Page 123 of Waiting to Lose
“What do you mean?” Caleb questioned.
“Tell me again what happened the night I was drugged.”
“Jake, there’s no proof you were drugged. Now I don’t know why you keep…”
Jake opened his wallet and tossed a folded paper onto Caleb’s desk.
Caleb glared at him as he opened the paper.
“Ketamine?” Caleb asked. “What’s that?”
“Don’t play stupid with me. How did you do it?” he asked, lifting his chin.
“Do what?” Caleb asked, standing.
“Sit your ass back down, Caleb. You’re not going anywhere.”
Caleb slowly curled back into the chair.
“The bottle of water you gave me that night. It had Ketamine in it. You drugged me. You called Allison Gregory and had her fly to Melbourne. You set the whole thing up, you mother fucker.”
“Jake, I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but…”
“Save it. Dave checked your car. He found the camera this morning.”
Caleb sighed before a small smile tugged at his lips. “I didn’t think it was a good idea at first, but it grew on me. I admit, once I thought it through, I realized it was best for you. Don’t you see? Everything was for you. You have to know. Ever since those photos came out, your popularity has skyrocketed. You’re all over the press. Everyone wants you, Jake. I’ve had calls from movie producers. Movie producers who want you! You’ve made more money off sales in the last month than in the last six combined. Don’t you see? I knew this was best for you. I always know what’s best for you.”
Jake stood. His jaw clenched as he reached out and grabbed Caleb by the shirt over the desk. “You don’t know shit about me. This isn’t about me. It’s never been about me. It’s been about you and what you want, you greedy little bastard. You wanted me in the papers. You exploited me for your own personal gain. How many bribes did you take to get me to do those interviews? Huh?” Jake released his shirt and pushed him back into the chair.
“You kept pushing me toward her,” Jake continued. “You even told the press I said ‘Allie’ in Chicago instead of ‘Madi.’ Why? So you could link us? Did you have this in mind the whole time?”
“Cut the crap, Jake,” Caleb said as he straightened his shirt. “You agreed that releasing ‘Allie’ instead of ‘Madi’ was a great idea. You knew that being linked to some gold-digging brat from Chicago would be bad for your career.”
“Gold-digging what?” Jake said as he flew around the table and grabbed him by the neck.
“Jesus, Jake! Calm the fuck down.”
“Don’t you ever say one more word about Madi. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Is she? Ever since you met her, you’re less focused. I don’t know what happened to you. Is she that fucking good in bed that you can’t stop thinking about her pussy?”
Jake let go of his throat and turned away briefly before his fist swung and crashed into Caleb’s jaw.
“Son of a bitch!” Jake screamed, holding his hand.
Dave and Greg burst through the doors and pulled Jake away from Caleb, just as he was swinging for another hit. Dave yanked Jake out the office door.
“I know this is bad, Jake, but your hands. Don’t ruin your hands over him.” Jake glanced down as his knuckles began to swell. Dave shook his head and jutted away, coming back a moment later with a towel full of ice. “Let’s go,” he said, lifting his hand to the stairs.
“I’m not finished.”
Jake strode into the office where Caleb sat rubbing his jaw. Greg stood over him, glaring.
“How’s your hand?” Caleb asked.
“Shut the fuck up,” Jake said, crinkling his face and glaring at him. “What do you have on her?”
“On who?” Caleb asked.
