Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56591 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Her grandmother is now back at her home, with round-the-clock medical care while she adjusts to her new treatment. Izzy and I went to the cops with the evidence my perfect detective managed to gather while we were separated. And now, we’re on our way to a TV interview to tell the world what sort of scumbag Aaron really is.
A publicist, the best in the biz, sits in the seat between us. His name is James Smith, and he’s what people describe as nondescript, as though he’s so concerned with other people’s PR, he never needs to worry about his own. He’s focused on his phone, texting.
I take out my cell and shoot a text to Izzy.
Dominic: How are you feeling, beautiful?
She takes her phone from her handbag, then aims a secret smile at me.
Izzy: So nervous, I could puke. But I’m also determined to get this done. What about you? You’re going to be sharing a lot too.
Dominic: I don’t care about that.
After I’ve sent the first text, I immediately write another.
Dominic: Or maybe I do. Maybe it’s impossible not to care. But I’m not going to let it stop me. I loved my father, but I won’t let innocent people suffer to protect his image.
She smiles again, a bright and beautiful picture despite the tension in the car.
Izzy: I never could’ve gotten such a high-profile interview without you. Thank you.
Dominic: You don’t need to thank me for doing the right thing.
Izzy: Do you think the police have arrested him yet?
Dominic: Highly unlikely. The photos you gave them are enough to start an investigation, but they still need to prove he knew the drugs were there and that he was involved in the distribution. It’ll take some time. That doesn’t mean we can’t ruin his goddamn life though.
She looks at me, not smiling anymore. She looks fierce and ready.
Izzy: Hell yeah.
James puts his phone away, glancing at Izzy, then me. “They’re going to want to push the boyfriend-girlfriend angle. That’s what makes this interview exciting. The bombshells, well… they are bombshells. But don’t be surprised if they focus on your connection too.” James looks at me. “I know you’re normally pretty cold in interviews, but—”
“That’s over,” I tell him flatly. “I couldn’t even pretend to be cold when it comes to Izzy.”
James smiles. “That’s good. That helps us.”
“It also happens to be true,” I say.
“That’s even better, then,” he agrees.
“What about slander charges?” Izzy asks.
James makes a pfft noise, waving his hand. “Slander only applies if it isn’t true. So, unless you’ve both lied to me about this situation, he’d be an idiot to even try for a slander case. It’d mean a defense team combing through his business, questioning people at the hospital, all to check if he’s telling the truth.”
“Even my uncle isn’t that stupid,” she says.
I look out the window at the city passing by. A few weeks ago, my life was so simple. But it was cold. Pointless, except when it came to my work. My projects were the only thing that brought me joy… that made me feel alive. Now, I feel like a changed man.
Sebastian Armitage stabbed me in the heart with the revelation about my father. But luckily, I’ve got my very own heart-healer right here, my Songbird, to stop it from stinging quite so badly.
The studio has arranged it so that Izzy and I are sitting side by side, with the interviewer opposite. Carlson Grace is a well-known journalist, a skinny man with a sculpted goatee and signature lime-green glasses. He folds one leg over the other, looking at me.
“This makes quite the change from the iceman we’ve all come to know and…”
“Love?” I cut in, winking.
He chuckles. “I wouldn’t want to presume. I hope you don’t think the term lovebirds is a step too far?”
“Not at all,” I tell him. “I was a cold man before Izzy came along, like you implied. But being with her has changed me.”
James told us to play up the feelings, to exaggerate, to win the sympathy of the audience. But every word I say is the truth.
“I can’t talk about love at first sight, because life isn’t a fairytale,” I say, taking Izzy’s hand and giving her a warm look. The light in her eyes is all the motivation a man could ever need to keep going. “But I think about knowing at first sight. Not anything specific, even. But knowing that something is going to change. Knowing I’ve been waiting all this time for a reason. Knowing that, now my Songbird is in my life, I’ll never be the same.”
When Izzy sniffles and brings my hand to her lips, kissing it gently, I know it isn’t just for show. I can feel how real it is.
“Do I have to ask if you feel the same?” Carlson asks, smiling.