JESSICA'S POV
At this moment we're in the car on the way to the interview. I could see Santi and Carla nervous, and I know no matter how much I wanted to assure them nothing will happen to me, they won't be sure until I get out of there.
Up front, Jackson is as calm as he could be. He isn't as nervous as them, but he had already warned me the first movement he saw that put me in danger, he would get me out of there, which didn't bother me either.
Once we arrive at the studio, the girls' car stops behind ours and us all head to the entrance when they stop us. "I'm sorry, but so many people can't come in." One of the security people said, "Oh, of course we can all come in, so you can move out of the way now." Carla said with a final snort. "I'm sorry, Miss Bastianini, but we can't. Miss Esposito asked that too many people not come in."
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you if we can't all get in, Miss Leone will leave, and I'm completely sure your bosses won't like it at all the person they want to interview isn't inside because security doesn't want to let us all in." The security guy looked at us and after a few seconds of thinking, he let us pass. They directed us to the room where in theory they would do my makeup and where I would stay until it's my time to enter, but if I have one thing clear, it's that no one is going to do my makeup.
As soon as we entered, I sat on the couch and Santi didn't take long to follow me, causing the moment he sat next to me, I left my head on his shoulder and he started running his fingers through my hair, it's something he does. Honestly, it always puts me to sleep.
"If you're tired, we can go." Santi said softly, "I'm not tired, at least right now, the one that's making me sleepy is you, love." I answered honestly "Me? How?" He asked in a confused tone. "Running your fingers through my hair."
"I'm sorry." He said, letting out a small laugh, "Don't be, I love it, but I would appreciate it if you wouldn't make me fall asleep right now." I replied, "I won't." He assured and I gave him a smile "Well, now that we're here, can you tell us what your plan is?" Jesy asked, crossing her arms next to the door. "I don't need to tell you anything, seriously, everything is under control."
"But I want to know." She insisted, "I know you want to know Jesy, but really, it's better if it's a surprise." I said calmly, "I'm not so sure." At that moment Jackson appears through the door, enters, and closes it behind him, standing next to it. "You gave them the videos?"
"Yes, and they told me it wouldn't take long for them to call you to come to the set." He reported "Perfect, have you made your rounds yet?" I asked and he looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about." He responded and I laughed "Of course you know." I insisted, "Okay, okay, I did it, and Miss Esposito doesn't have any bodyguards, and everything is safe."
"Something we know from the beginning." I responded, "I had to make sure." My bodyguard replied with a shrug. "I know, don't worry about it." I said, "Miss Leone, you have to be on set in a minute." One of the workers reported, "Thanks."
With that I got up, evidently with the help of Santi, and we all left the room heading towards the set. At first the girl looked at us, but I think they had also been warned what would happen if they didn't let them inside, so she decided to keep quiet.
Just when we reached where I'm going to enter, I heard my name called, so I left but not before giving Santi a kiss. The moment Alison sees me, I can see how angry she gets, and that told me no one had really said anything about me coming as I had requested.
"Good morning, Jessica, how are you?" The presenter said with a big smile on her face "Good morning, and I'm great, how are you?" I asked once I got to her side, "Good and glad to have you on the set. I thought you wouldn't accept when we told you Alison would be there." She responded, surprised I had done it, "I have no problem with being in the same place as her."
"Even though the son she has is Santi's?" She asked and I denied it with a smile on my face. "As I said in the first interview I did, I know that son is not Santi's, and if he was, the truth is, it wouldn't bother me, he didn't know I was alive and I didn't remember him." I responded calmly, "That's not so clear, dear, because you don't let my son see his father."
"I don't control what Santi does, the truth is, he does what he wants. If he doesn't want to see a child that isn't his, he doesn't have to." I countered with a shrug, "The paternity test doesn't say the same thing as you." Alison informed with a sly smile on her face, hoping that would bother me in the least. "Did you give the child a paternity test?"
"Of course, it was to assure him he was his son." Alison responded looking at me "Did you know anything about this Jessica?" the presenter questioned, and I nodded. "Yes, Santi wasn't sure about doing it and I told him I would support him whatever he decided." I replied "See? You're confirming the child is his." Alison's slut pointed out. "Make no mistake, dear, because we both know that's not true."
"You should have seen the papers that came to your house." She insisted and I nodded again "We saw them, but we also did another one separately and some videos show how you got those papers to say the father was Santi." I said calmly and with the smile still on my face "What are you talking about, Jessica?"
"Production has the video I'm talking about, and the papers that prove Santi isn't the father of that child." I informed "Production, play the video, please." The presenter asked anxiously.
At that moment, the video began to play in which Alison was seen threatening those at the laboratory so the paper would say Santi is the father. The video lasted a couple of minutes because at first, they refused until she pulled out a gun. "That's all a setup made by her." Alison protested, trying to get out of this, "I'm not good at manipulating videos, believe me, I'm sorry, but if you don't believe that, we can call the guys you threatened with the gun."
"People you paid to say whatever you want." She insisted, "You're good at making it up as you go, I must admit." I responded, "I'm not inventing anything, the one who's inventing things here is you." He countered and I laughed "It's not the only thing I have. The guy who claims to be my boyfriend for six years or something was the one who beat up my fiancé and left him in a coma." I revealed "The boy you cheated on Santi with?"
"According to what people think, yes, but it's not like that. That man appeared in my life three and a half years ago, while I was living in Los Angeles. At that time, I didn't remember anything about my life as I know it now." I admitted "How come you remembered everything now?" the presenter asked curiously.
"Four years ago before my trip to Los Angeles, I was having pretty bad headaches, and my bodyguard, Jackson, told me it was starting to worry everyone, so I decided to go to the doctor to make sure it was nothing and for the others to calm down, what I didn't know was I had a tumour." I responded, "Did you have cancer?" the presenter asked, and I denied, "No, it wasn't cancer, luckily for everyone, but I didn't tell anyone, not even Santi because that was our last night for two weeks, and that day Santi was happy because he had found a talented boy, I didn't want to ruin the good mood he had, so I decided to tell him the moment he returned from Los Angeles."
"Does the tumour have anything to do with you not remembering your life before the storm?" asked the woman sitting between Alison and me. "Apparently it had something to do with it. In the first weeks I didn't remember anything once after the surgery and I was stressed with everything happening with Santi and the anger I had about it, but after a couple of months, I started to remember things and a couple of weeks ago I remembered the moment when Santi and I became a couple."
"So, you don't have the tumour anymore?" She questioned, "No, for a couple of months, and that's how I discovered Lucas was lying when he said we had been together for six years. On the other hand, the person he has a relationship with and a child with is Miss Esposito." I responded, "More lies, you're a big liar, Leone."
"I wouldn't say that about not having proof, dear." I assured with a big smile on my face "Do you have proof of what you are saying?" asked the presenter, who must have been delighted with the exclusive she's giving. "Of course, there's also a video of how much fun she has in the lobby of the hotel where she usually stays when she goes to the United States, you could say they are very passionate."
"Play the video." She asked for this one and as the video played, I could see Alison getting angrier if that's possible, and I'm pretty sure she really wanted to kill me, but I hope she also realized this was the end of her lies. "This is another montage; you can clearly see it's her." The girl protested, "It could be, but one detail that escapes you is that if it had been me, while I walk, we would notice a limp, and especially given the date."
"A limp you can fake." With that, I began to lift the leg of my pants that would show the scar I had there. When I couldn't raise it any further, with another finger I showed where it's going, and I could hear the surprised sounds of the people who were on the plate. "Unfortunately, with this, you can't fake a limp, I can assure you."
"Does it really reach almost to your hips?" the presenter asked with her gaze fixed on my scar "Yes, when they found me, I had a metal stuck in my leg, and thanks to a couple who helped me, I didn't die those days." I said with a smile on my face "Was it because of the storm?" She asked and I nodded. "Anything other than storm drifts?"
"I don't hear nearly everything I heard before the storm. I'm practically deaf in one ear." I revealed, "Well, it seems like you're hearing" The presenter said with a frown, "I hear as much as I can right now, I also read lips, which helps me a lot to understand what's going on around me."
"It must be complicated when there's more than one person speaking." The presenter pointed out and I nodded, because it really is complicated. "Yes, but it's nothing I can't handle." I assured, "Then how did you know who you really were? How did Santi and Carla find you?" The presenter questioned "It was a coincidence. It turns out that day I was taking Miky to class. We were late for school because he hadn't put the leash on him properly and Wisky is a dog who loves to run, so we had to go after him. We had stopped at a cafeteria near the school because he hadn't had time to have breakfast, and when we left, I half heard someone saying my name, but I didn't think it was because of me until my brother told me they were calling me."
"Your brother?" She questioned, "I have that boy as my brother, as well as Madison, and both my parents, grandmother and sister adore them. They are one of the family." I stated with a big smile on my face "What's your first reaction to someone famous like Carla?" she asked "If I'm honest, I didn't even know she was famous. I hadn't really paid much attention to her because I had been looking at the man behind her."
"Santi?" She questioned and I nodded, "Yes, he looked like he would cry at any moment, and something inside me couldn't see him like that, so I went over to ask him if he was okay. The only thing he said was that it really was me, which I didn't understand for the moment, so I told him he was probably confusing me with someone and that I had to go take my brother to class. That was the first time I saw them. My brother asked me if I knew who the girl was with him, and I told him the truth, because I had no idea, mostly because I wasn't paying attention to her. It was at that moment he told me it was Carla. Miky adored Carla, you can say that now he knows her, he adores her more, but he was a big fan, just like Madison."
"And when was the next time you ran into them?" She questioned "That same afternoon. I promised Miky that I would take him to the record signing Carla had in the mall. I decided not to go in so as not to get more confused, my head was hurting enough that day, I didn't want to add more stress to that. I don't know at what moment, Santi appeared behind me telling me nothing had changed in those four years. I assured him again I wasn't the person he thought I was, but he assured me he wasn't wrong."
"Did you believe them?" The moderator asked and I laughed remembering those days "No, I didn't believe them. In my mind they were confused." I said sincerely "How did you realize they were telling the truth?" She questioned, "I didn't realize that until days later when Miky knew who I really was. That afternoon I had argued with Santi because at one point in the morning I couldn't see anything, and it bothered me a lot when people saw me at my worst, so I ended up taking it out on him."
"How did Miky know it was you?" She insisted "I guess Carla told her, that girl really can't keep anything to herself. And because of her and Miky, I'm here in Italy." I admitted "Why?" she asked "That afternoon Santi had tried to tell me I was British/Italian and that I was Jessica Leone. Obviously, I didn't believe it. And then I told Miky I didn't believe it. He told me the only way to make sure what they told me was true was to come here, which Carla told him to tell me. He knows I'm a stubborn girl, so I want to assume he knew that was the only way to convince me."
"He knows you well." The presenter admitted "It's practically a whole life together, and we're similar in character, so she knew the ways she had to do to convince me." I said, "How did your family take you were alive?" the presenter curiously said, "My parents and my grandmother took it well, it surprised them, but they took it well. They were happy I hadn't died."
"And Sofia?" She asked "My sister has the same character as me. She didn't take it well. She thought I abandoned them. I don't know what Carla told her, but she convinced her I hadn't done that." I assured, "So now everything is settled with your family?" She questioned and I nodded "Yes. I didn't think I could be happier than I was in Los Angeles. I always knew I was missing something, but I was happy at the end of the day."
"Is there anything you miss about your Los Angeles life?" the woman inquired. "The anonymity is what I miss the most." I admitted "What?" she asked, "I didn't have anyone getting into my stuff or making up stories." I responded, "Does it bother you if the press does?" The presenter questioned, "Of course, not for me, because I really don't care what people think of me, but I know that many things they say about me hurt my family, and that's something I'll never allow."
SANTIS' POV
An hour had passed since the interview had started, and from here I could see how every time Jess showed proof, Alison got angrier with her, and I got the feeling at any moment she would go after my fiancée to finish kill her. "Leone really loves you." Jesy said next to me looking in the same direction I was looking. "There's no doubt about that, just like me." I responded with a smile on my face.
"Do you know how your whole story sounds to me? A lie. You wrapped Santi in your shit, and you have him eating out of your hand again as you want." And that couldn't be more of a lie. If there's one thing Jess gave me, it's the freedom to make my own decisions. "That girl is crazy; I'm really telling you. And do you know her from high school?" Jade asked in an annoyed tone. "Yes dear, we have known her since high school." Carla answered for me "Until you find evidence to the contrary, I guess you have to stick with it."
"Santi loves me and not you." The crazy woman said seriously, "As far as I know, I'm the one who's going to marry him and the one who's going to have his daughter." My fiancée responded with a big smile on her face, "A daughter who I'm completely sure is someone else's, and marrying because you convinced him." Alison insisted "I didn't need to do anything to convince him. He did it because he wanted to."
"Oh of course not, just like you didn't hit Jesy Nelson the other day when she was your supposed friend." As soon as those words leave Alison's mouth, Jesy doesn't take long to walk out onto the set, and you could see she's angry. We didn't have time to stop her. "For your information, if she hit me that day it was because I scared her."
"Oh sure, then every person who scares her on the street, she's going to punch them." The girl pointed out with a smile I didn't like at all. "No, that only happens when psychopaths like you and your dear boyfriend are harassing her. Somehow, she'll have to be defended." Jesy defended "Me harassing her? She would love it."
"No, I wouldn't love it." Jess replied calmly "Jesy Nelson? What are you doing here?" The presenter asked, confused, "I came to accompany my friend so that crazy people like the one you have sitting next to you don't bother her." The British woman said, pointing with a movement of her head at Alison. "The crazy one is the one you are defending, Jesy."
"Jesy, can you explain to us what happened that day?" the presenter asked, still not believing Jesy is on the set. "I was with the girls, and from a distance we saw Jess, so we decided to go to her and see how she was doing. For my part, I decided to give her a little scare. The girls warned me not to do it, but I ignored them and scared her, thus getting the surprise."
"Was it a strong blow?" the woman inquired. "It was, but then she cured me, so everything is fine, I don't hold any grudges against you, Leone." The singer said, throwing a smile in my fiancée's direction. "You're just trying to cover up the truth." Alison protested, "No, the only one here trying to cover up the truth is you. Why don't you tell them you're married to the most wanted drug trafficker in the United States at this moment?
"I'm not married." Alison responded quickly and at this moment both I and Carla were confused and trying to understand what Jesy meant by that "That's not the same as what the police say." Jesy informed with a big smile on her face. "Jesy, what are you talking about?" Jess asked with the same confused face as us. "Leone, I hadn't told you because you already have enough on you at this moment, but she's married, to Lucas."
"What?" Jess asked. "The man who claims to be your boyfriend… He's her husband and they're both determined to kill you." Jesy revealed "You have definitely gone crazy like your namesake, I congratulate you, Nelson." Alison said giving a round of applause. "It's not the same thing the police said this morning at the hotel we're staying at."
"What are you taking about?" The girl now asked, "The DEA showed up this morning at our hotel, because apparently that's where Lucas was staying. I discovered it because I was hungry, and I went down to the restaurant to look for something to eat for me and the girls. I recognized him from the photo Carla showed me one day." The British reported "Lucas is arrested?" The girl murmured, looking at the ground. "Yes, and he's being taken to the United States for prison. He won't be able to escape from there, and now they will come for you. They said his wife was in trouble."
"I am not his wife." She said quickly, emerging from her confusion and masking it, "Is it possible that the guy is sleeping with one Alison Espósito and is married to another Alison Espósito?" From here I could see how she turned pale, and out of nowhere she got up and took out a gun pointing in the direction of Jessica and Jesy, which makes us start to go in the direction of her, but out of nowhere some police officers appear and stop us and others appear on the set.
I can see how Jesy gets in front of Jessica, but I still don't stay calm. All I wanted was to get Jess out of there and get out of here. "Miss Esposito, put down your gun." The presenter said with terror evident in her voice "You always get what you want Jessica. First you get Santi out of me, then you're the best student. After I married Lucas, he becomes infatuated with you. I had to do all this so MY husband would stop being infatuated with you…"
"Miss Esposito, the gun." This time a police officer asked, "First I will kill the bitch that ended my life." She said without looking away from Jess and it was at that moment I heard a gunshot that made me try to push away the police officers who were grabbing me to prevent to go to Jessica, because this couldn't be happening, not again. "Calm down, your girl is fine."
At that moment, one of the police officers in front of me moves away and I can see both Jess and Jesy well, she's holding Jesy's hand and the other one is looking at her with concern. I looked to see if Alison is still pointing at them, but I saw her on the ground and a pool of blood forming beneath her.
When I look back at where they were, Jesy says something to the police officers who were there, and they start walking in our direction. The moment they reach us, I don't hesitate to hug her, and she returns it in no time. "Santi, as much as I love letting you hug Jess, we have to go." Jesy said with a big smile on her face "Of course we're leaving here. I'm not going to let Jess stay here another second. We're going home."
"Ah, ah, you're not going home." She reported "And where are we supposed to go?" I asked confused, "Santi… Love, I don't want you to get worked up." Jess asked calmly, "What's wrong?" I questioned, trying to understand what's happening right now. "Promise me you won't get worked up." He insisted, "You're scaring me, so I can't promise you anything."
"It's nothing bad, really, it's just we better go to the hospital." She responded "What? Has she hurt you? ..." I asked, starting to look all over her body to see if I could find the wound. "Sometimes I think you're short-minded, De Luca. What's happening is your daughter wants to come out now." Jesy revealed "What?"
"I told you I didn't want you to get worked up." Jess protested calmly "How not to do it. Our daughter is about to do." I said nervously, "You had to open your mouth, didn't you Nelson?" My fiancée said rolling her eyes. "I had to tell him." She answered this, shrugging her shoulders, but with a big smile. "It wasn't necessary, we always have Jackson."
"Honey, stop talking and let's go to the hospital." I said, holding her in my arms, "It's okay." She responded, squeezing my shoulder, "We're going behind." Jesy quickly answered "It's not ne …" Jess started to protest, but Perrie stops her before she can say anything else "We'll go, and you won't change our minds, Leone."
"As you wish." With that, I helped Jess get to the car with the girls behind us at all times and talking about how excited they are while all I'm focused on is getting to the hospital.