Back To You - A Second Chance Romance

“I know everything about Jake,” she said, shoving her fingers at my chest. “He is off-limits. He belongs to his legion of fans, who, by the way, can be much more rabid than you can believe. We don’t like anyone screwing with our Jake or his career, and you just turned this movie into a joke.”

I was angry, but I wasn’t going to let her get the best of me. “So I guess that podcast interview is out?” I asked with enough sarcasm to piss her off even more.

“Oh, I wouldn’t have a tramp like you on my podcast. You don’t even have a social media presence, but thanks for the idea, bitch. I’m going to crucify you, and I’m going to use that podcast spot I promised you to do it.”

“I’m sure Jake will love that,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Have you even bothered to hear what he has to say about all of this?” I was sure she hadn’t.

“Don’t even. You can keep the good name of Jake Storm out of your mouth. I know Jake, and you’re nothing to him. You’re a fool if you think differently.” She stormed off, leaving me regretful that I had even bothered to engage with her at all.

I was going to be painted as the villain, and while Jake had instigated just as much, if not more of the situation, no one would ever believe that I meant anything more than an easy score for him. Hell, he’d probably be praised. I was the slut who ruined his focus, and from there on out, every bit of failure relating to the project would be my fault.

So within a matter of minutes of arriving at work, I had lost my job, made millions of enemies, and now, I was going to have to type up a letter of resignation for Ben. I had never been cut out to mingle with these Hollywood people anyway, and this all proved it.

Jake and I should have left well enough alone and stayed friends. Then neither of us would be in this mess.

I had a feeling, wherever he was, he wasn’t having a good morning either, but since he hadn’t called me yet, I had a sickening feeling that he wasn’t going to. I wasn’t about to call him first and didn’t know what I’d say if I did. He had to make the next move in this situation. Or else I’d never know if he truly wanted me or if he was just trying to spare my feelings. He would surely choose the option that supported his career, and if that meant staying away from me, then could I really blame him? No sense in both of us losing our dreams.

I tried to tell myself that even though it seemed like the end of the world at that moment, it didn’t have to be. Spending time with Jake, no matter what the outcome, had been wonderful, and I wasn’t going to let anyone take that from me or make me feel ashamed for it.

Even when things seemed horrible at times, they all turned out for the best in the end. Maybe I was just never meant to be with Jake, but that didn’t mean that great things couldn’t come my way eventually. I had to keep my chin up.

I went to a quiet area in the round room, and despite the dirty looks, I sat there and typed my entire resignation letter. I didn’t apologize for what had happened, not feeling it was my place or necessary, and I kept it short and sweet.

When I was done, I packed up my laptop and walked to Ben’s office, where Ally sat at his desk. “Here,” I said. “Could you give this to Ben for me?”

“You can leave it on his desk. He’ll find it.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“No problem,” she said as a man walked in behind me. “Stu, will you show Ms. Bridges off of the lot? And please put her on the security awareness roster. She shouldn’t have any reason to return.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that, Ally. And just for the record, he might be your big movie star now, but I knew Jake long before the world did.”

As she narrowed her eyes to figure that one out, I turned and walked away, storming past the security guard who followed behind me and showed me to the gate.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jake

I had tried to call Ben once before my publicist had called and argued with me about my decision to let him go. Since he’d taken up all my time with his threats and nonsense, I figured I better get cleaned up and make it to the set for a bit of damage control.

The article had blown things way out of proportion, and I was going to have to set the record straight and assure them all that this wasn’t a scandalous type of tryst. If anything, the public would have to get used to seeing Kate on my arm, assuming she would be willing to give me the time of day after this.