Page 105 of From the Moment We Met

Chapter Eighteen

Jacob

Jacob's morning run usually meandered once around the park, but he had circled twice already and had no intention of stopping. He needed to keep moving until the events of the other night stopped playing in his head.

Even when Victoria hurled atrocities at Lilly, she hadn’t retaliated. She didn’t have it in her to be cruel, even when deserved. Jacob’s heart ached as he recalled the taste of Lilly’s skin and the feel of her body beneath his hands. He had never felt this way about another human being and yet he allowed someone to tear her down while he watched.

All for a fucking movie role. A role that no longer held any meaning for him because of what he’d lost in its pursuit.

He glanced at the time. He had a lunch meeting with Albert, and it was already past nine. He returned to his house an hour later and headed straight for the shower. Victoria was in the bathroom, a smug smile on her lips.

“Hello, darling.” She kissed him, and he recoiled, nauseated by her touch.

“Are you finished?”

“There’s plenty of room in here for us both, and we have some time before our meeting with Albert.” She grabbed his shaft, massaging him into an erection.

Jacob felt no different than a two-bit whore, sleeping with the enemy in the hopes of scoring the big payday, and Victoria took full advantage of her position of power.

Jacob relented to her sexual demands, but his mind always drifted to Lilly’s porcelain skin and the way she moaned when he was inside her. He couldn’t come any other way. Victoria, despite her outer beauty, reeked of self-importance and egoism. Sex with her was a dreaded chore.

Victoria knelt in front of him, and he clenched his fists against the shower wall. “Relax, baby. Enjoy it.” Her falsetto voice sent him over the edge, and he backed away.

“Get up, Victoria,” Jacob snapped.

“What’s wrong? You weren’t complaining yesterday, or the day before.”

“Would it have mattered? You told me if I didn’t give you exactly what you wanted, you would feed rumors to the tabloids and tank my career. And let’s not forget your threats against Lilly.”

Victoria expelled a low growl. “I am so tired of hearing that bitch’s name.”

Jacob got in her face, his jaw twitching. “Don’t you ever say another word against Lilly. Do you understand?”

Victoria tried to embrace him, but he shrugged her off. “I love you.”

Jacob guffawed. “You don’t love me, you don’t know the meaning of the word.”

“And you do? I didn’t see you defending your little nurse the other night, so how much do you really love her? You never put anyone ahead of your precious career. You know it, I know it…and Lilly definitely knows it.” Her shrill voice cut through his mind like nails on a chalkboard. “You and I are the same that way. We both understand what’s important.”

Jacob shook his head, images of Lilly’s face floating through his mind. “We’re not alike in any way…and I do know what love is…and what it’s not. We’re going to be late, please leave me alone.”

Victoria grimaced but obliged, leaving the bathroom. As soon as the door shut, Jacob rested his head against the shower wall, wondering how in hell to fix this mess.

∞∞∞

The meeting was, by all accounts, a huge success. However, Albert hadn’t made any final decisions about his casting choice. The director seemed aggravated by Victoria’s presence, although he didn’t mention it outright. Jacob surmised Victoria could annoy anyone who had too much contact with her, she was the only one who thought she was infallible.

Thankfully, she had to return Stateside that afternoon. Media gathered by her private jet, ensuring photos of her locked in Jacob’s passionate kiss were published in every tabloid. Jacob wanted to gargle with boiling water after she stuck her tongue down his throat.

Driving away from the private airstrip, he realized Janie had left a voicemail. She ignored his phone calls the last few days, but her message asked him to stop by before he left for Greece.

He was relieved his baby sister might forgive him, although he was far from forgiving himself.

Returning home, he finished packing, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror. The beard and long hair would soon be a thing of the past. His character was cleanly shaven with a crewcut. He recalled Lilly mentioning her preference for long hair and beards.

“Fucking perfect,” Jacob muttered.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Lilly’s number, but it went to voicemail—no surprise there. He started to leave a message but hung up when he realized he had no excuse for what she endured at Roger’s house.

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