He Cried and Begged Me To Forgive Him

John Smith burst through the door, his eyes popping at my ragged look.

Without a second thought, he slung me over his shoulder and made a break for it.

"Hold up."

Emily Collins stopped John in his tracks, easing herself out of the chair.

She made her way over to me, step by step.

John was beside himself, shooting desperate glances at Jack Turner.

Jack, for his part, acted like he was blind to it all, his eyes locked on Emily.

Her gaze landed on me, and maybe it was my imagination, but I caught a snarky smirk on her face.

She dropped this bomb to Jack, "This lady's a real bulldog, been on my tail forever."

"You're just gonna let her slide?"

She was laying it on thick for Jack.

Obviously, Jack bit.

Jack shot me a warning glare, "Try that again, and I'll break your hands."

The Maybach sliced through the dark, rainy night.

In the car.

John tried to smooth things over, "Don’t sweat it, Grace. It’s all a mix-up with the new guard, he didn’t recognize you."

Alex's tears dried up in an instant, "You knew her?!"

Jack and I have been an item for almost a year.

He’s a tough nut to crack.

I only ever saw his soft side in the sack.

Gritting through the pain, I grilled John.

"When did Jack start seeing Emily?"

John scratched his head, "Grace, Mr. Turner’s just talking shop with Emily tonight, nothing shady."

"John! Smith!"

I was weak but seething.

John threw up his hands, "Look, they go way back, had a thing ten years ago, then called it quits. Ancient history."

Ten years?

My reflection in the dark car window was ghostly.

I stared, lost.

Emily gave me that same snide smile.

Jack gently brushed my brows, murmuring about their beauty.

Even Alex once joked that if I hid the lower half of my face, I could pass for Emily on a variety show.

Scenes flashed through my mind like a lightning storm.

It hit me like a ton of bricks.

No wonder the big-shot heir of the Turner Group fell for a nobody reporter like me.

I was just a sad stand-in.

My stomach turned.

"Stop the car!"

John slammed the brakes.

I bolted out and threw up in the roadside grass.

Alex was right there, patting my back, "Boss, you alright?"

I wanted to say yes, but the tears came first.

All the unsaid words came out as sobs.

I sobbed and raged.

"Jack Turner, you phony! Big fat phony!"

Jack didn’t show his face until the next afternoon.

He tenderly touched my bandaged hand, "Still hurting?"

A broken bone, not memory loss.

I remembered his ice-cold disdain from the night before.

I yanked my hand away, stood up, and headed for the bedroom.

Jack caught my wrist, concerned, "You saw the news, right? Emily... she's engaged now."

Emily's engagement to a big-shot director was all over the front pages. Hard to miss.

Jack added, "We met up because she's looking to switch agents, needed my help."

After a heavy pause, I pressed him.

"Do you... still have feelings for her?"

He replied to me with silence.

Tears welled up as I closed my eyes.

He sneakily flicked on a recorder in his pocket.

My voice was raspy, "Jack, are you the money behind Emily?"

He nodded.

I raised my voice, "I want to hear you say it!"

That scoop could fetch a six figures.

I had to get that money.

Jack Turner sighed, "Yeah, it’s me. I threw the cash and gave her the connections to boost her from a nobody to the top star she is now."

I fought back the urge to gag, my voice coming out ragged.

"Got it. You can go now. I’m feeling pretty worn out today."

Jack mulled it over for a second, then let me go and started to leave.

Just as he reached the door, a thought seemed to hit him, and he turned back.

Ignoring my attempts to stop him, he reached into his pocket and snatched the recorder from me.

He stared at the blinking green light on the recorder and let out a scoff.

"Played me for a fool!"

With that, he smashed the recorder against the wall.

Shards flew, one slicing my forehead.

The sharp sting came, followed by the warm blood slowly seeping out.

I found no sympathy in his eyes.

I just heard him spit out some harsh words.

"Don't mess with Emily, or it'll end badly for you!"

Tears streamed down my face as I glared at him.

"If you love her that much, take her back. Why drag me into this?!"

Touching a nerve, Jack pinned me against the wall.

He clutched my throat, cutting off my air.

My face turned a sickly purple as I struggled.

He watched with a twisted smirk.

"Grace, you don’t get to shout at me."

"Remember, your mom’s medical bills are on my dime."

"It’s just business, nothing personal."