I Do the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #5)(13)
Jamie bit her tongue as she watched her mother move around the kitchen, lost to her fantasy of being a beauty queen for the world to adore.
"He degraded Jamie, and he's going to retract those statements." Her father walked into the kitchen and crossed his arms over his chest. "You're being ridiculous about this."
"Dad’s right, Mom. Alex met with our lawyers today over all of it, and we'll be filing a slander suit against Stephen and the magazine in the next few days." Jamie pulled out her phone, but kept her eyes on her mother as she whipped around again.
"What? That's stupid. Any publicity is good publicity. Don't you know how this works? So what if you're a sex-starved whatever he called you? It makes Alex look like a great guy to stoop down to your level and lift you up. You're going to have a great story to tell one day. Stop ruining it for yourself, for us." Her mother moved to stand across the breakfast bar for her and slapped the countertop. "It's going to work out just fine."
"No, it's not, and you're being ridiculous. Dad's right." Jamie lifted her phone to her face, checking for Alex's text that he promised her he'd send. She wanted an update on his meeting with the lawyers, but the day simply got away from him. They hadn't been able to do much more than exchange a quick kiss before she headed toward her parents’. "Where is Stephen?"
"Not here. I kicked him out after everything happened." Jamie's father moved behind her and squeezed her shoulders. "Suing him is the best course of action. This place is turning into a three-ring circus. Your sister hasn't been over in a few days, and honestly, I'm getting worried about her."
"You two are just ignorant. I don't see what the big deal is. Really." Jamie's mother shrugged, wiped her hands on a towel, and walked out of the room. "Christina's just upset, as she should be. Stephen tells the world the truth, and he's degraded because of it."
"I'm going home." Jamie got up and turned to face her father. "You should have divorced her. She's f*cking crazy."
"Watch your language, but I'm starting to agree with you." He shook his head. "I don't know what's gotten into her. What Stephen did was wrong, no matter the reason for it. He's sick, and you keep on top of Alex to make sure he presses charges. If he doesn't, then I will."
"Thanks, Dad." Jamie hugged him tightly before walking to the door. No dinner or real conversation, and yet it was time to go. She'd not been welcomed there by anyone but her father anyway.
"Hey. He doesn't have a tape, right? I mean... if he does, I just want to prepare myself for what could happen." Her dad opened the door and gave her a sad smile.
"No, unless he recorded us when I was unaware. He was my boyfriend, Dad. We slept together. Am I really having this conversation?" She turned and walked to her car, lifting her hand as he called after her, wishing her a good evening and offering encouragement.
She called Alex on her way home, and was relieved to have him answer the phone.
"Hey, baby." His voice was deep and filled with weariness.
"Hey. You coming home soon?" She turned onto the freeway and put the heater on, cold, though she shouldn't have been.
"No, but I'll snuggle up to you when I finally do get home. I'm working up the numbers for the accountants who are coming by tomorrow. It's almost time for second-quarter reporting." He let out a sigh. "You at home?"
"Just leaving my parents’."
"How’d that go?"
"About the way it always goes. Horribly. My mom is thrilled for the attention from the media, and my dad's disgusted."
"Jeez. Were Stephen and Christine there?"
"No, which is probably a good thing. I probably would have taken a kitchen knife to him. Sorry bastard. How dare he lash out like this? I never did anything to him, Alex. Never." She pressed her fingers to her mouth and tried hard not to let herself tumble headfirst into depression.
"People who are jealous do crazy things. Take Nicholas for instance. He got Gina to turn her back on me completely. The woman had been with me since the day I opened the damn doors. It's sick, but they crave attention, and they'll get it no matter what they have to do. Stephen is obviously sick. We're not going to let him get the last word, though. I spoke with my attorneys today, and they're drafting the lawsuit. I'll put in a call to him shortly and let him know that I'm after him."
"Let Stephen know?" Jamie felt an arrow of concern drive through her center.
"Yes. He's my old friend. Asshole. He isn't just attacking you, baby, though that would be more than enough to have me come after him. He's attacking me too. You're mine and by making you look like something you aren’t; he's painting a picture about me too."
Jamie let out a sigh and pulled into the circle drive in front of their house. "Why can't we just have a normal, quiet life? Why is everything about our reputation and yet half of it isn't within our control?"
"Because I've worked hard to turn nothing into something. That always gets people's attention. I wasn't trying to collect accolades or be in the spotlight. I just wanted to prove to myself that even though my childhood was shit, I could rise above it, and I have. I hate that all this drama comes with it, but it does. You knew that when we started dating. Just hang in there with me, and we'll figure it out as we walk through the minefield together."