He shook his head. “I don’t want her or my sister seeing me like this.”
“She’ll hear what’s happened soon enough.”
“I’ll call her.”
“I can do it if you’d rather?”
“No. I’ll do it. Better if it comes from me.”
“I wish you’d called me.”
He ran a hand over his face. “I know I’ve made things worse. The press will fucking love this even more than they loved splashing my guilt and pain all over the front pages.”
“Screw the press. Let them do their worst. They can’t touch you if you don’t let them.”
“It’s going to be a rough ride. Sure you want to stick around for that, Spitfire?”
“I can handle them, and you.” I cradled his face, locking eyes with his. “I’m not walking away, Joz. Not today, tomorrow, or ever. But you have to do something, for yourselfandfor us.”
He nodded. “Rehab.”
“Yes. I’ll find somewhere excellent, I promise. Do you want to go home to London or stay here?”
“Here. I want to be close to you even if you won’t be able to visit.”
“Rehab facilities allow visitors, you know.”
“Yeah, but I won’t want you to come. I may have only relapsed once, but my addiction runs deep, Aspen. Already, my body is craving another fix. If I’m to stand a chance of beating this, I need to focus fully on myself, and you’re just too much of a distraction.”
I could not be any prouder of this man.Myman. “I love you. We’re going to make it through this, and we will both come out the other side even stronger. You’ll see.”
For the longest time, he didn’t say anything, and just when I thought he might’ve drifted off to sleep, he spoke in a whisper, “I hope you’re right.”
“Well, this is it.” I motioned to the front entrance of the rehab facility I’d found an hour north of Manhattan. It resembled a spa hotel rather than an in-patient medical facility for addicts. Although Joz looked bleak, and I could tell he felt deep shame at what he believed was a personal failure, there was a steely determination to his body language that had been missing when I arrived at the hospital yesterday morning. His shoulders were pinned back, and his eyes were sharp and focused.
“You’re going to beat this. I’m only at the end of a phone. You need anything, and I’m there.” I stood on tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. “We’re all behind you, Joz.”
He pulled me in for another kiss, releasing me only when the front door opened, revealing a woman in a smart blue suit,wearing a warm smile. Mrs. Pendleton, the manager I’d spoken to yesterday.
“Joz, welcome. We’re glad you’re here. And you must be Aspen.” I shook her hand, and Joz did the same. “Well, I’ll leave you to say your goodbyes. There’s tea and lemon muffins in my office. It’s the first on the right. I’ll see you there shortly, Joz.”
She pivoted and disappeared back inside. When Joz held me this time, he clung to me a little tighter. “Find out who leaked that diary.”
“Bank on it.”
I returned to my car, but before I got in, I couldn’t resist one final look. Joz was already walking inside, but it was as though he sensed my eyes on him. He paused on the top step and turned around. I blew him a kiss. He smiled forlornly, then went inside.
I got into the driver’s side, and once I’d made sure Joz couldn’t see me, I broke. Unbearable, gut-wrenching sobs tore out of me. I didn’t even attempt to stop them, just let the tears come until my eyes were raw and my throat felt as though I’d swallowed razor blades. It was cathartic, though, and by the time I’d dried my eyes and driven back to the highway, my devastation at what had happened in the last thirty-six hours vanished, replaced with a steely determination to uncover the truth and make those responsible pay.
A low hum rippled through the office as I made my way down the hall to the conference room at Kingcaid’s New York headquarters. Inside were my father, both my brothers, and my cousins, Penn and Blaize. Everyone else had dialed into a video call, and the media wall on the far side of the conference room quickly filled with concerned and sympathetic expressions.
“You drop Joz off okay?” London asked, reaching out to squeeze my hand as I took my seat.
“Yes.” I rubbed my lips together. “I love you all, and I’m so grateful you’re here supporting me, but can we please keep thefocus professional? We have some damage control to do, and I’d rather concentrate on that. I’m teetering on the edge here. If even one of you asks if I’m all right, I’m going to break. And I refuse to break. Okay?”
Everyone nodded.
“Great.” I opened my laptop and sent the presentation I’d cobbled together last night with Sam’s help to the screen. “Can everyone see that?” Once I’d received confirmation from those on video call, I turned to slide one. “Right, let’s get to work.”
