Laura
I sat there, my heart heavy as Jake finally finished his story. Everything he'd been through, the lengths he went to get out of that partnership, yet somehow, he'd still wound up entangled in a mess not of his making. I could see it in his eyes, the shame, the anger, the self-blame.
Part of me wanted to be angry. Angry that he'd let himself be pulled into this, that he'd taken the risks that could now pull his life down around him. If I hadn't heard it from him directly, I would never have believed. He didn't seem to me like someone who could compromise even under the hardest conditions.
But then, all I could feel as I looked at him was pity. He was fighting so hard just to stay afloat, just to make things right. And he was so scared of losing everything he'd built.
I reached over, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Jake," I said softly, catching his gaze. "You're not alone in this. We'll get through it. You've made it this far, right?"
He gave me a small, tight smile, but the strain in his eyes didn't soften. He looked… defeated. I felt my heart sink. This was tearing him apart, and there was only so much I could say to reassure him.
I stood up, forcing a smile. "I'm going to freshen up, alright? I'll be right back." I squeezed his shoulder and headed to the bathroom, my mind racing.
Closing the door behind me, I leaned against the sink, taking a deep breath of relief. The tension in the room with Jake was too heated for me, that was why I excused myself. I just needed a timeout to actually think.
Jake's story was overwhelming, and every bit of it made me feel for him more. How could one person shoulder all of that without breaking? Could that have been the reason why he became uptight and grumpy. Past life dramas!
But then I knew Jake. He might be strict and grumpy but he'd put himself through anything if it meant keeping others safe. Maybe he'd gotten involved with Kurt and that was bad, but he was trying to fix things now. He just needed someone to stand by him and I wanted to be that person for him.
I turned on the tap so he wouldn't suspect that I dodged his company.
I stood there in the front of the mirror, thinking of ways and things we could possibly do to get ahead of the whole mess we were in. It wasn't only Jake in it, I was too, and so was the hundreds of staff working for him. A blow in his face is a blow on all our faces. It wouldn't affect just him, our jobs were on the line too.
For me, it was a bit more than the job. I mean, I do have feelings for Jake, the last thing I want is for him to lose.
As I splashed water on my face, I felt a determination harden inside me. There had to be a way out of this, a way that didn't involve Jake losing everything. We just had to find it. I'd stand with him through this, no matter what it took.
Jake
As soon as Laura left the room, I felt the wave of anxiety I'd been holding back crash over me. I was so glad she left, not like I wasn't enjoying her company or want her with me, I just couldn't bear her intent stares. It felt like they were poking me from all sides and I just couldn't take it anymore.
Immediately she excused herself and walked into the bathroom, I was relieved.
I stood up and started pacing, trying to shake the feeling that this was all about to go horribly wrong. I didn't even want to imagine what Laura must think of me now. She had no idea that I'd been involved in something so… dark.
Now that she knows, she would definitely want nothing to do with me. I wouldn't too, so it was totally understandable if she wouldn't.
I've always sorted myself even in the toughest times and this wouldn't be any different. I would find a way out.
But then, thinking about it all again and how vengeful Kurt was then, a part of me wanted to just run. Cut my losses, leave before things got worse, and disappear somewhere where no one knew me or my past. I have enough money to do that, and even if I decide not to work a day in my life again and just hide away and live my life, I would still have more than enough to live life and explore to the fullest.
But that would mean losing her. Losing everything I'd spent my life building. I couldn't lose her too. But would she still want to be with me, knowing what she knew now? I guess time would reveal that soon.
I stopped pacing, running a hand over my face. The pressure of everything, the company, my reputation, my future with Laura, it all felt like it was crashing down at once.
The bathroom door creaked open just then, and Laura stepped out, drying her hands with a towel. She looked at me, her expression softening as she took in my restless stance.
"Jake," she said gently, crossing the room to stand in front of me. "Why are you pacing?"
"I thought you'd be sleeping already? Why are you still awake? Please don't tell me you're still worried over what happening, you know worrying can't solve anything, right? We have to be diplomatic with our thinking and we can't do that while restless. We need to rest and cool our heads." She let out while I smirked.
"Sleep and cool my head, I don't think I can do that, Laura. Not with this lying a*s bloggers trying to make me seem like a monster. They are out for me this time, Laura." I let out a shaky breath.
"I really need you to calm down right now." She chimed in and then came over, pulled me to the bed to sit and then sat beside me too.
"Okay, tell me, what's on your mind right now?" She quizzed while I stared in her eyes briefly before responding.
"I… I'm sorry, Laura. I'm just afraid. Afraid that you'll end up hating me for all this. For my past. And that, even if I can get through this, it's going to ruin everything I've worked for, my business, my reputation. I will totally understand if you want nothing to do with me though." I let out while she put a hand on my arm, looking me straight in the eye.
"Jake, I don't think any less of you. You're human, and we all make mistakes. You didn't judge me for my past, for the things I regret, and I'm not going to judge you for yours."
I felt something in my chest unclench, and I managed a faint smile. "It's different. My mistakes… they're putting everything at risk."
"Then we'll face it together," she said firmly, her eyes full of conviction. "Your reputation, your business, everything. We'll make sure you come out of this unscathed. But don't ever think I'd walk away from you because of this."
Her words grounded me in a way I didn't think was possible. She believed in me. After everything, she still believed in me. I reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
"Thank you, Laura," I murmured, my voice thick with emotion. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
She smiled softly, wrapping her arms around my waist. I held her close, feeling her heartbeat against mine, grounding me.
"Let's just get through this together," she whispered.
I nodded, letting her words sink in. Maybe there was a way to make it all work, as impossible as it felt right now.
"Come on, we need to sleep now. Tomorrow is going to be a really long day." She retorted while we climbed up and got in bed.
As we lay together in bed, her hand resting over mine, I watched her breathing slow as she drifted off to sleep. I, on the other hand, couldn't shut my mind off. The stakes were too high, and the risks too great.
All I could do was stare up at the ceiling, my mind cycling through every potential scenario. If the real story was leaked to the press, it would all be over. I'd be labeled, marked, dragged through the mud. And Laura… she didn't deserve to get dragged down with me.
I glanced over at her, her face peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. I reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze. I wasn't sure how I'd gotten lucky enough to have her by my side, but I wasn't going to let her down…