Page 63 of Ardent Desires

“I’m good,” I insist, forcing a smile. “You were great out there, by the way. Seriously, I felt like I was watching a superhero.”

He chuckles, his expression softening just a bit. “Superhero, huh? I might start wearing a cape.”

“Or a mask,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “You know, to keep your identity safe.”

He shakes his head, laughing more easily now. “Yeah, because that’ll solve all our problems.”

I glance at the clock on the wall. “So, what’s next?”

“I’ve got a meeting with the lawyer. We need to strategize about the fallout,” he says, his tone serious again. “But you can take the rest of the day off if you want. I don’t want you to stress over all this.”

“What? No,” I say, waving my hand dismissively. “I can’t just leave. I want to help.”

“Ellie,” he says, his tone firm, “you need to take a step back. I’ll handle the mess. Just focus on you for a bit.”

I chew my lip, caught between wanting to support him and wanting to scream at the chaos swirling around us. “Fine. I’ll take the day, but only because you insist.”

“Good. I’ll see you later?” He steps closer, and I can feel the warmth radiating off him.

“Definitely,” I say, my stomach doing a little flip.

He leans in, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” I promise, even though my mind is racing.

As he leaves, I lean back against my desk, letting out a slow breath. I pull out my phone again, scrolling through notifications, trying to distract myself from the madness. I catch my reflection in the computer screen. My hair’s a bit wild, and my eyes look a little too bright.

Jenna texts again, and I quickly reply, sharing the latest about the chaos.He’s meeting with the lawyer soon, and I’m kind of freaked out.

Jenna:You’ll be fine. Just breathe, and remember, I’m coming to visit!

I smile at that, the thought of her here brightening my mood.Can’t wait! We’ll have a girls’ night.

Jenna:Absolutely! Sounds like you need it.

“Hell yes,” I say out loud, grinning at my phone. Now I just need to handle all this business with Deborah and everything else swirling around.

Because clearly, when it rains, it pours.

****

I glance at the clock on the wall. Three-fifty. Time feels like it’s dragging, each second creeping by as I wait for Deborah to arrive. My stomach twists with a mix of nerves and anticipation. I can’t believe I’m about to meet the woman who claims to be my mother yet again. She’s been a stranger for so long, and nowI’m supposed to pretend we’re close—right in the middle of this media circus.

The doorbell rings, and I practically jump out of my skin. I take a deep breath, smoothing my hair back and adjusting my sweater. No big deal. Just a casual meeting with my estranged mom, no pressure. I open the door, and there she is. Deborah looks exactly like she did yesterday—maybe a bit older now, but the resemblance is undeniable. She has my eyes. I can see that now.

“Hi, Ellie,” she says, a smile breaking across her face. “I’m glad you could meet with me.”

“Yeah, uh, me too.” I step aside, letting her in. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

Deborah walks in and takes a look around like she did that first time too. Everything feels so weird.

I wish my mother was here to hold my hand through this.

We settle on the couch, the silence stretching uncomfortably. “So,” she begins, fiddling with her hands. “How are you? I’ve seen your name all over the news lately. The mistress of billionaire Alexander Blackwood.”

Ugh. There it is. I can’t help the heat creeping up my cheeks. “I’m okay, I guess. Just… trying to navigate everything.”

“I can’t believe you’re in the middle of all that drama. It must be intense.” She studies me, her eyes sharp. “I thought you’d want to keep your life private.”

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