Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
I’d been single for the entirety of his marriage, choosing to throw myself into my career, and though there had been coverage here and there in that time, there was never anything very exciting to print about my personal life except for my stints in the hospital which I now know had been leaked by Rachel.
I’d grown used to not being hounded by paparazzi since my life had become so boring in those years and had somehow gotten myself into a false sense of security, but all it had taken was one picture, no make that two, to get the ball rolling again and I was back in the center of the storm.
I felt almost like a novice because I hadn’t cleared things with my PR team before jumping in feet first, but wasn’t that the whole point? Hadn’t I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to do things the same way this time around? Besides, I had nothing to be ashamed of and no reason to hide the fact that we were a couple again.
The longer I sat there under the scope and lens of the paps outside the window; the more resolved I was to do things my way this time. “Does it bother you?” I asked Ryder, who was busy buttering a slice of warm bread that the server had placed on the table.
“What?” I blushed pink when he placed the bread on my plate before taking a piece for himself. Not gonna lie; the old Ryder wasn’t as attentive. Though he had his good points, he’d been more into big gestures, while for me, it was the little things that counted most. “Elena, what is it that you think is bothering me?”
“The cameras outside. I didn’t take your wants into consideration when I suggested coming here. Maybe you’re not ready….”
“Are you kidding me? I’m more than ready for this. In fact, I think it was the perfect idea. It kills a lot of birds with one stone. Most importantly, we don’t have to make some sort of public announcement; it’s out there for everyone to see; let them draw their own conclusions if they want.”
“What about your team? They might not be too happy.”
“I don’t have a team any longer. Didn’t you say one of the conditions of you taking me back was that I had to drop everyone from before?”
“I was talking about Scott, Matt, and Mary, not your whole PR team and personal assistants.”
“I thought about it, and that’s what’s best. If any of those people had my best interest at heart, none of what went down the last five years would’ve happened. It’s best to have a whole new start, don’t you think?”
“I guess, but...”
“No buts, baby. This time around, I want people around me who are just as invested in my personal well-being as they are in my professional life. I don’t ever want to fall into the same trap again. No need to worry, though. I think the Saunders group is working on something.”
“Really? That’s awesome; his wife is a very nice lady. She’s nothing at all like you’d expect.”
“Oh, right, I forgot you two met.”
“Yes, she wants me to join her charity organization when filming is done. I already looked over the proposal, and I can’t wait to get started.”
“Yeah, that whole family seems nice and down to earth. I wouldn’t mind spoiling you the way her husband spoils her.”
“That’s so sweet; you can get started anytime you’re ready.” I all but forgot the room full of diners and the flashing cameras outside as his words and my handheld in his filled me with a warmth I’d been missing for way too long.
“Would you really let me spoil you this time without any complaints?” His saying that reminded me of the past when I felt awkward having him spend too much money on me because I had my own. I didn’t realize at the time that that was his way of showing his affection and not because of some guilt he felt for one of his screwups, and so I’d refused anything I thought was too extravagant.
Now I know that he genuinely wanted me to have those things, and it didn’t make me look like a gold digger to accept. It was also Rachel who’d made me start seeing this in that light and had made me very self-conscious about accepting too much from him. She’d made it seem like I was sending the wrong message to the young fans who followed my every word and action, something she knew would get to me.
I didn’t want those young girls and boys thinking that it was okay for your partner to mistreat you and then wash it all away with an expensive gift, so I’d started to see things her way and had gone along with her suggestion that I refuse some of his more extravagant offerings.