by Claire Raye
I feel myself grinning at Sadie’s words, at the way she isn’t giving an inch with this reporter who is clearly working her own agenda with this interview. I’m sure she walked in here tonight thinking she was about to get the scoop of the year. Finally break the story on what was really going on between Hollywood’s power couple. And maybe more importantly, finally be the person to get one half of that couple to talk to the press.
Sadie has kept quiet about all of this up until now and from everything she’s told me, I know she’s kept quiet about a lot of things over the years. Not always because she’s wanted to, but because she had to. I can’t imagine the secrets and shit she carries around with her. At the weight all of this creates and if nothing else, all I hope is this whole thing with this reporter, with the guy from The Guardian, can lift that weight and unburden her so she can finally live her own life.
“I guess most people are guilty of that to a certain extent,” the reporter adds, almost as an afterthought, but in a way that’s totally meant to undermine Sadie and make her feel like shit.
Bitch.
“Sure,” Sadie says, still not biting. “But when it’s done at the expense of others, it becomes something else entirely.”
“And you think that’s what Noel does?” the reporter asks.
“Like I said,” Sadie continues, her words firm. “Noel has always been about making sure Noel looks good. But that’s not what this interview is about,” she adds, clearly having had enough of talking about Noel. “I set this up to give my side of the story and that is that Noel and I are separated, and we are getting divorced.”
“Alright,” the reporter says, her voice lighter again, even though I sense a change in tactic now she realizes she isn’t getting anywhere forcing the issue of Noel. “And I’m guessing your new mystery man has a role in all of this?”
My skin immediately bristles at her question, my hands curling into fists on the kitchen counter, my body frozen as I wait to hear Sadie’s response.
“There is no mystery man,” she says, her words calm, but firm. “His name is Paul Walker and we’ve never made any secret of the fact we’re seeing each other.”
My body sags in relief. Even though I never expected Sadie would hide what we have, I also know her fear of the media, the way they twist her words and make up shit to get the story they want.
“He’s a stunt man on your movie, right?”
“He is.”
“And he was injured on set?”
Sadie clears her throat. “Unfortunately, yes,” she says, an edge to her voice now. “It’s something I regret and feel bad about to this day. Luckily it wasn’t serious, but no director wants to see any member of their cast or crew injured.”
“Of course,” the reporter says, a false sympathy to her tone. “And given he’s standing out there in the kitchen, am I correct in thinking he’s also living here?”
Sadie takes a deep breath before continuing. “Look, I appreciate your curiosity about all of this and while it’s no secret that Paul and I are together, this is still my personal life we’re talking about here. It’s sacred and important to me, and not something I want to share all the details of with the rest of the world. I’m sure you can understand that.”
Again I’m fist pumping the air as the reporter acquiesces to Sadie’s request and moves on to discuss Sadie’s movie and how that’s all going. I tune out now, knowing the details already as I move over to the fridge to try and find something for dinner.
“Hey.”
I turn and find Sadie standing in the doorway to the kitchen, arms crossed over her chest as she leans against the frame.
“Hi,” I reply, smiling as I move closer, taking a seat at the island stool. “You’re done?”
She nods. “Yep.”
“Everyone’s gone?”
“Yep,” she repeats.
“And?” I ask, arms out in question.
She pushes off the wall and walks closer, stopping when she’s standing in front of me. I reach out and hook a finger through her belt loop, pulling her closer so she’s standing between my legs. She smiles as she slips her arms around my neck. “What? You weren’t listening in?”
I chuckle, shrugging a little as I say, “Well, yeah, maybe.”
“And,” she says, repeating my question.
“And,” I say, sliding my arms around her waist and pulling her closer. Brushing my lips across hers, I whisper, “I’m proud of you.”
“Really?”
“Really,” I say, our lips still touching. “You were strong and confident and stood firm on everything you said and wanted to say.”
“She could still twist my words,” Sadie says, pulling back a little. “Make it look like I said things differently.”
“I know,” I whisper, my thumb brushing across her cheek, our gazes locked, as I take in the fear in her eyes. “But we’ll cross that bridge if and when it happens,” I tell her. “What you did today, was good and you did it on your terms, Sadie. Be proud of that.”
I watch as she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes never leaving mine as she stares back at me. My thumb moves down from her cheek, gently tugging at her lip before I lean in and kiss her again, deeper this time.
“Paul,” she groans into my mouth.
I smile against hers. “Yes?”
Sadie lightly runs her tongue across my bottom lip, smiling against my mouth as she murmurs, “How are you so damn perfect?”
I let out a low chuckle. “Maybe just perfect for you.”
Sadie’s hands cup my cheeks as she pulls back a little. “You are perfect for me,” she whispers, her words barely audible. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
“Maybe it’s me who got lucky?” I ask, grinning.
Her arms slip around my neck again as she pushes against me. “I think maybe you might get lucky later tonight.”
I laugh, my head falling back a little as my hands move down to her ass, lifting her now so she’s sitting on my lap, straddling me. “Well, shit, now that’s quite an offer.”
Sadie smiles as she leans in, her mouth against my ear. “Not just an offer.”
I grin against her mouth. “Why wait for later tonight?” I murmur, my fingers already working on her jeans.
She lets out a low laugh that’s sexy as hell before leaning in to press her lips against my neck. A groan falls from my mouth as she starts to lick and suck at my skin, while at the same time working herself against my now very hard dick.
“Sadie,” I murmur.
“What?” she asks as she kisses a path up to my ear.
“Off. I need to take these off,” I say, frustrated as I unsuccessfully try to push her jeans down her hips.
Sadie pulls back, a sexy smile on her face as she looks up at me. “So frustrated,” she teases.
“Ugh, frustrated, turned on, really needing to get in your pants.”
She laughs now as she slides off my lap. “Stay,” she orders, pointing right at me. I grin, loving the confidence she exudes as she stands in front of me and pulls off her jeans. “Better?” she asks, standing in her panties.
“Almost,” I say, reaching for her again and pulling her back onto my lap. My hands slide under her t-shirt, pulling it up and over her head. Her hands are on my jeans now, undoing the buttons, before her hand slips inside and circles my dick.
“Fuck,” I let out on a low groan. “God, woman.”
Sadie laughs against my neck as her hand starts to move. Needing to feel her skin against mine, I pull my t-shirt off, throwing it across the room before pulling her against me, the lace of her bra now the only thing separating us.
Sadie sucks on my neck, her hand inside my boxers, her breasts pressed against my chest and all of it feels so fucking good. I slide a finger into her panties, brushing it against her. “God, you’re so wet.”
“Paul,” Sadie moans, grinding against me as her mouth finds mine and she kisses me, hard and hungry, moaning my name again.
I slide a fi
nger inside her now, loving the low moan she lets out and the way her head falls back. I take in the sight of this woman, straddling me in her underwear, my finger inside her as she grinds against me and still I want more.
“Come here,” I whisper as my other hand slides up her back and unsnaps her bra. It falls to the floor and she opens her eyes, her blue eyes staring back at me.
I slide my finger out of her, smiling as she whimpers in protest, as I pull her panties to the side, lifting her slightly before lowering her onto my dick.
“Oh god,” she groans, the words low and sexy. “Oh god, yes.”
Sadie’s arms lock around my neck as I wrap mine around her waist, holding her tight as she starts to ride me, right here in the middle of her kitchen. The house is quiet now, nothing but the sounds of us filling the empty space.
I keep my eyes open the whole time, watching her, unable to look away as she moves against me, the hot warmth of her driving me fucking crazy with every move.
When she eventually opens her eyes again and finds me watching her, she smiles, leaning closer and pressing her lips against mine.
“You feel so fucking good,” I murmur against her mouth.
Her lips curve into a smile. “So do you,” she whispers before kissing me deeply.
It doesn’t take either of us long, our bodies grinding against each other, never stopping our kisses as Sadie’s hips start to move a little faster and she takes me deeper and deeper. her kisses becoming more and more desperate the closer she gets.
Eventually it’s all too much and I watch as her head falls back and she calls out my name, hers falling from my lips as I push inside her one last time and come hard.
She collapses against me, her face buried in my neck, her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer as I press light kisses to her shoulder, loving the taste of her skin and the smell of me on her.
When she’s finally caught her breath, she pulls back, an easy smile on her face as she cups a hand on my jaw.
“Hey,” I say, smiling up at her.
Her grin widens. “Hi,” she whispers, thumb brushing against my stumble as she leans in and presses a light kiss against my lips. “That was so good.”
“Really fucking good,” I tell her, knowing how true my words are.
This connection I have with her, it’s so different to anything I’ve ever felt before, to anything I ever had with Helena. It feels strange to think I’ve only known Sadie for a few months but already feel this attached to her. And while we’ve not talked a whole lot about what happens after filming stops, never really deciding on what either of us is doing, I already know that I don’t want to go make this other movie in London if it means I’m going to have to spend months apart from her.
But if I don’t go and work as a stunt man, what the hell am I going to do? I can’t stay here and mooch off Sadie my whole life.
“You okay?” she asks, still smiling as she looks at me.
“I’m very, very okay,” I tell her, knowing it’s the truth even if thoughts about our future still whirl inside my head.
Thoughts about what else I can do to make this relationship work, what I can change or give up so that we can be together without constantly having to be apart. I already know how hard it is with one half of a relationship working in the movie industry, but two? God, how do we make this work.
“You want me to make some dinner?” I ask, knowing now is not the time to bring this shit up.
Sadie’s smile widens as she slowly shakes her head.
“No?”
“No,” she repeats, leaning closer so her mouth is against my ear. “I want you to…”
My eyes close as she tells me exactly what she wants me to do, my heart flipping in my chest at her words.
Yeah, I really have to find a way to make this work because fuck me if I haven’t fallen totally head over heels in love with her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Sadie
It’s been a rough road since my interview with People despite my hope it would put an end to some of this chaos. The tabloids have run with the story and of course put their own personal spin on it. Some have continued to call me a cheater, while others have taken up residence on my side, but regardless, the media fallout is still continuing.
I still worry that Clapboard Films will see me as a liability and call the film done even though we are several months into shooting. I worry Noel’s lawyers will find anything they can to bring me down even if it is lies. I worry all of this will be too much for Paul and he’ll disappear.
But today, I worry about my conversation with Roger Collins.
I’m pacing the floor waiting for his arrival, the clocks ticks slowly and with each passing second the anxiety that pools in my stomach turns into a knot that pulls tighter and tighter. This man has information that could ruin Noel, but I can’t let my own conscience get in the way of helping end a cycle of abuse. I was part of it in one way or another and now it’s time for me to redeem myself. It’s time for me to stand up for all those people I turned a blind eye to all those years.
Paul’s working late on set, taking on the role of stunt coordinator has occupied a lot of his time lately and after that he said he plans to get some drinks with the guys. I didn’t ask him to do any of this, but I think he knows meeting with Roger will be a tough go and he’s giving me space.
The bell to the gate chimes out and with a shaky hand, I reach out and press the button allowing Roger access to the house.
This is it.
He’s a tall man, but not in that looming, intimidating way, but more like Clark Kent, which is a funny way to describe him given his job. He has dark hair and dark eyes that are accented by a pair of dark rimmed glasses, and he’s dressed casually making me relax just a little.
He greets me with a nod of his head, a hand extended as he says, “Good evening, Sadie. It’s so nice to finally get a chance to talk with you. I’m Roger.”
His accent is comforting and his hand is warm when I take it mine. Everything about this meeting is casual, but my body still screams with nervous energy. This isn’t the first time we’ve met, but being accosted in a parking lot wasn’t exactly the best start.
“Come in,” I tell him, leading him out to the patio. The night air is warm and there’s something about being outside in the open that makes what’s about to happen seem less daunting.
“How are you?” I ask, keeping things light. “How was your flight?”
“Flight was long,” he replies, but shares a smile with me in return. “But overall it was fine.”
He follows my lead and sits down at a chair across from me, a small table dividing us as he sets his things down. With him he carries a messenger bag and a few stacks of papers. He pulls his phone from his pocket and places it next to the papers.
There’s a silence that passes between us as he folds his hands in front of him. I suck in a hard breath. My chest expands, rising with the intake of air and I let it out slowly, it passing through my lips with a small whooshing sound.
“Don’t be nervous,” he says in response and I laugh a little. “I’m not here to make things worse for you.”
“But without knowing it you could be,” I reply back, but my intent is not to sound malicious. “I worry…” I add, trailing off.
“Don’t worry, Sadie, seriously. I’m just here to get some corroboration from you and to share some things from my article. I would like you to hear them from me before it hits the press.”
“Thanks. I do appreciate that.”
“I’m not here to ruin your life. I understand what you’ve been through and I also think there are things you don’t know. To blindside you would be irresponsible of me,” he says, a sound of sincerity in his voice that is rarely present in reporters.
“That’s something new,” I joke, trying to lighten the heavy air that floats between us.
“Not all journalists are slimeballs.” He
laughs a little causing me to smile and the knot in my stomach uncurls just a little.
“I’m learning that.”
He flips through a few papers and then grabs a file from his bag, opening it, he slides it across the table to me.
The file is cluttered with handwritten notes and a small picture is stapled to the corner of the file. I recognize the woman in the picture immediately.
It’s Elizabeth Hutton.
“I figured we could start with the story you know well. The story that started it all,” Roger says, his eyebrows rising slightly.
I nod my head but swallow back the bile that rises up in my throat. If this is already a struggle, I can only imagine what the rest of this is going to be like. I’m aware Elizabeth Hutton isn’t the story that started it all; she’s just the one who blew the whistle on Noel.
“I’m going to ask you some questions about that day on set and then I’ll let you read the rough draft of what will be included in my article. Now mind you, her portion of the article isn’t very long because unfortunately I have others I need to include. At this point, it feels like I might need to write a book.” He smiles at me, but it’s in a way that radiates sympathy and all I can do is nod my head in response.
We go through Elizabeth’s story and everything is pretty cut and dry. There’s not a word said that I wouldn’t have said myself, and I verify every last detail with Roger. I would’ve thought this would’ve been harder, not harder to hear the details of Elizabeth’s story, but harder to break my loyalty to Noel.
I lived for so long with his power over me. I often wondered if I’d struggle to regain my own voice, my own independence, but in this moment none of it matters. I find myself doing exactly what I’d hoped I would’ve done years ago.
Her story is easy to get through, but the next few are a little harder. Basically they all say the same thing: volatile behavior, verbal abuse, feeling unsafe; all the things I lived for the better part of a decade.
While I wasn’t always on set, I was able to verify most of the events stated because I had either been told directly by Noel or could piece together enough to make what was said accurate.
