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"To begin I would like to say that my brother has not made any attempt to contact me for several years and the scene that he describes did not take place. We have had no contact of any sort. He and my ex-wife are following their own path that I play no role in whatsoever. My main focus is to be a good father to my son. I will do everything in my power to keep him safe and away from these false accusations my brother has been making." They start to yell questions and I simply stop talking until it is quiet again.
"All and any contact between my ex-wife and myself is between our lawyers. I do not approve of her or my brother's behavior as we have witnessed over the past few months. I do not condone spreading rumors or false accusations.
"Regarding Gianna. I love her." The crowd erupts into a flurry of questions. They're clambering for a story, for something they can twist. I raise my hand to remind them that I will not be answering anything.
"I love her, and we are happy together. This has absolutely nothing to do with my brother or my ex-wife. That is all I have to say, and I thank you for your time."
The reporters all leap forward trying to shove their microphones and cameras in my face, but I turn my back to the noise and walk back into my building, security stepping in front of the doors as they close behind me.
I take a steady breath and make my way to the elevators. My phone is already ringing. My mother. Of course, it is my fucking mother.
I slide the green button across the screen to answer the call. She won't stop until I do answer there's no point in putting it off.
She is shouting into the phone, which is unusual for her. She rarely ever loses her composure.
"What have you done Hudson! How dare you go ahead and make public announcements like that without consulting me. How dare you throw your brother under the bus. How dare you claim that you love that piece of trash on live television!" She's madder than hell right now, and I am not in any mood to deal with her.
She continues to yell as the elevator carries me back to the top floor of my building. I say nothing at all. I allow her to rant, and yell and call me names.
Walking into my office I can see that everyone at their desks keeps their gaze down. The office is silent.
I close my office door behind me. My mother is still yelling. I do not think I have ever made her this angry.
"Mother---" I try and interrupt her. She ignores me and continues her rant. "Mother---" Again she ignores me. I have had enough of this. I slide the red button across my phone to end the call. Almost right away it is ringing again. Her name glared at me on my screen. I put my phone on silent and toss it into my desk drawer.
It's done.
I know I've done the right thing, but my stress levels are through the roof.
I will have to leave through the back of the building today. I had better call my driver as the reporters will inevitably be swarming around my own car.
I begin to pack up my things. I need to get out of here. I can feel the tension in the office, and it is not helping my own state of mind. I want to get home to Taylor. I want to make sure he is alright. We can draw the curtains closed, shut out the world, and watch cartoons all evening.
I notified the driver that I wanted him to pick me up at the back entrance. I know I cannot risk a food delivery that evening either. Things are going to be very tense for the next week or so, or at least until the media has a better story to obsess about.
Sitting in the back of the car I take out my phone and dial Gianna.
"Hi." She answers. "I saw the news." I figured she would have by now. I wanted to tell her before, but it didn't work out that way.
"Hi. Sorry, I didn't have a chance to call you before the media release. Are you ok?" I ask her, this is her life too.
"I am fine, Hudson. Are you?" She replies.
"Not really. I hate this sort of thing. I hate everything about those pathetic hungry vultures. Things are going to get a little crazy on social media for a while. I am so sorry I dragged you into this." She has a job, and a business, and this will affect her.
"You did not drag me into anything. I make my own choices. Do you want me to come over later?" She asks me, and I know it is because she cares.
"I think it is better if you don't. They are going to be posted outside the house with cameras in hand, ready to capture everything." I am hopeful our security will be able to keep them out, but I know how sneaky and relentless they can be.
"But they know we are together now, why does it matter?" She is confused.
"Trust me it matters. Everything and anything they can get their hands on is going to be targeted and twisted for a better story." They will make us the villains, and she is not a bad person I won't allow them to make her out to be one --- not again.
She is quiet on the other end of the line.
"I will see you soon though, Gi. We just have to be a little more careful about how we go about things. Just until this is over. I need to be extra careful as the court date is really close now." I sigh, I want to hold her and hug her, and tell her this will blow over.
"I understand. I miss you already." Her sadness is audible.
