Rapid Pulse: A Limited Edition Spicy Romance Collection

by Gina Kincade

  I was wrong, even more so now with this scandal looming over everyone's heads.

  I still didn't know if this blackmail thing would even work. I sent the money to the account and it was moved the following day, but there was no guarantee he would keep his word. I made sure I had fail safes on the cash, just in case, but if someone was willing to blackmail someone they weren't very trustworthy to begin with.

  I turned back to my desk, but the love wasn't there. I didn't want to work. I wanted to go home. If I could get her out of my mind, I could finally get some sleep.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "He did what?" Cami yelled from the computer. I sat on the couch, wine glass in one hand, chocolate in the other, crying my eyes out to my best friend.

  "I know right? And I liked it," I sobbed.

  "Honey, you always pride yourself on the fact that you don't need a man."

  Oh no, she didn't "I don't need a man, I want him. There's a difference."

  "Oh lord." She shook her head.

  The wine was cool on my tongue, adding the perfect sweetness to the chocolate I'd been ingesting for twenty minutes. The whole situation made me angry. Yes, it's true I pride myself on not needing a man for anything. There were a few exceptions; every person should have that one person to complete them. I'd rejected Jeremy too many times, and now he didn't even want me; in fact, he would hardly look at me now.

  This whole new light on love and relationships made me think of my parents. My mom gave up everything to be a wife and mother, but I always thought of it as her sacrifice, not her calling. Maybe she wanted her life to be those things, maybe it was her choice, and not the choice love made for her. My parents complimented each other perfectly, had a relationship worthy of an ABC Family movie, and I realized I wanted that too – with Jeremy.

  "Do you think Jeremy thinks I'm a slut, or like, tainted because of the whole Steve thing?"

  Cami shook her head. "No, and don't you even start to think about that either. This was just an unfortunate situation, and who knows who else could be in your place? That guy was an asshole to do this to you. I still say you should go to the police."

  "I can't. I paid him off, isn't that illegal too?"

  She shrugged. "I have to go, Hon. Get some sleep and don't drink all that wine."

  I sighed. "Fine, I love you. See you soon."

  The prospect of finally going home and seeing my girls was a great one, but the thought of leaving Jeremy was not. Not with how things were between us now.

  Bed called my name and I crashed into it. I'd be back in the states in only a couple of days, and while Jeremy seemed to occupy my thoughts as of late, I slept hard and dreamless until the morning.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I scratched the short stubble on my chin, looking around for the noise invading my bedroom. With one eye open I saw my phone lighting up beside my wallet and keys on the bedside table. The phone ringing before your alarm clock goes off is never a good sign. I reached out and answered it.

  "Get to the office, I need you."

  "Mr. McGregor?"

  "Of course it is. Who else would be calling you from my cell phone? Throw on clothes; get to the office, now. We have a problem."

  Shit.

  "Yes sir, I'll be there in twenty."

  The office was completely deserted at four o'clock in the morning and I had to turn on lights as I walked through the halls. Once at my desk I opened my email and saw two from Mr. McGregor. Exactly two weeks since Tony left for the states, exactly two weeks since I heard a word from her.

  Skype started to ring before I could read them. I answered. Mr. McGregor's face filled the screen.

  "I thought you and my daughter were an item?"

  Umm...

  "Sir...I..."

  "Save it, I knew you were together all along, I'm not an idiot. You two didn't want to share it with the family, and that's fine, but don't lie to me."

  "Ok, but we aren't together."

  "Clearly," he sent a share link to me and I clicked it.

  OH GOD.

  The asshole that videotaped Tony had sent the video to every news station in the United States.

  Every synapse in my brain began to misfire as the course of action this would take played through my mind. This video would ruin Tony, the company, and me. I'd be out of a job, let alone the entire McGregor family. I took a few long inhales to keep my composure in front of Mr. McGregor. I could break down later.

  "How do we get this bastard?" Mr. McGregor growled.

  "Sir, I'm not sure. I am more familiar with United States law. I know some of the Korean financial law from being here, but that's it."

  "We've got friends in the police; we can get him arrested for now until we find a strategy."

  "Sir, the clients..."

  "They will hear about it too. I will take care of it. There will be a few we lose, but it's nothing we can't handle. My daughter's health and happiness come first. There is nothing more important to me than my family. Got that boy?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Next time you're supposed to protect my daughter from this sort of...scandal. Sometimes she'll need to learn to get out of it in her own way, and if you care for her you'll help her in such a way that she doesn't realize you are. My wife was the same way, too headstrong, too independent for her own good."

  "I don't think Tony would like to hear you say that."

  "She's my daughter and I'll say what I damn please. You dropped the ball on this one, so pick it up, and get to work."

  He clicked off before I could say anything. Mr. McGregor had always been a mentor of sorts for me. Tonya didn't tell her family about us because she didn't want them to treat me differently, especially if it didn't work out. Guess all that sneaking around was for nothing.

  Even if we found this guy, of which I had no guarantee, I had no idea what I could do to him, besides knee him in the balls for hurting Tony.

  Tony. I'd tried so hard to keep her out of my head. I had worked long hours since she left a couple of weeks ago, but everywhere I looked I saw reminders of her. The office across the hall was still her office to me. The intimate moments on that desk –

  No, there was no use in going down that path again. Every time I thought about how I'd given up only made it hurt worse. I still worried about her, though. She was alone, probably upset, devastated, and I wasn't there to help her through any of this. It was only another reminder of how I failed to do what I'd set out to do.

  I opened a browser and typed in Tony's email address, then logged in. She always used the same password. I really needed to tell her to change it. Going through her deleted box I found the guy and forward the info to my own account. Maybe the IT man could track this guy by his IP address or something.

  The information off to the IT guys, I changed into the set of work clothes I kept in the office. There was no way I would be able to go home and change. Once dressed, I sat down and waited. The video still up on my screen calling my name. I equally wanted to see it and wanted to delete it at the same time. Did I want to wait until I caught a glimpse of it in some random coffee shop or should I just get it over with?

  I took a deep breath and stared at the screen, the monitor's bright light burning my eyes in the still semi-dark room. I should just do it, like ripping off a band-aid. The palms of my hands grew sweaty; I reached out and clicked the mouse button, slowly, and waited. The video started immediately and I held my breath. It wasn't very long but it still ripped my heart to pieces to see it.

  This stranger, this manipulator with his hands on Tony, made me want to throw something and go shake her into sanity. What had she been thinking? Each and every word on that tape she meant and it hurt, but more importantly, how had she allowed herself to get mixed up with this guy? Anyone could see he was a sleaze ball.

  What had I done to deserve this? Why couldn't I find a nice, normal girl, who didn't test the edge every minute?

  I asked myself each of these questions even though
I already knew the answers. I loved that she pushed me, I loved that we fought, and argued, and I enjoyed the way her eyes sparked when I pushed her back. Each moment we spent fighting was exactly how we both liked each other. It showed the passion of our relationship, the depth of anger we could harbor for each other.

  A small smile grew to a grin as I remembered the time she threw a high heel at my head back in New York. It didn't hit me, but she was so mad, and so very sexy.

  If she still wanted me, I'd be there for her. I couldn't apologize for what I'd done, but I could be there when she needed me, and hope that it was enough.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The pounding on my door pulled me out of sleep. I dragged myself to the peep hole and looked out, Cami and Lucy, at my house at six a.m. This can't be good. I opened the door and they breezed inside, then both of them instantly wrapped themselves around me, hugging me tight between them.

  The final two weeks in Korea went by quickly. Jeremy and I never spoke, never even said goodbye. I missed him, but it was nice to be surrounded by my girls again.

  "Guys, we saw each other yesterday, why are you hugging me like I just got back?" I said, voice muffled between sweaters and pajamas.

  Even more disconcerting was that Lucy was still in her night clothes, stylish night clothes, but she'd left her house that way.

  This was an emergency.

  I pushed them back and looked at them, yawning wide. "What's wrong?"

  Cami just walked over to the TV and flipped on the local news. I stared at it for a moment, wondering what gas prices had to do with me, until the story changed and my face appeared in the small box next to the newscaster's head.

  My eyes got wider as they elaborated on the breaking news story. When I saw my blurred out nudity on the news I sat down, all the way to the floor. The girls came down with me. Each second the footage rolled felt like an hour, and even more so since that jackass edited the video to make it even worse than what actually happened. In his version I looked like some hyped up sex monster trying to have my way with him.

  "In your defense, he really is stunning," Cami said.

  I heard her as if from far away as I watched the video, the one that nasty excuse for a man took of me without my permission. This was the worst sort of violation there was. The world that I knew would never be the same. I could no longer see the innocence in people, the normal everyday grind. From now on I would worry about whom to trust, who would betray me and for how much. I have always had to be careful about my friends, but now, did I have any?

  Each breath I took seemed to be dragged from my lungs by a suction cup and for the first time I thought I might pass out. How could someone do this to me? I paid him, well, Jeremy paid him.

  JEREMY.

  Just the thought of his name almost made me throw up. He was going to see this; he was going to hear everything I said about him. I looked up at the ceiling, willing myself to calm down, to remain in control, but it wasn't working.

  I shook my head, grabbed the remote, and shut off the TV. The girls sat around me, each with a concerned look on their faces. I chanted in my head 'I will not cry I will not cry I will not cry.

  "Baby, I know you are upset, you can cry in front of us." Lucy hugged me hard.

  I took a deep breath and climbed to my feet. Get dressed, find my father, apologize, and somehow fix the mess. That was one hell of a to-do list.

  "I have to take a shower. Can one of you find me some clothes?"

  "I'm on it." Lucy hopped up and Cami followed her as I entered the bathroom.

  I wondered if Jeremy had seen the video or not. All I could think about was how much more hurt and dejected he would feel after hearing all the crap that came out of my mouth.

  Calling the PR guy, Clark, would be my next step. Holding a press conference to address this would be a priority for the family, but I didn't want them there. This was my embarrassment, not theirs. I'd be lucky if I had a job after this. Sure, our firm was a family business, but if the shareholders wanted me out, there was really nothing I could do to stop it. All of that affected me, but the main thing I was thinking about was Jeremy.

  My phone was ringing as I climbed out of the shower. I heard Cami answer it and then she knocked on the bathroom door. "It's your Dad."

  I finished wrapping the towel around myself and took the phone. "Hello, Daddy."

  "Baby girl, are you okay? I already have the lawyers working on this. We'll have to hold a press conference and address the clients but...are you okay?"

  "Daddy," I whispered his name like a prayer. He was always my rock, the solid presence in my life reminding me everything wasn't fun and games. It was a hard job and I was thankful for it, especially now. I couldn't live if I thought he was ashamed of me.

  "Daddy, I...I'm so embarrassed. I know I've ruined the company and the family's reputation. I feel so horrible. I never meant to hurt you and Mom. I just – I don't know what I'd do if you weren't there for me."

  "Baby, don't worry about that right now. I'll always be here for you. One thing at a time, okay? Hand me back to Cami. I love you."

  "I love you, Daddy."

  Cami took the phone and I followed her back into the bedroom. I quickly dressed and joined Lucy in the kitchen with the coffee.

  The lawyers were working on it, which meant Jeremy might be involved, and the entire firm would hear what I said about him. I had to fix this. Jeremy being mad at me was fine if that's what he wanted. But truly hating me for the rest of our lives was not.

  Cami entered shortly after.

  "Your press conference is at two. Do you want us to go with you?"

  "Yes, I'd like that. You both know I love you, right?"

  They both smiled and nodded. We told each other regularly enough. Some people might find it weird, but we just liked each other to know. They were my sisters, and we couldn't be closer. Suddenly, I knew what to I had do.

  "Cami, remember when you got in that car accident and your mother freaked out?"

  She wrinkled her forehead, thinking, and then nodded. "I know what I need to do."

  "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN of the press, you all know why I'm holding this conference so there's no use in pretending otherwise. First, I'd like to address the blatant disregard for my privacy. Shame on you all. How would you feel if that was a video of your daughter the news blasted for the whole world to see?" I shifted in front of the podium. The news people buzzed in front of me, some angry, some listening. "I'll move on, but please don't expect funding from The McGregor Firm for anything you might need in the future if you blasted this video."

  "You can't make that call. You probably don't even work for the firm anymore." The man speaking had a red, round face and stood toward the back of the room. One of the tabloids. I stared the man down.

  "All charity funding comes from my family's money, not the company money, and I'm still a part of the McGregor family, regardless of the situation."

  Point one for McGregor.

  "Furthermore, I'd like to say that I'm embarrassed. I acted like a child in this incident and I should have known better. Twenty-something and hormones are not a stable combination."

  Some people chuckled. There were more pictures taken. I turned toward the computer screen next to me and hit play on the tablet in front. My video popped up from the beginning. "You have all been sent a video edited for salaciousness. I was sent the entire thing when a blackmailer tried to use it against me. This is the real video. I'm going to walk you through it, step-by-step."

  The movie started with us entering the apartment and I let it play until the very end when I left.

  "You see, you are all getting worked up about this, but you see more of your favorite actors and actresses in movies every day than you did of me in this video. Yes, I'm in my underwear. OH NO. Basically my point is this: there's nothing to see here that you all haven't seen before."

  I rewound the stream and pointed out the most explicit part of the video, a shot of one of my nipples. I
really wanted to be home, in my bed with a pint of ice cream and a bottle of wine. Staring at this video, at these people, made me feel physically ill, shame, embarrassment, and outrage didn't even skim the surface of my emotions as I glanced around the room.

  "If you haven't seen a nipple before, it's about damn time, people."

  There was more laughter and milling about.

  "This video has no impact on me or my family. We see it, as I stated before, as an invasion of our privacy. The man responsible will be brought to justice, and if for some reason he's not, I honestly believe karma will get him in the end. Please know that the values of the company remain strong and firm, and please don't feel like you misplaced your trust in us. Thank you."

  I took a deep breath. "I have one more thing I need to say, but it's not for you all."

  The room fell silent save the snap of cameras and light around me. I looked out at them and cleared my throat. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears and my mouth suddenly felt full of sand.

  It didn't matter. None of it mattered.

  "Jeremy, if you are watching this, this part is for you. I love you. I want you and I always will. I tried to fight it and as you can see, it didn't work. I will always be head-strong, vain, stubborn, and a pain in your ass, but if you can accept those things, I'm yours forever."

  A chorus of my name started being shouted all over the room. I prepared myself to answer the questions. I pointed at a nearby reporter.

  "Ms. McGregor? Who is that man?"

  "I don't know. I met him online. He told me his name was Steve. He then tried to blackmail me for a million dollars and I haven't heard from him since."

  Another shout came from the corner. "Did you think about paying him off?"

  "Are you kidding? Of course I did."

  "Ms. McGregor, Ms. McGregor?"

  I pointed again this time a kid in the front. "Why isn't your family here?"

  I just looked at him for a moment. "Do you want your mom to see you naked?"