Page 70 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Thirty-Three
THE FIRST CALL Josh made was to Claudia, placing her on administrative leave while he had the matter investigated. She was livid, but he didn’t care. The second call he made was to Kelly Treejen, his public relations manager, the third was to his attorney, advising him to hire a private investigator to find out the truth. After the calls, he went into the master bedroom,where Riley was sleeping, and lay beside her. After Mia called, they’d talked for an hour and he’d finally gotten through to her. He didn’t know what he’d have done if she didn’t take him back; the thought of losing her was too dark to ponder. She stirred beside him, and he wrapped his arm around her.
“You okay?” he asked.
She rolled over and faced him. She was so beautiful, even with the worldcrashing down around her, the essence of her positivity remained. He brushed her hair from her eyes and kissed her.
“We need to talk,” he said.
Riley’s body went rigid within his arms. “Don’t worry. It’s not anything horrible.”
She sat up and crossed her arms. “Okay.”
“I put Claudia on administrative leave.” He searched her eyes, but knew she had no clue what he was about to say. “And I haveto put you on administrative leave, too, just until this thing is dealt with.” He expected her to get angry, just as Claudia had. Instead, she nodded.
“Okay, I understand.”
“You do?”
“Of course. If you didn’t take equal measures then it would look like something was up between us,” she said.
“That’s the other thing. Riley, I have to hire a private investigator. If you have no way to provethat was your original design, then someone else has to find a way.”
She furrowed her brow. “What can they possibly do to prove they were mine?”
“Maybe nothing, but we have to try; otherwise this nightmare will go on forever.” He drew in a breath and blew it out slowly. “That means we’re going to be exposed. You and me.”
“But that’ll make things worse,” she urged.
“Maybe, but if we’re goingto clear you, we have to be transparent about everything. Including us.” As much as it worried Josh to reveal their relationship alongside being sucked into Claudia’s craziness, he was also relieved. In his heart, he knew Riley didn’t steal those ideas, and he was tired of pretending that his love for her didn’t exist.
“So what happens now?” she asked.
“Page Six is doing some kind of articleon the accusations. Who knows what it will say, but you heard my response. It’s Christmas week, so, hopefully, this will blow over and come to a resolution before the New Year. I want you to go back home so you’re not caught in the crossfire.”
“Aren’t you coming?” She moved closer to him. “I don’t want you to deal with this on your own. Isn’t it better if you leave town, too?”
“No. I have tobe here to manage things. I’ll come home for Christmas, but I want you to leave tomorrow morning. You don’t need to see this craziness spread out before you. I’ll take care of it, and then I’ll join you.”At least I hope to.Josh recognized that he was putting himself in a vulnerable position. Without proof that Riley didn’t steal the design, he might not be able to clear her name, and then notonly would JBD be seen as the scandalous design studio, but he’d be seen as the designer who was duped.
One look into Riley’s eyes told him that none of that mattered. He had faith that she was telling the truth, and his only regret was not standing behind her that first night. He should have climbed right into bed with her and told her what was going on—and believed every word she said afterward.He knew the message silence and hesitation sent, and he regretted having done both.
He stripped off his clothes, needing to feel Riley’s body against him before she left, and climbed beneath the covers. He helped her out of her T-shirt and panties, and pulled her close. Her chest pressed against his, their hearts beating in perfect harmony.
She looked up at him, and he lowered his mouth to hers,taking her in a deep, passionate kiss, wanting to kiss the hurt right out of her heart. Needing to heal the pain that slayed them both.
He took her face between his hands and whispered, “I love you, Riley. You are what matters. You’re my life, my love, and I will never again fail you.”
