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“She did? That’s weird,” I said.
“I swear she told me she wanted to thank her. Knowing her, she probably did. ”
Nora spoke up. “Well, she passed along Vanessa’s contact information to me and I was prepared to reach out to her when Melissa let me know I didn’t need to. She said that she had spoken to Vanessa, and she was only too obliged to give us an interview for the magazine. Apparently the poor girl has been sick over Chrystle’s publicity stunts and Melissa convinced her to talk to us. ”
“She’s the only reason Chrystle signed the annulment papers. Otherwise, I’d probably still be technically married to her. ” Jack winced, giving my hand a quick squeeze.
“She’s come through for us twice now,” I said.
“So as I mentioned, there’s no need for us to do the interview we had intended. We’ll schedule the upbeat piece for later, and this article will run in both the online and print versions starting Wednesday. ” Nora smiled. “You can keep those copies. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow, Cassie?”
“I’ll be here. Thank you so much. ” I stood and walked over to her desk to give her a hug.
Nora straightened her jacket and skirt when I released her. “It’s nothing. Just good business. ” She tried not to smile.
Jack reached across her desk to shake her hand. “We really appreciate everything you’ve done for us. ”
Her face softened. “You’re welcome. Now, go win some games. ”
I hated to admit that I was relieved about the tell-all interview being canceled. I would have gladly done it, but part of me was thankful we didn’t have to. All the same information was going to come out, but it didn’t come from me or Jack. I assumed there would be fewer accusations that way.
Once we were in the back of the taxi, Jack threw his arm around me and asked, “How do you feel?”
“I’m relieved we don’t have to do that kind of interview. I’m angry at hearing all those things, and I’m sad that it all happened. But I’m happy that it’s all going to be over soon. ” I leaned my head against his shoulder as he pulled me close against him. “How do you feel?”
“I’m pissed off at reading all that shit. I’m mad at her for being crazy. I’m mad at me for being stupid. I just want it all behind us once and for all. ”
“Soon,” I promised.
While Jack paid the fare, I exited the cab and headed into the lobby of our apartment building. My legs almost folded on me when I saw a familiar petite brunette at the front desk talking to our concierge. I bolted through the revolving door, ignoring our doorman as my insides raged. She turned toward me, and I screamed, “What the fuck are you doing in here? Antonio, she’s not allowed in here. She’s not welcome. ”
“Oh look,” Chrystle said in her honeyed accent. “It’s Cassie, the home wrecker. ”
“Why don’t you go back to Whore Island already? What are you doing here?” I screeched at the last person on earth I wanted to see.
She placed her hand on her hip and leaned toward me. “Did you know that people will pay thousands of dollars for a juicy gossip story? They don’t even really check their facts anymore. ”
My hands balled in and out of fists as she smiled at me triumphantly. “The truth will come out soon enough, and then everyone will know what a lying, psychotic bitch you are,” I spat out.
“I don’t think so. People love little ol’ me. I’m just a victim in all of this and they feel so sorry for me. ”
“I think you overestimate your ability to deceive. ”
“It’s gotten me this far, hasn’t it? And it got your boyfriend to marry me. Remember that?” Her mouth twisted into a wicked grin as she pointed in Jack’s direction.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled my arm back. With as much forward motion as I could muster, I slapped her wretched, conniving, evil face. The sound echoed through the lobby as she gasped, a red handprint outlined across her cheek.
“You bitch!” She glanced outside, where I hadn’t noticed a lone photographer standing before. Flashes of light bounced off the windowpanes.
She set this up.
I refused to be her victim any longer. “Next time it won’t be a slap. Don’t come near me again and stay the fuck away from Jack. ”
Adrenaline made my heartbeat thump in my ears as Jack suddenly appeared at my side. “What the hell are you doing here?” he shouted at the unwanted trash.
“Oh, Jack!” she whined. “Your girlfriend just hit me. Do something!”
He puffed out his chest, looking down at her. “I’ll hold your ass in place if she wants to do it again. Now get the fuck out of my apartment building, you stupid bitch. ”
