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“Well, they’d be wrong.”
“He thinks you’re good enough,” Stefan says. “In fact, he wants you to move to another part of the business and write for The Reporter.”
The Reporter. That would be my dream job. Serious journalism. A fearless approach to the topics it covers. Opportunities to carry out deep investigations.
“I read your stuff,” Oliver says. “The drafts you sent Kirsty before she messed with them. They were filled with insight and empathy. It’s what The Reporter needs to make it more in touch with readers.”
I flop back against the couch, unsure of how to react. Oliver deceived me and tore my career out from underneath me. Now he’s handing me my dream, but how can I take it?
Stefan clears his throat. “I know this is hard to take in.”
“My naked body is all over the internet,” I hiss. “My most erotic sexual experience is going to be in the public domain forever.”
“All I can say is I’m sorry, Allie. I’ll forever be sorry that I couldn’t do anything to protect you from that.”
“Oliver wasn’t honest about who he is,” Stefan says. “But he’s not responsible for the images. He’s still trying to find out exactly who was the culprit.”
“It’s an extreme invasion of privacy,” Oliver says. “Someone is going to pay for their role in it.”
“What about Kirsty?” I ask.
“I’m not happy with the way she handles her role at the magazine. She’s not developing talent. She’s keeping everyone working within a rigid framework that’s becoming dated. I still need someone to bring it up to date.”
“Grace,” I say. “She has what it takes. The magazine is her life. She’ll dedicate herself to the role entirely.”
“You’re really putting in a good word for the woman who spoke to you so dismissively?” Jimmy asks.
“She’s not a bad person,” I say. “She didn’t rat me out. She was just shocked, I think. And maybe a little worried about the potential repercussions. In a way, she was right to be. And she’s the one who called me as soon as she saw the images. It was her first instinct.”
“Okay,” Oliver says. He shakes his head, his stooped shoulders remain even though we’ve covered a lot of ground.
“Is there anything else you want to ask?” Stefan shifts forward in his seat.
“What can be done about the images?”
“Oliver’s been talking to his legal team. They’re going to threaten action against every site that’s hosting the pictures. It might work to get the highest profile sites to remove them.”
I guess that’s all that I can hope for.
“You said you had something to ask me?” For the first time since I sat down, I gaze around at the group of men gathered to hear this conversation. Every set of eyes I meet is filled with compassion.
Next to me, Tom reaches out and tentatively takes my hand in his, but it’s Theron who leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “The proposal was my idea. I wish I could say I regret suggesting it for all the damage it’s done, but I don’t. These past few days have been the best of my life.” He glances around the group. “The best of our lives.”
Tom squeezes my hand, bringing tears to burn in my throat.
“We don’t want this to end,” Gabe says.
Jonas, whose leg is bouncing up and down with a coiled tension that needs releasing, shakes his head. “You guys are handling this all wrong. It doesn’t need to be some kind of serious reality TV confession. Allie’s not that kind of girl. She needs us to be real. She wants us to be ourselves.” He turns to me. “Allie. You’re my dream girl and I want you in my life.”
Dream girl. Is he serious?
“I want you in my life too, Allie.” Jimmy, who rolled his eyes at his friend's outburst, is first to agree.
“And me…us.” Gabe nudges his cousin. “We feel the same.”
“We’d tattoo our names across your heart so that no one else ever touches you again,” Carson practically growls.
“Speak for yourself.” Clay reaches out to take my other hand. “I know you’re hurting right now, but things will settle down, and when they do, we can make a good life together. Something different, but special.”
