Page 59 of The Billionaire Player

“What can I do to help fix this?” I asked.

“Nothing. Our lawyers are looking into seeing what we can do. Paps seems to be taking care of their own. We will see what we can do to help you get your job back,” Mac said.

“Screw that. If that magazine wants to publish stories like that, or hire people like Georgia, I don’t want to be associated with them. I’ll take the article and see if I can get it published somewhere else. Anyone would be lucky to have me,” I said.

“Totally,” JD said.

“What did you say?” Walker asked.

“Totally? What was that too valley girl for you? Or not enough?” JD asked.

“Not you. Lexi.”

“Anyone would be lucky to have me?”

“He certainly is,” Mac said and I blushed.

“No, about you publishing the article anywhere?” Walker asked.

“Especially now, any other magazine would want to get the truth from you all. I have that. The past, about Bailey and her childhood, the woman in college with JD, why he went to Italy, what happened when Bailey came back, everything,” I said.

“Would you be willing to publish that independently?”

“Sure,” I said.

“There’s no guarantee you would get paid for your work, but you would get the recognition and it might help you land another job,” Mac said.

“What are you thinking?” JD said.

He leaned on the table as he asked Mac but his right hand slid under the table and took my hand. I squeezed it and held on. I knew he was telling me that whatever happened next, he was with me. He believed me and we could handle everything as long as we were together.

Chapter 25

JD

It was late by the time Lexi and I got back to my apartment. After Walker left to go to a meeting, Mac, Lexi, and I had moved into my office and stayed until we finalized the statement we were going to make, together.

Between Mac, Lexi, and I we came up with what I considered was a very thorough and effective press release. Mac wanted to have Walker and Morgan look it over before he sent it out and I was sure they would have a few things they would want to tweak about it.

It said everything that we needed it to say. It stated that the article was a lie, that there was no collaboration with Georgia and the family to print the article. However, we had collaborated with Alexandria Ricci and her article would be coming out soon.

Hopefully, it would create some interest in the article and help Lexi find a job. Though from the comments that Lexi had made off-handedly while we were working on the press release, she appeared a little disenfranchised by the whole industry at the moment.

I could tell Lexi was still a little shell shocked by how the day had gone and that I hadn’t yelled at her or told her to stay out of my life. I would never do that to her. She had come to matter too much to me and I wouldn’t let her go simply because of some article, especially one that she had nothing to do with.

She looked so tired and drained and I had to admit I was a bit too, all I wanted to do was be home and relax, with Lexi. There was no doubt in my mind that she would be coming home with me. I didn’t want her to be alone, not if there were reporters or anyone else at her apartment. I want to be alone either. She didn’t question me when I told the taxi driver to take us to my place.

Rosie was happy to take over running the restaurant for me for the night. I thought it was best that I stayed away for a few days. There would be people wanting to come in just to see me, and if they couldn’t find me, then the interest of me and the gossip would hopefully die down. But that was a conversation for tomorrow.

“Are you hungry? Can I order us something?” I asked when Lexi and I got to my apartment.

“We ate at your restaurant, didn’t we?” she asked.

I had to think, it had been such a long day that it had all blurred into one big haze. I vaguely remember Phil coming in and bringing us some food while we were sitting at the table.

“That was hours ago. Are you hungry?” I asked.

“I’m too tired and drained to eat,” Lexi said and dropped down on the couch.

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