Page 54 of Tempting All The Way

“This event can’t finish soon enough,” I curse, adjusting my cock in my pants. Exiting the car a few moments later, I take Shardonnay’s hand and walk her up the red carpet. “Just smile and don’t say anything to the media,” I tell her.

As we make our way down the runway, reporters yell from each side of me. I smile and wave, just like I’ve been taught my whole life. “Xavier Christianson, do you have anything to say about the employee who’s suing you for sexual harassment?” one of them calls out.

I hear Shardonnay take a deep breath. Her shoulders straighten and her steps pick up and rush towards the door. Fuck! This is not how I wanted to tell her about this shitshow.

“I’ll explain. Just stay calm,” I whisper into her ear. I’m an asshole—I know—but the last thing I need to deal with is a media frenzy about my date. Who also happens to be an employee. Especially if they see us fighting on the red carpet.

Shardonnay doesn’t acknowledge my words. She just continues to the door. Once we’re inside, she scans the interior. “I need the bathroom,” she says and slips out of my hold, hightailing it down the hall.

I follow right behind her and stand outside the ladies, waiting for her to come out. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I send Nathan and Alistair a message.

Me:

I need a car at the back of the Houston. News of the lawsuit has been leaked.

Nathan:

I’ll have a driver there in ten.

Alistair:

Go home. We’ll meet up tomorrow and discuss a plan for how to handle the media.

Pocketing my phone, I decide Shardonnay has had enough time in the bathroom. I push through the door. She’s standing at the basin washing her hands. She looks up at me but there is no shine to her eyes. I know she’s fighting really hard not to cry.

“Babe, I can explain. I was going to tell you,” I start.

“Really? You can explain why you didn’t tell me you were getting sued for sexual harassment?” she asks, her tone dripping with venom.

This is why I didn’t want her to know. This is why I tried to keep her out of it. I didn’t want to see that look on her face—the one that questions my innocence. “I… I wanted to tell you. I just…”

“You didn’t trust me enough, Xavier. That’s why you didn’t tell me.”

“No, I trust you, Shardonnay. I’ve given you my fucking heart. I’ve given you every piece of me. I trust you without a shred of doubt.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t know… I didn’t want you to look at me likethat.” I gesture to her face. “I didn’t want you to believe the claims. The things I’ve done with you, the things we’ve done. It’s the first time I’ve ever had any kind of relationship with an employee, but how are you meant to believe me?” I start pacing the small restroom.

“I believe you because I know you, Xavier. You’re not a freaking sexual predator. A sexual deviant, yes. But I know you’d never push yourself on an unwilling woman,” she says, shocking the fuck out of me. “I believe you because I love you enough to trust that you’re telling me the truth when you say you didn’t do it.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry. I’m doing everything I can to get this lawsuit thrown out,” I tell her.

“Do you know what hurts the most, Xavier?” she asks, her voice so quiet.

“What?”

“That you didn’t believe in us enough to tell me. You didn’t trust that I would have your back. We’re meant to be anus,and you just made it clear that you’re still ayouwithoutme.” Tears are running down her cheeks.

“No!” I say more firmly than I should. “That’s not… we are anus, Shardonnay. You and me will always be anus. I didn’t tell you because I was too fucking scared of losing you. I’ve never been afraid of anything in my life. I’ve been a spoilt asshole for as long as I can remember. Always gotten what I wanted, when I wanted. But you, you’re the only thing I couldn’t have. For years, I’ve wanted you. And I was fucking scared that when I finally had my chance to prove to you that someone like me was worthyof someone like you, I’d lose you. I was terrified of losing you before I could prove to you that I could be good enough.”

“I want to go home,” she says.

I drop my head and take her hand. We walk in silence as I lead her to the back of the building, exiting through the kitchen before sliding into the town car that’s waiting for us there.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I’m speechless. I don’t know how to feel, what to think. The one thing thatisclear is Xavier’s innocence. There is no way he did whatever that woman is claiming. He respects women. I’ve been watching him for years. I would have known if he was a creep who went around assaulting people.

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