Roman-2(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(169)

Thomas glared at her. He spoke in a clipped tone. “The public will look more favourably upon the sex tape scandal if it was sex within a happy relationship rather than a sordid casual fling.”

Unhappiness gnawed inside of her. It was the first time Thomas had referred to sex with her as casual. Despite her caution, he’d given her the impression that there was more going on than just casual sex, especially after he’d revealed his scars to her and told her about the terrible fire that had caused them.

“So you’re just here to protect your reputation,” she said sadly.

“And yours,” he shot back.

Thomas began pacing across the floor. Sasha mulled over his words. Her reputation… As in her career prospects. The sex tape had left them in tatters. No reputable paper was going to employ someone who couldn’t even make it through an internship at the low-brow Atomic magazine before sleeping with a client.

“You’ll have to do some interviews about my scars,” Thomas continued. “About how they affect me emotionally. I’ll need to talk about my traumatic experience as a youth.”

Everything he said was so cold and calculated, so far from the passionate man she’d come to know.

“Does that mean you… that you don’t feel anything for me?” She couldn’t stop the question from escaping her lips, but regretted it instantly.

Thomas clenched his teeth. “You took another man into your bed after falling for the stupid lies the media print. You didn’t even give me a chance to explain.”

“Nothing happened with me and Chris,” she contested, knowing full well it was only half true.

“Even if that were true, you’re still not the woman I met before. The one who didn’t listen to hearsay. Who didn’t have time for it. The one who gave more weight to my words than the lies of the Kelly’s and Alicia’s of the world.”

Sasha’s heart clenched. She’d blown it with Thomas. She’d blown it with her career. She didn’t even know if she wanted that career anymore. Prying into people’s lives and making assumptions about them was wrong. In the short time she’d known Thomas, she’d seen firsthand the destruction and confusion the media caused. Being with him had flipped her whole world view upside down.

But amidst all the chaos and confusion, there was one thing she knew for certain, one thing she could trust, and that was the fire that burned in her when she was with him. She wanted Thomas Lloyd, to be with him, near him, in whatever capacity that entailed. Even if he felt nothing for her, she felt something for him - a huge, burning, insatiable sexual desire - and it made her feel more alive than she ever had before.

“Okay,” she said.

“Okay what?”

“I’ll do it. Put on the united front. Be your girlfriend. Save your reputation.”

Thomas regarded her for a moment. There wasn’t even a trace of emotion on his face, not even a hint that he recognized what she was giving up for him.

“Good,” he said, simply. “I’ll get the car over here. My PR team will brief you on everything you need to say once we’re on the plane.” He was already tapping on his phone.

“Plane?”

Thomas’s gaze darted up. “Yes. That house on the private island I was telling you about. It’s probably best if we go there and lay low for a little while.”

“You, me and the… PR team?” How romantic.

Thomas’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t a holiday, Sasha. This is a crisis planning meeting. And we’re all going to have to pull together to make this work.”

“What about Chris?”

“He’ll have to stay here until the paparazzi are gone. If they photograph him leaving the house the whole charade will fall to pieces.” He paused. “How much will it cost to get him to play ball?”

“Nothing,” Sasha shot back. “I don’t need to bribe my friends to help me out.”

“You sure about that? All he has to do is leave this house a minute after us and get papped and he’ll be offered hundreds for his story.”

Sasha narrowed her eyes and spoke through her teeth. “How many times do I have to tell you, there is no story.”

Thomas shrugged. “Even if there isn’t, doesn’t mean he won’t capitalize on the opportunity.”

“I can trust Chris. I’ve known him my whole life and...”

“Like I could trust Crystal? She’s my sister, Sasha. In this world, you can trust no one. Do you understand me? No one. So go and let down your boyfriend gently. Convince him that we’re genuine or before you know it he’ll be selling you out to the press.”