She gasped, her face scrunched in horror. “You’ll regret that. Both of you. You just wait,” she threatened as she shuffled in her high heels toward the door.
“Are you OK?” Jack’s voice turned caring and concerned.
I released a quick breath, still shaking from my actions. My hand vibrated and pulsed from the impact. “I can’t believe I did that. ”
He smiled. “I can’t believe I missed it!”
“Oh, don’t worry. Someone was taking pictures, so I’m sure you’ll see it soon enough. ” I gestured toward the photographer trying to keep up with Chrystle, and Jack bolted out the door.
I watched him shout until the photographer slowed down. Jack pulled him aside and talked to him, while Chrystle looked on from a short distance away. Jack smiled and then jogged back in to our building.
“What did you say to him?”
Jack smiled. “I told him that it would be in his best interest to not publish those photos. Chrystle was a stalker, I was filing a restraining order against her today, and everything that comes out of her mouth is a lie. And I mentioned that if he published anything that further damaged your reputation, I’d hunt him down and shove that camera so far up his ass he’d need a doctor to remove it. ”
“Um, babe. ” I shook my head, knowing full well that threats don’t work on paparazzi types.
“Then I bought the pictures from him and demanded exclusivity. If they show up anywhere, I’ll sue him. Looks like I will get to see you hitting her after all. ” He kissed the top of my head and turned toward Antonio, who looked confused and unsure what to do. “That woman is a stalker. I’ll be filing a restraining order against her this afternoon. Please see to it that she does not come in here again. ”
“Yes, sir,” Antonio responded.
Jack joined me at the waiting elevator, and I whispered, “Are you really getting a restraining order?”
“She’s stalking me, she threatened us, and I think she’s unstable,” he said with a smile.
“She’s definitely something, alright. ” I leaned up to plant a kiss on his cheek before pulling out my phone.
I typed out a quick text to Melissa:
Thank you for getting Vanessa to do the story. It’s unbelievable. You’re unbelievable! :) PS. Chrystle was just here. In our building. And I slapped her! LOL
Melissa responded immediately.
You did? THAT FUCKING ROCKS! HAHA I heard she was in NY trying to shop around a potential book idea. As soon as the article hits, she’ll be
dead in the water. No one will touch her. And you’re welcome. Vanessa was scared at first, but she really pulled through.
I quickly typed back:
Yeah, she did. If you talk to her again, which I’m sure you will because you’re like that… please tell her I said thank you.
“Are you texting Melissa?”
I looked up at Jack. “Yeah. ”
“Tell her I said thank you. ”
“I will. ”
A Proposal
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER
Cassie
Things changed once the article came out with all of Vanessa’s revelations. The public’s desire to know everything didn’t ease up, but at least Jack and I were no longer viewed as the bad guys. Melissa told me that the online message boards were filled with comments about how much I must have loved Jack to forgive him for everything, and how strong we must be as a couple to have endured it all and still be together. True to my word, I hadn’t been online to read any of it since the night I broke down. And Melissa had been right, I did feel better. I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss.
I also attended Jack’s games without the fear of being ridiculed or mocked… unless he lost, then the fans were still unforgiving. Even a few of the mean wives commented about the article and what a horrible thing happened to me and Jack. They still didn’t go out of their way to talk to me, but at least they acknowledged my existence. Which I’ll admit was hard at times, considering I knew what some of their husbands were doing behind their backs.