by Claire Raye
I pull the camera from the other guy’s hand, walking over to the bar and setting it down in front of Ed, who now looks like he’s not sure if he wants to puke or run out of here. Then turning back to the guys, I pull out my phone and put in a call to the police, calmly explaining the situation before hanging up. Without saying a word, I then snap a couple of pictures on my phone, texting them to my lawyer along with a quick explanation of what’s just gone down.
They finally start to pack up their things, one of them even walking over as though to grab his camera. I shake my head. “Not until you delete the photos.”
“You can’t make me do that,” he says, arms crossed over his chest.
“Guess we’ll just wait till the police get here then,” I reply, mirroring his pose.
I glance outside as Ava walks in, hoping to fuck they hurry up and get here because I do not want to get into a showdown with this guy. But instead, I feel my heart start to hammer in my chest, my pulse pounding.
Because what I see outside makes the situation in here pale in comparison. More photographers and reporters gathering, as though they somehow know something’s about to happen.
“Fuck.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ava
Lewis’ face goes from flushed to bright red within a span of seconds, and even as the pub begins to clear out, I can see his anger building. As regular everyday people you can only handle this kind of intrusion for so long and it’s been worn thin for a while.
With his hands clenched in fists at his side and his jaw tense, I walk over and run a hand down his arm, threading my fingers through his. My other hand presses against his cheek turning him to face me, hoping that once he looks at me, he’ll be able to calm down.
“Lewis, it’s okay. Everyone is leaving and we have the lawyer working on things. It’ll all be over soon.”
He says nothing in response, his eyes shooting to the large window as he watches the crowd of reporters gather outside once again. And while I understand his frustration, there’s no reason it needs to continue.
“Seriously, Lewis,” I say, trying to garner his attention. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” he hisses back, his anger directed at me, but I know it’s not anything I’ve done. “I worry about your safety. I worry about how this is affecting you, how this will affect us.”
His concern is endearing and sweet and almost heartbreaking, as I’ve never found someone who cares this deeply about me. Most of the men in my life would bail when things got shitty, but Lewis has stood by me, encouraged me and weathered this storm with me. But in the end, I’ve brought this on and I can handle it. He knows this about me, but I also know he won’t back away that easily.
“I know you worry and I love everything about that. We’ve got this together and as soon as this article is written and Noel disappears, so will all this bullshit.”
“I know,” he replies on a hard exhale and it seems as though something else is bothering him, something more than just this chaos.
“How about this, how about I call up Julia’s publicist and have her release a statement about my involvement with all this Noel shit?” I ask, wondering if getting ahead of this is the way to go. Maybe the invasion will slow if they realize there’s nothing to report on. It’s kind of like what Lilly said, let them in and give them just enough.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” he finally concedes, his anger receding. “We have to…” Lewis trails off, not finishing his thought and it only adds to the fact that I know there’s something more.
“What’s going on? You can tell me.”
“It’s nothing,” Lewis replies shaking his head. “It’s just that I’ve never had my trust shaken like this. It’s a tough pill to swallow. And like I said, I worry about you. I worry about you being out without me and having something happen.”
“Yeah, I get that, but I don’t really have anywhere to go since I’m not working anymore. We’ll release the statement and I’ll work at the pub. Things will die down.”
Nodding his head in agreement, I add, “Why don’t you send Ed home? I think having him here after what happened is stressing you out.”
“Yeah, I think I will. The place is pretty empty and while I’m not mad at him, I’m not really up for hanging out with him now either.”
After Lewis sends Ed home, the pub quiets even more and the two of us stand behind the bar, the silence in the place eerily similar to the night we met. The lights are low, the music is playing softly and it’s just the two of us.
“Do you remember the night I walked in here for the first time?” I ask, smirking a little at Lewis.
“What kind of question is that?” Lewis retorts back, slipping his arms around my waist and pulling me close. “Of course I remember. I remember it like it was yesterday because the second I saw you I knew you’d one day be my wife.”
“You were that confident, huh? Because the way I remember it is that you left me sitting here waiting to be served.”
“And I certainly served you well. At least that’s how I remember it.” He pulls me close, his lips connecting with mine in a kiss that’s soft and simple and perfect. “You were calling my name all night,” he whispers, his mouth next to my ear now.
“I was scared to death that you were only interested in a one night stand and after that first night you owned my heart.”
“I’ve never been so happy to see someone as I was when you walked back into my pub just a few months ago. I married you because losing you again was never an option.”
“You were already stuck with me.” I kiss the tip of his nose and rest my head on his chest. I don’t think I could ever weather this storm without him.
We stand just holding each other for a few seconds, the quiet of the pub covering us, the comfort we feel in each other being all we need.
Cutting through the silence Lewis says, “I never asked you how things went with Sadie. This place was such a shit show, I totally forgot.”
“It was okay. She really doesn’t want to be involved with any of this.”
“She is involved. She’s the one who married that fucking wanker. Does she think divorcing him is going to make all this shit go away?” The harshness is back in Lewis’ tone and I get it. He hates that someone like Noel is out there taking advantage of people, using his wealth to wield power over people. It’s something Lewis would never do despite having unlimited funds and a name to go along with it.
“Yeah, I know all this and so does she, but I think she’s trying to protect her career and probably her heart. It’s a lot. She’s spent the last ten years with this guy only to find out he’s been doing some really horrible things.”
“Wait, she says she didn’t know about any of this?” Lewis questions, a look of shock blanketing his face.
“Yeah, she says she had no idea about the forced nude scenes or about how much influence he had. I think she knew some of it, but I don’t think she knows how deep it really goes.”
“That’s pretty naïve of her,” Lewis adds, stepping away from me and leaning back against the bar. His sleeves are rolled exposing his tattoos, reminding me of the day we met.
“Don’t say that. She’s been manipulated and lied to. Her life is a mess, Lewis, and the last thing she needs is someone judging her for the way she handled this situation. She’s trying to get out and right now all she’s worried about is herself and rightfully so.” I find myself getting angry at his response, wanting to argue with him. Not everyone has the confidence to carry his or herself the way he does, not everyone has the ability to walk away without repercussions.
“Sorry, you’re right, that was cold. I guess I’m just lucky that my wife is such a bad arse. I like the feisty side of you.”
“Sadie will find her feisty side again one day too. Until then, I have to support her decision to stay out of things. I hate that Noel has taken so much from her and I also hate the idea of this reporter releasing his story because I know
people will blame her.”
“You can’t save them all, Ava my dear,” Lewis says, just as a group of people walk in and sit down at the bar. The conversation ends there, but we both know none of this is over.
We spend the rest of the day serving customers, the pub growing busier as the day turns to night, and the crowd of press outside diminishes. It’s getting late and the number of people left in the pub is small. It’s a weekday and most people aren’t looking to tie one on, most of them just here for a bit of food, a few drinks and some conversation.
Now that things have settled, I leave Lewis to finish up while I head down the market to grab a few things. We’re out of milk and coffee along with a few things I want to pick up to snack on later tonight. Don’t get me wrong, bar food is great, but what we serve isn’t what I’m craving.
“You good here?” I ask, motioning around the nearly empty bar. “I’m going to run to the store and grab a few things. Anything you want?”
Lewis stands looking at me for a second, his hands on his hips and I know exactly what he’s thinking.
“I’ll be fine. Most of the paparazzi have disappeared because the real stories aren’t outside a local pub on a Tuesday night. I’m sure there’s someone far bigger than you and me stumbling out of a club or just getting ready to drink themselves into an oblivion.”
“Fine go, but take Daisy with you. She needs to go out anyway. And can you pick me up an Aero Bar?”
“Yeah sure. Mint?”
“Of course I want mint.” He gives me a quick peck on the lips and I head up the stairs to grab Daisy.
Clipping on her leash, the two of us leave through the front entrance and I wave to Lewis as we stop in front of the large window. I turn around in a circle with my arms out as if to show him there’s not a soul around. I watch him shake his head, laughing as he flags me to move on rolling his hand in front of him.
Daisy and I make it to the corner store and slip inside totally unnoticed, and I find myself laughing as I walk up and down the aisles of the small shop. It’s ridiculous that I’m out here trying to avoid the paparazzi; even more ridiculous is that I even care.
I grab the few things we need including a rawhide for Daisy and help the guy behind the counter bag everything up. I’m gone less than thirty minutes, and I once again breathe a sigh of relief when I step outside and there’s no one around.
I cross the street to the small park where I let Daisy off her leash for a bit. She runs around searching for the perfect spot before returning to me promptly, sitting at my feet waiting for me to clip her leash on again. The whole trip has been completely uneventful.
I’m not far from the pub when I hear someone call my name. It’s a voice I don’t recognize and the way the person says my name is almost as if they’re testing it out, as if they don’t know me.
I turn around and I come face to face with a woman I don’t know. She isn’t carrying a camera or shows any indication that she’s a reporter, but it’s obvious now she thinks she knows who I am.
“You’re Ava, right?” she asks, a clipped tone to her words. She’s tall and thin with a scowl on her face. Her strawberry blonde hair is perfectly curled and her green eyes narrow as she looks me over. She’s dressed in heels and a pair of black wide leg trousers, a tan trench coat tied tightly around her slim frame.
Daisy tugs a little at her leash, letting out a low growl as she sits down directly in front of me.
“Can I help you?” I ask, stepping back so I am closer to the entrance of the pub.
“Yeah, you can,” she snaps, her words harsh as she steps closer to me. “You can stay the hell away from Lewis. It’s not like the world doesn’t know you’re fucking gold digger.”
“Excuse me?” I’m taken aback by her abruptness, still trying to figure out exactly who she is. “Who are you?” My heart is pumping hard in my chest, but it’s not out of nervousness or fear. There’s something about this encounter that seems far too calculated to me and it’s what’s to come that has my heart racing.
“Please. Like you don’t know who I am. I’m sure Lewis has told you he’s been coming by to see me.”
“Joanna?” I question, her name rolling off my tongue with disgust. I’ve seen a few paparazzi pictures of her, but tonight she looks different, more put together, as if she’s been planning this whole thing; everything about her a desperate plea for attention. “Please just stop. You talking to the press isn’t working and we both know he has no interest in you.” I hold up my hand, flashing her my ring and the peek of the tattoo banded around my finger.
Just as I’m about to lower my hand she grabs for my wrist, gripping hard and pulling me closer to her. I’m within just a few feet of the pub and if I were to call out Lewis’ name right now he’d definitely hear me.
“Let go!” I yell out causing Daisy to bark wildly. I pull back, but she holds tight, her blood red fingernails cutting into my skin. Daisy continues her ruckus, her barks now louder and echoing on the quiet street and before we know it, the paparazzi have returned, a crowd gathering outside once again.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Lewis
I hear Daisy barking and I immediately freeze, my heart pounding in my chest because I know there’s only one reason she’d react like this.
I grab my phone and race outside, ready to tell these paparazzi to fuck the hell off, but what I see out on the footpath stops me in my tracks.
“What the fuck!” I shout and immediately the cameras turn to me, a couple of flashes going off as they snap away. But I don’t take my eyes off the sight in front of me. Of my ex-girlfriend, who has her fingers curled tightly around my wife’s wrist, of my dog going berserk, her lead straining in Ava’s other hand as she jumps and barks at Joanna, and of the press, as they capture every single second of it.
“Joanna!” I yell, stepping toward them, my arm curling around Ava’s waist and pulling her back against me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I feel Ava breathing heavily as she collapses against me, her back to my front, her hand still gripping the lead as she tries to pull Daisy back. Joanna stares at both of us, her eyes hard and her mouth set in a firm line. She doesn’t answer my question, instead just glancing toward the cameras as she cocks a brow as if to say see what I mean?
Inside, I can feel my blood boiling, my grip on Ava tightening as my jaw clenches. “Joanna,” I repeat through gritted teeth.
She turns back to me, a smug smile on her face as she says, “Hi Lewis,” as though this is nothing more than a casual catch up instead of her accosting my wife in the street.
I let out a long exhale, forcing myself to stay calm because I know I won’t do anyone any favors if I react right now. Instead, I point toward the pub and say, “Go inside.”
Joanna raises a brow again and I know my request has surprised her. She doesn’t say anything though, just waves to the press, who are still snapping photos, before she walks inside.
I turn Ava so she’s facing me, cupping her jaw in my hands. “Are you okay?” I ask, my eyes searching her face.
She nods, swallowing hard as her eyes flick to the press and then back to me.
“I know,” I whisper. “I’ll take care of it, baby, I promise.”
Ava nods but says nothing and together we turn and walk back inside the pub. Joanna is perched on a bar stool, her legs crossed and her coat laying on the bar as though she’s just walked in for a casual drink with friends.
“Put your coat back on,” I say as soon as we walk inside, locking the door behind us. “You won’t be staying long.”
Joanna lets out one of those long, frustrated exhales I remember, the one that used to drive me crazy, as she turns to face us. “Honestly, Lewis,” she starts. “I really…”
“Don’t!” I shout, my hand up to stop her. “Don’t say another word. You’re done talking and I’m done with putting up with this shit,” I continue. “Tomorrow, I’ll be filing a restraining order. You won’t be comi
ng within spitting distance of this place and you sure as shit won’t ever be laying your hands on my wife again. This is done, Joanna, so fucking done, it’s not even funny.”
“I…” she starts.
“No!” I spit out, cutting off her again. “This is over,” I add, gesturing my arm around the room. “You, me, fucking everything. You won’t come here again, you won’t look at Ava, let alone even think about speaking to her and you sure as fuck won’t be speaking to the press,” I add, my eyes locking with hers.
“You can’t stop me from doing that,” Joanna says, an edge to her words.
“Oh yes I fucking can,” I tell her. “My lawyer is already working on the paperwork, Joanna and if you so much as breathe a word about me or Ava or any of our business, you will be slapped so fucking hard with a lawsuit you won’t know what’s hit you.”
By the time I stop, my chest is heaving, my heart pounding inside my ribcage. I can feel Ava standing behind me, her hand resting on my back as I scream these words at Joanna, words I should have said a long time ago. Daisy sits at our feet, occasionally letting out a low long growl as her senses pick up on the tension in the air.
“Now, get out,” I add, hand pointed at the door. “And don’t ever come back here again.”
I watch as Joanna stares back at me, her mouth open a little as though she can’t believe all the things I’ve just said. I don’t give a shit what she thinks, because I am so fucking done with her, the press and the fucking wanker that started all of this.
“Now!” I scream when she doesn’t move.
Joanna flinches, but this time, she slides off the stool, grabbing her coat and walking toward the door. When she reaches it, I hear the click of the lock, following by the sounds of the street outside as she opens the door. I don’t give her the satisfaction of turning around though and it’s not until I hear the muffled sounds that let me know the door has closed, do I finally turn.
