Page 110 of Faking It

“They admit to lying, basically. Logan confessed that he paid Margaret for the story. Margaret told us the truth behind your record. Her boyfriend forced himself on you, and you stabbed him in self-defense.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you sure that’s what she said? Margaret didn’t even appear as my character witness during the trial. I can’t imagine her admitting that now.”

Tori points to the phone. “You can watch it. Confirm for yourself.”

Staring at the screen for a long beat, my curiosity soon gets the better of me. I press the arrow, and the video comes to life. With my arms wrapped around my waist and tension filling my body, I spend the next ten minutes watching the two people I despise the most in this world. Margaret looks old and tired, but I feel no pity for her. Only anger. Nine years ago, I needed her protection. I wanted her to defend me. I was desperate for her to tell the truth that she’s telling now. She didn’t. She wasn’t there for me when I needed her. Because of that, I spent two years in prison for defending my own life.

I throw the phone aside, sick to my stomach. “This is a mental fuck. Why would they come clean out of the blue?”

Tori shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe someone threatened them. Didn’t they seem a little scared to you?”

“I never stare in the face of evil, so I didn’t notice,” I reply, my sardonic tone making Tori chuckle. “Who’d threaten them, though?”

“Gideon, maybe,” she suggests.

“Would he, though?” I question. “I called him a back-stabbing bastard, screamed in his face and everything. He must hate my guts. I don’t understand why he would defend me after how I treated him.”

“If it’s him, then it’s not hard to imagine why. Seeing his face when he picked you up that night, I could see how much he adores you. You told me how often he’d come through for you, protected you, saved you… he might still be mad at you, but based on all the above, I don’t see him abandoning you, especially now when you need him the most.”

Listening to her, with everything sinking in, I have no doubt that it’s Gideon. It’s always been Gideon. I’m sorry it took this ordeal for the truth to sink in.

“I owe him an apology,” I mutter. “A huge one.”

But the thought of facing Gideon makes me hot-faced with embarrassment. He pleaded with me, and I refused to believe him. I screamed at him instead. Hit below the belt. I can’t bear looking at him again.Hewill never look at me in the same way again.

“Oh, God. I’m such an idiot,” I mumble, shimmying off the bed.

“What are you going to do?” Tori asks as I rummage in my top drawer.

I give her a look, and she shrinks. “I’m sorry, too soon. I’m going to check back with those production companies, see if they’ll change their minds about hiring you, okay?”

At my nod, she goes out, and as the door closes behind her, I pull out a pair of black lace panties. Tori and I will be walking on eggshells for a while, but she was right. I can’t delay going to Gideon any longer.

Even if we end up saying goodbye.

Chapter 41

Gideon

“Is it done?” I ask River, slipping my shoes on.

My security guard nods, the ghost of a smirk on his face. “Her ex literally shit his pants when I hung him upside down from the balcony. Told him my next visit wouldn’t be so pleasant if he refused to as I asked.”

“And her mother?” I’d specifically asked that he not treat her with any violence. Not that she deserved my mercy. Ana might hate her guts, but she wouldn’t want her harmed.

River grins widely now. “I showed her the video of Logan hanging upside down. Same threat. Turns out, it wasn’t even necessary. She got real chatty, telling us how she would drag Logan down in a heartbeat. Turns out, he double-crossed her, paying her a measly sum compared to what they agreed.”

“Serves her right. She’s lucky he paid her anything at all.”

“Well, that was last night. They should’ve gone live an hour ago. I gave them until 7am.” He pulls the phone from his pocket and types something in, then turns the screen to me. “Yup. Consider it officially over.”

“Good.” I reach for my jacket and slipped it on. “You did well, River. Thank you.”

“Anytime.” He gives me a mock salute and another smirk, then heads out. I follow behind a few moments later.

My cell phone rings as I get behind the wheel. It’s Ana. My heart flips from seeing her name on the screen. Before we broke up, there was a photo of her, but I removed it afterwards. I couldn’t bear seeing her name when the phone rang—although she never called. I know why she’s calling now, and honestly, she can keep that thank you to herself.

I did my good deed. She will be fine. As for me, I’ll get over her somehow.

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