Page 70 of Suddenly Tempted
Devlin tried to fight the current of bodies pressing in from all sides, but it was like swimming against a relentless tide. Reporters were rushing towards him, their voices a chaotic chorus of shouts and questions. Microphones and cameras were thrust in his face and the clinic’s security staff were struggling to hold them back, all of their shouting lost in the madness. Despite their best efforts, the sheer number of people made it impossible to maintain control. The noise was deafening, and for a moment, Devlin felt his heart race in response to the overwhelming pressure.
But then he let go and allowed himself to be carried along with the tide, knowing the doctor would steer him where he needed to go. The older man guided him through the confusion, his hand on Devlin’s shoulder as they made their way through a side door. It clicked shut behind them, sealing off the noise, and suddenly the clinic felt like an oasis of calm compared to the madness outside.
“Are you okay?” the doctor asked, his brow lined with worry. “I’m so sorry. I thought we had them under control.”
“I’m fine,” said Devlin, feeling his heart rate start to slow. He smiled. “I really am. I don’t think I’ve ever been better.”
The doctor still looked uneasy, clearly unconvinced by Devlin’s calm demeanour.
“Let me take you back to your room,” the doctor said. “You need your rest. We’ll clear the press from the grounds immediately.”
But Devlin shook his head, already feeling the familiar pull of action. He didn’t want to rest. Not now. Not when everything had finally fallen into place.
“No,” he stated, firmly. “I’m checking out.”
“Checking out?” the doctor repeated, a note of alarm creeping into his voice. “But you’re still recovering—”
“I’m fine,” Devlin said. “Please pack my clothes for me, and can I request a few new items? Oh, and I need to borrow a helicopter.”
The doctor blinked in astonishment.
“We can’t just let you borrow—”
“Then I’ll buy it,” said Devlin. “Whatever you have, I’ll buy it.”
Not waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and walked down the corridor towards his room, his mind already spinning ahead to the next steps. He wasn’t going to linger here, not when there was something much more important waiting for him.
He wasn’t surprised to see Claudia in his room, her fury pulsing from her in dark, angry waves. She had her phone in her hand, holding it so tightly her knuckles were white, and her face was twisted in a mask of rage.
“Do you know what you’ve done?” she said. “I’m a laughing stock on Twitter, on Heartbook,everywhere!”
Devlin looked at her calmly.
“I didn’t ask you to be here,” he said. “You did this to yourself.”
“That’s not fair,” she snapped, stepping towards him. “After everything I did for you.”
Devlin tried not to laugh, shaking his head slightly.
“Everything you did for me?” he repeated, incredulously. “You threatened to destroy me, Claudia.”
Claudia scoffed. “Just you wait, when your empire crumbles, you’ll come back to me,” she spat. “You need the front page as much as I do.”
She pushed past him, and he listened to the sound of her heels clacking down the corridor. He knew it would be the last time he heard them, the last time he heard her voice, and the thought of it made him grin.
But it was nothing compared to the thought of seeing Darcy again.
He wasn’t sure if she was still here, or if she’d left, but he hoped she had been listening and had heard his words at the end of the press conference. She would know what he meant, he was sure of it. She always did. He didn’t need to explain himself to Darcy. She saw him — truly saw him — in a way no one else ever had. And that’s what mattered.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Devlin grabbed the few personal items he had in his room, packing them quickly. He didn’t need much. Just the essentials to keep him going for the next few days. What mattered was that Darcy would come.
He zipped up his small bag, slung it carefully over his good shoulder, and walked out of the room without looking back.
Chapter 41
DARCY
“Darcy! Oh my god!”
