“What’s happened?” I deadpan as resignation settles in my sleep-heavy bones.
“That little bitch leaked your arrest and her assault to the press.” There is no love lost these days between Amanda and the woman she set me up with. I know she feels guilty for my predicament, which is ridiculous. It was still my decision, and I was the idiot who chose to fuck the crazy psycho and subsequently knocked her up. My situation is all on me.
“It’s blowing up everywhere,” she adds. “I need you to come in ASAP.”
“Fuck.”
Sydney’s worried eyes latch on to mine.
“Is Sydney mentioned?”
“No. The new reports are all about your arrest for assaulting your poor sick pregnant fiancée and how you’ve been cavorting with other women. It does not paint you in a good light, Jared.”
We didn’t get to release my statement yesterday as efforts were immediately diverted in the wake of my arrest. It would’ve helped if I’d had the first word, but there’s nothing I can do about it now except do damage control. “Call a press conference. I’ll make a live statement, but I’ll need to run everything by John first.”
“Agreed. I’ll set it in motion, and both of you meet me at TR HQ. I’ll call Ryder and the guys too. A visible show of support will help.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” I hang up and rub at my tired eyes.
“I heard,” Syd softly says, propping up on an elbow. “What can I do?”
“Stay indoors and stay safe.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. “Everything is going to come to the surface now, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
“I can make a statement, and this will all go away.”
“No, babe.” I peer deep into her eyes. “I want to keep you away from this for as long as I can. Let me get rid of this bogus claim first, and then we’ll put out a press statement about us after we’ve proven my ex is a manipulative bitch and a complete liar. We’ll garner sympathy then. If you are outed as my girl at this time, you’ll be lynched, and I’m not having it. You are not going to be the one to pay the price.”
“Okay. Whatever you think is best.”
As much as I’d love to stay in bed all day with Sydney in my arms, cocooned from the harsh reality outside my window, I can’t. It’s time to deal with Vittoria Russo once and for all.
* * *
“Whatever you do, Jared, do not lose your cool out there,” John says as we stand in a room to one side of the hotel ballroom where the press conference is due to shortly take place. I’ve spent most of the day locked in lengthy and often heated discussions with my lawyer, the label’s legal team, my PR people, the label’s PR people, Ryder and the other co-owners, and Wilder and Linc, thrashing out the best strategy. It’s been decided I will fully confess the nature of my relationship with my ex and deny her assault allegations.
“Run through it again, Jared.” Amanda casts a scrutinizing glance over my attire. She wanted me to wear a monkey suit, but fuck that. I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not. I’ll go out there in my black shirt, ripped jeans, and scuffed boots, looking like the rock star I am. They can take what I have to say or leave it.
“I’ll be reading my statement, Mandy. I don’t need to go over it.”
“Humor me,” she says, and I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes.
“I’m going to state how our relationship was one of mutual convenience and I only proposed when Toria told me she was pregnant because I thought it was the right thing to do for my unborn child. When it was obvious it wasn’t going to work, I ended things, ensuring mother and baby are well taken care of with agreed provisions for the duration of the pregnancy and for the future. While I can’t divulge the nature of our agreement, thanks to a rock-solid confidentiality clause, I can confirm I have no plans to abandon my baby or the mother of my child even if we are no longer in a relationship. I have to be careful not to cast aspersions on Toria’s character and just stick to facts, which also include that I have never laid a hand on her and I was at home in San Francisco when the alleged assault took place. Something that will be proven beyond doubt in due course. I will categorically deny assaulting her now or at any other time. Okay?” I dart a glance at my publicist.
“Far from it, but stick to the script, and you’ll be fine.”
“Don’t let the press heckling get to you,” Ryder cautions. “They’ll try to anger you so you blurt something you shouldn’t. Just go out there. Read the statement. Show the appropriate emotion. Then thank them for coming and leave.”
“We’re going up there with you,” Wilder says, approaching on my left.
“Thanks. I appreciate the support.”
“We’ve got your back, man,” Linc adds, slapping me on the shoulder. “And anything else you need to take this crazy bitch down, it’s yours.”
“Put the TV on!” Amanda shrieks, startling everyone. She glances up from her cell phone with shock splayed across her face. “CNN. Now!” she barks at some poor nervous-looking intern as she runs toward the wall-mounted screen at the back of the room.
“What’s going on?” I ask as I stride toward her.
“Did you know Sydney was going to do this?”
