Chapter 9
Scandal Made Headlines
Hillary Beck
“Look here!” a voice shouted, and a flash went off, blinding me.
“Hillary Beck! Right here!” another voice shouted as the clicks and flashes of the cameras surrounded me.
I winced, turning my face away and trying to push through the crowd that surrounded me.
“Hillary, what do you have to say about your relationship with Gale Fears?” a voice shouted over the din.
“Hillary! Is the relationship between the two of you casual, or are you looking for something serious?” another voice screamed at me.
“Hillary, is it true that your relationship is the reason you got this job?” As the reporters continued to shout the questions, I tried to wrestle through the crowd. Tears were stinging my eyes as their questions hit me directly in the heart. I felt overwhelmed and exhausted. I could barely sleep because of the fear of Joe, and the erotic dreams about Gale I kept having. I was emotionally and mentally drained, and at the moment I felt as if I was about to break.
“Enough!” a voice roared over the shouts of the reporters.
Silence fell, and I raised my eyes and found myself gazing into familiar bright eyes. He stood there, strong and handsome, dressed in one of his tailored suits. He shone with an aura of power and strength, and I could feel the impact of his presence.
“You are all to leave the premises right now,” Gale ordered. His voice was low, but it carried over to the reporters almost as well as if he had shouted the words. The paparazzi began to mutter amongst themselves, and Gale glared at them.
“If you do not leave, I will have my guards see you all out,” he threatened. “Leave. Now.”
That was enough to get the reporters moving, and soon enough I stood there alone, staring into his intense eyes. He didn’t say another word, but just turned around and walked towards the building.
“Keep them all out from now on,” he told the guards at the entrance before making his way into the office building. I followed him inside silently, well aware that every eye was on me.
I followed him to the elevator, and I must admit, it was one of the most awkward elevator rides of my life. The silence was palpable, but what made it worse was the tension between us. The air was vibrating with a sexual energy that was emitted from both of us. I found it hard to breathe as the memories of my dreams flashed through my mind. I wanted him, but I knew I couldn’t have him. He’d made up his mind, he didn’t want me in his life, not even secretly with no strings attached.
As the door opened and we walked towards his office, eyes followed me. I could see how much they detested and hated me. Everyone here thought of me as a slut. The woman who slept with the boss, using her body to climb the ladder of success. I knew how coveted the position of Gale’s secretary had been. There had been so many applicants that I was surprised I got it. And it was no secret that many girls here had already tried to seduce Gale and had failed.
Half of the girls hated me because he had chosen me over them. The other half hated me because they thought that I had cheated and gotten this position. Regardless of which side they agreed with, pairs of eyes glared at me.
“Come in,” Gale ordered, walking into his office. I walked in, and as the great doors swung close behind me, I looked away.
“Don’t worry, they won’t bother you for long,” he said.“I will handle it.”
“Don’t worry?” I whispered. “You do realize your interference just made everything worse? What more confirmation did they need? Did you see the way everyone was looking at me? Everyone in this firm detests me. Everyone hates me. I am the office slut now! No one will ever believe my success now. Whatever I achieve now, everyone will think I must have slept with the boss.”
“I admit,” he said softly. “That this was a mistake.”
“Mistake?” I whispered. “No. We are way past calling it a mistake. This was one of the greatest fuck ups I have ever made. I don’t know why I keep doing this. First Joe, and now you! My entire life is ruined!”
“Hillary, I said I will handle—” he said, but I cut him off.
“Handle?” I asked. “How? How will you handle anything now, Gale? My parents won’t look me in the eyes. There’s disappointment in my father’s face every time I see him. Wherever I go for a job, they will remember this. This piece of news has ruined my entire future!”
His intense gaze was fixed onto me, and as much as it made me shiver, I stood straight. He marched towards me, and I stumbled backward. My back hit the wall, and I found myself pressed against him. He grabbed my wrists and pinned me to the wall, his eyes staring into mine.
“I made a promise to protect you, Hillary,” he whispered. “I will keep my word. I will protect you.”
“But why?” I whispered, panting. I was acutely aware of how his body felt pressed against mine.
“Because I know pain and fear,” he said, his breath brushing against my lips. “Because I know how it feels. And now that I know the past that tortures you, I am going to protect you from it. I won’t fail to protect you. Not like her.”
“Her?” I asked.
He gazed at me; his jaw clenched as he looked into my eyes. There was a shadow, darkness lurking behind them that shook me. For a second I felt scared as I tried to understand the expression on his face.
“You should get back to your work,” he said softly, letting me go.
His words echoed in my head. “I will protect you.” And I didn’t know if I should be relieved or happy.
