daddy…it was sharing his last name. “You want to marry me?” It wasn’t a proposal, and I shouldn’t have taken it as one, but the romantic in me couldn’t help but swoon.