by Suzie Nelson
“No, I couldn’t. How could that possibly help?” Danica couldn’t bear the thought of her going on national television alone to reveal all the sordid details about the Ramsey deal. Her hands started to get sweaty and she could feel herself getting anxious at the possibility.
“It will be the last thing they would expect.” The cogs in Chelsea’s brain were starting to turn again and she was concocting a plan that would turn the media hatred back onto Jordan. “You’re going to go on there, hold your hands up and say you were a part of the deal because you wanted to use your designing skills but then you will tell them everything. That it was Jordan’s idea to stage the relationship because they needed something to distract the media from the child labor scandal at his factories.” Chelsea walked around her desk and leaned herself up against the edge while she focused on Danica.
“Everyone loves to see a sinner repent and that’s what you’ll do. You will tell them how they contacted us and set up the meeting in the diner. Obviously, you can add in some emotions, tell them that you didn’t really want to do it but you saw it as an opportunity to break into the designing field and then turn the story back on Jordan. They set it up, they needed the media to talk about something else and they released a false statement. Then you can tell them that you have a contract proving everything and by the end of the show I will have it released online.” Chelsea could see the whole thing unfolding in her mind and she was starting to calm down as she could see a way out of it but Danica wasn’t as convinced.
“Surely that would ruin us both?” This time Danica began to pace the room thinking about the consequences of coming clean. “No one would want to work with me if they knew I’d do anything just to get a designing deal.” As she spoke about her career, Danica was also thinking about Jordan. If she destroyed his reputation would he ever forgive her? But why would that actually matter? She had to remind herself once again that it was all a hoax. Nothing had been real, not even their amazing nights of passion together. She was just too naïve to fall into the trap.
“But that’s the beauty of it – by the end of the week, I would bet that you will have a guest designing contract with some other label. By coming clean you are giving everyone what they want…the truth. The media will hate the Ramsey for trying to manipulate them and everyone will realize that you just did what anyone would do to get ahead. It’s perfect!” Chelsea was clearly pleased with herself and Danica felt as though there was no other option than to go along with her manager’s plan.
“I don’t particularly want to do it but I guess we have to do something. I think I’m just still in shock that they played us like that.” Danica put her hands into her jean pockets and gazed at the plasma screen that was still showing images of her and Jordan as news presenters talked.
Chelsea pressed the button on her phone as the plan was now in motion. “Francesca, get me someone from legal over here straight away and confirm with the Morning Daily show that Danica will still be attending tomorrow.”
“Sure thing, Chelsea.” With the assistant’s confirmation, everything was going ahead while Danica still stood there wondering if there was no other way out of this mess.
***
Hours passed in a blur of legal meetings and preparation questions until Danica could take no more. She stepped out of Chelsea’s office into the evening breeze and wrapped herself up in her raincoat as a little drizzle soaked the ground. Danica’s apartment was only a few blocks away, so instead of calling a town car, she decided to clear her head and walk the street with her hood up. She passed a couple of newsstands and could see her face pasted on the cover of the tabloids but she didn’t stop to read them. She had been told every word of the headlines by Chelsea, her lawyers and anyone else in the office that felt they could comment on her life.
As she neared her building she suddenly panicked and realized that she hadn’t thought about any photographers waiting outside her building. Normally, she would quickly brush through them from the car into the lobby with the help of the driver of her doorman but she hadn’t thought about approaching them on the street. She turned the corner and was relieved to see that only two men holding cameras were standing outside talking to each other as the other photographers must have thought her apartment might be the last place she would show up to.
With her hood still covering her head, Danica tried to slip by unnoticed but one of the paparazzi caught a glimpse of her face just as she was about to enter the building. “Danica! Danica! Give us a shot love.” They pounced on her flashing their bright lenses and she raised her hand to cover her eyes. Her first reaction was to run inside the building and hide but then she realized she had an opportunity to change the story.
Lowering her hand, Danica smiled at them and gave them a few shots of her standing there. “Okay guys, you’ve had a few pictures. Now tell me, what’s the word around town about my story?”
Both of the photographer’s looked at each other in complete surprise as they had not expected to see Danica, never mind talking to them. “Just what’s in the papers, love. You know, that you pretended to date that Ramsey fella so you could work at his fashion label.” The man that answered was as blunt and straightforward as a spade which is how most of the newspaper photographers were. They weren’t shy about sticking a lens in the face of a celebrity so why would they be shy about telling the truth?
“Well, I’m going to be on the Morning Daily show tomorrow. So everyone will hear my side of it soon. Night guys.” Danica didn’t see the harm in spreading the word about her interview as she had already been confirmed as a guest and any further buzz would help her to change the bad press.
“Thanks for the shots, Danica.”
She turned to walk away when one of the men shouted out, “he’s in there waiting for you.”
“Who?” Danica looked at him confused.
“Jordan Ramsey. He’s been in there for a couple of hours waiting in the lobby. I’ve been out here the whole time and he ain’t moved.” Danica wasn’t sure why he was telling her that or whether she needed to worry that it would end up in the papers. “Do you want to give us a quote about why he’s here?” The two men looked optimistic that they were getting a huge scoop but Danica didn’t have any major revelation for them.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” She smiled and then walked past the doorman and into the lobby. Danica could see Jordan sitting on one of the long chaises that were decoratively placed for guests. She took a deep breath in mentally preparing herself for her next battle.
Jordan stood up as soon as he saw her walk through the doors but he just remained by the chair fiddling his fingers in a nervous fashion. “Danica, can I speak with you for a moment, please?”
Tired of a drama filled day, Danica just wanted to get the conversation over and done with. “Jordan, I really shouldn’t be speaking with you. If you have anything to say pass it along to my lawyer or Chelsea, I’m sure you will be hearing from her.” She tried to walk straight over to the elevators where one of her doormen was waiting to press the button.
“Please, Danica, I just want to talk.” Jordan took a few steps closer but still remained at a distance. He was wearing the same outfit from the morning but he had a stylish black leather biker jacket on over his shoulders. Danica had caught a quick glimpse of him when she walked in but was trying her best to keep her eyes averted.
“Your floor, Miss Cliffe?” The doorman pressed the elevator button and they waited for it to arrive.
“Yes, thank you.” Danica stood with her back to Jordan hoping that he would just let her go upstairs. If he came towards her she didn’t know if she would be able to keep her cool and ignore him.
“Danica, I didn’t know about the statement.” Jordan had walked over to her side and was now only a few feet away. “It was all Edward. He got his assistant to give the statement and I didn’t know anything about it, I swear.” His voice sounded desperate but she had heard it all before. He had sounded d
esperate and needy the night he came up to her apartment and she had given in, but not today.
The thick silver elevator door slid open and Danica rushed inside with the doorman. He pressed the button to her floor but Jordan put his foot across so that it couldn’t close. “Danica, listen to me! I’ll do anything to make this right.”
The doorman pushed back on Jordan’s arm but clearly didn’t want to get into a brawl. “Sir, remove yourself from the door!”
“For Christ’s sake, Danica, I broke Edward’s nose because of what he did – just listen to me!” Jordan pushed back determined that Danica would hear his side.
“Wait!” Danica reached out and put her arm on the doorman’s indicating that Jordan could talk. “It’s okay.” She didn’t know what he could say that would make her change his mind but she was surprised to hear that he had attacked his own brother. “What did you do to Edward?”
The doorman stood back while Jordan still held the door with his foot. “He made some comments that I won’t repeat but he deserved it – it was him that released the statement. I and Barrack didn’t know anything, otherwise, I would have stopped it before.”
“But you broke his nose?” Danica wasn’t entirely surprised to hear that it had been Edward who released the statement as his intense stare gave her the creeps.
“Well, I don’t know for sure. I punched him in the nose so it could be but I left without finding out.” Jordan looked flustered after his little tussle with the doorman and it was awkward as all three stood in close proximity with the tension between Jordan and Danica.
She looked up at him and wished that she could throw herself into his arms and believe every word he said but she still had Chelsea’s warnings in her mind. The Ramsey brothers were known for being ruthless in business and Jordan could just be using her for entertainment as bored billionaires do. “I can’t talk to you Jordan, you have to leave.”
Disappointment spread across Jordan’s face as he realized that she still didn’t want to hear his pleading. “But Danica, what about us?”
“There is no us, have you not seen the papers?” Danica was cold and didn’t try to conceal her disenchantment with him.
“There has to be something I can do to prove that I wasn’t a part of all this! Something I can do to put this right.” The elevator door pushed against Jordan’s foot and he shoved it back to the annoyance of the doorman.
Danica was about to shout at him again and tell him to leave her alone when she thought of something that might just help both of them. “You’ll do anything, will you?”
“Anything!”
Danica stepped forward and looked Jordan straight in the eyes. “You can go on the Morning Daily show tomorrow and tell them that the whole thing was Edward’s plan. From us getting together to his statement this morning – everything was Edwards plan to improve your stock price.” Danica held his gaze as she watched his brain consider the implications of blaming his brother for everything.
Jordan’s eyes changed from desperate to heartbroken as he contemplated betraying his deceitful brother to win back the love of his life. “Okay, I’ll do it,” he sighed and the fire which had previously burned within him quickly faded. “I’ll go on the show and I’ll tell them anything you want. I will say it was all Edward, he’s done enough shit to me in my life… he can pay for some of it.” Jordan looked up at Danica hopeful that she would let him upstairs with her. “Can I come up so that we can talk?”
Danica knew what he wanted and it wasn’t to talk. She couldn’t deny that her body yearned for him when they were together even in the middle of this fiasco. She still wanted him but she could not be sure of his real intentions until he had proved himself. She leaned forward and gently pushed him off the elevator. “No. We can talk tomorrow after the interview.”
As the elevator started to close, Jordan looked at her feeling completely helpless. “I’ll be there. I promise.”
The doors finally closed with Danica and the doorman inside and on their way up to her apartment. She leaned herself back against the wall and gave out an emotional sigh.
“Are you okay, Miss Cliffe?” Having awkwardly witnessed the whole conversation, the doorman wasn’t sure if he could help a clearly distressed resident.
“I’ll be fine, thanks. Once everything is done tomorrow, I’ll be fine.” Danica realized that the doorman had heard the whole plan and panic flashed in her mind. “Please do not repeat anything that you just heard.”
The doorman turned with a warm and trustful smile, dressed in his dark green uniform and matching cap. “I didn’t hear anything, Miss Cliffe.” He winked at her and then the doors opened onto her floor. “I’m sure it will all blow over tomorrow, Miss.” The doorman said his goodbye as Danica prayed that his prophecy would come true.
Chapter 10
“Chelsea, you should probably know that Jordan is going to be here.” Danica had waited until the last moment to tell her manager that she wouldn’t be alone during the interview.
“What?” Chelsea stopped drinking her coffee and spluttered out her question as the door to the studio opened.
“Welcome, welcome!” One of the Morning Daily show producers walked over with her arms open ready for a showbiz hug. “Danica, it’s so great to have you here!” They hugged with air kisses on both cheeks as Chelsea tried to keep her shit together although she was fuming mad with Danica. “We have make-up set up just over here if you could follow me.”
The producer headed through a crowded studio, filled with cameras, the show set and lots of people rushing around fiddling with wires and props. In the corner, there were several make-up stations with lit up mirrors and swivel chairs where Danica could see Jordan getting prepared.
Chelsea grabbed Danica’s arm as they walked over. “What the hell is going on, Danica? This was not the plan – what is he doing here?”
Danica waved her arm free of Chelsea’s hold and gave her look that implied she wasn’t going to talk about it.
“Miss Cliffe, if you’d like to sit here. Tiffany is going to be doing your make-up today.” The producer pointed at a vacant chair for Danica to fill which was two chairs left from where Jordan was sitting. He raised his eyes over and took a quick glimpse at Danica as his own makeup artist applied a thin layer of foundation.
“Danica. Miss Kane,” he said both their names as a greeting but his voice was monotone and without any feeling.
Chelsea gave him a look of daggers and she would have preferred to spit in his face but Danica was still her main object of rage. “Mr. Ramsey, I see you are here alone this morning. You didn’t feel the need to bring your older brother to fight your battle this time?” Chelsea got in with her first jab and tried her best to pretend as though she knew he was going to be here all along.
“Not today. I believe he suffered an injury yesterday and isn’t taking interviews.” Jordan remained still not giving away the nervous ball of emotions that were knotting his stomach.
“Oh, how unfortunate. I do hope it is an injury to the face that will permanently wipe the smug look off his face,” Chelsea spoke without realizing how close she was to the truth. Danica cringed as Tiffany started to apply primer and she tried to turn her eyes to get a look at Jordan.
“Please try and keep your face still, Miss Cliffe.” The make-up artist pulled her face back so that it was straight in front of the mirror and Danica awkwardly smiled.
Jordan had turned up for the interview which was good but she had no idea if he was going to do as she asked. All night, Danica had been remembering the devastated look on Jordan’s face when she asked him to pin all the blame on Edward and she hadn’t been able to close her eyes without seeing his disturbed brown eyes flicker before her.
He said he loved her and that he was willing to do anything to win her back but would Danica still want him if he went as far as to betray his own brother even at her request? Tiffany turned to the counter behind her and Danica took the opport
unity to look at Jordan. He was sitting alone, dressed and ready to go but he looked solemn and completely lost in his own thoughts. Part of Danica wanted to shout out to him that he didn’t have to go through with it; that she would love him either way but another part wanted to see if he would prove his love. He could go on live national television and say something completely opposite to what they had agreed and Danica needed to find out the truth.
“Jordan, darling, it’s such a lovely surprise to have you on the show today!” As Danica watched Jordan, the show’s presenter Sally Joy appeared at his side with a phony welcoming smile. “When I got the call last night confirming that we would have both you and Danica here, I just knew we were in for a special show.” Sally Joy leaned in and kissed him on the cheek whispering something into his ear that Danica couldn’t hear. Jordan didn’t look comforted by the secret words and Sally walked over to Danica looking smug.
Sally had the usual day-time TV presenter look with a straw bouffant of red hair, sprayed to perfection, blood red lips and a silky loose fitting dress that appealed to any age. Danica hardly ever watched the show but she knew that Sally was loved throughout the country for her mix of humor and hard-hitting questions.
