Unleash Me, Vol. 2 (Unleash Me, Annihilate Me Series) (30 page)

She looked confused.
 
“
What you mean?
”

“
He threatened
me and physically accosted me the night you and I first met.
 
Do you remember that night now?
 
It was at Julian West
’
s birthday party.
 
That
’
s where you know me from.
”

“
Oh,
”
she said.
 
“
That
you?
”

I told her what had happened after she
’
d left us that night.

“
It
’
s true,
”
Jennifer said.

“
In fact, I
’
m the one who fired him,
”
Blackwell said.
 
“
I
don
’
t mean to insult
you, Epifania, but he
’
s
out of a job and he
’
s
probably with you for your money.
”

She looked dazed, and a part of my heart went out to her.
 
She was in love with him.
 
It was clear.
 
And now we were shoveling this on top of
her.
 
I felt terrible about it, but
I also felt that she should know.
 
In fact, she deserved to know the truth.
 
In the wrong situation, Boss could
become potentially dangerous.

She looked at all of us in disbelief.
 
“
All
this because he slap her clutch?
”

Blackwell put her hand on the woman
’
s shoulder.
 
“
And other
things.
 
We don
’
t tolerate abuse at
Wenn.
 
And might I remind you, my
dear, that if that man is willing to be abusive to Lisa, he might very well
become abusive to you.
 
Especially
tonight.
 
He
’
ll be angry tonight.
 
I don
’
t think you should be alone with him tonight.
 
Listen to me on this.
 
I
’
m giving you good advice.
 
OK?
”

There was a moment when I thought that Epifania was going to explode and
call us liars
—
an
overreaction that would cause a scene and ruin the evening.
 
But then her features softened and she
looked almost troubled.
 
“
Why I always choose the
losers?
”
she said.

“
It
’
s not your fault.
”

“
He big
stud.
 
For the first few months of
every relationship I enter, I never see anything but the
pinga.
 
And he got a huge
pinga
.
 
I already knew since we fuck
before.
 
But I thought I could love
him.
 
He smart.
 
He handsome.
 
He good in bed.
 
He nice.
 
Still, he probably like the rest.
 
Men want me for my money.
 
I know that.
 
Every day, so many calls from so many
has-beens.
 
My guard go up.
 
It
’
s no good.
 
I can
’
t trust
anyone anymore.
 
Sometimes, I think
I can, but I can
’
t.
 
But
gracias
,
”
she said.
 
“
Epifania
may play the fool because it get good laugh, which she want.
 
But Epifania no fool.
”
 
She winked at us.
 
“
In
fact, maybe Epifania smarter than you think.
 
Maybe she want you to think she a fool
…
.
”

CHAPTER
TWENTY

Over the next ninety minutes, the press photographed me, I spoke to
several reporters from worldwide outlets, and then I had a great chat with
Julian West.
 
We discussed his plans
for the film version of my novel, for which he said he already had financing,
which meant that the movie was going to be made.
 
And then, when production had commenced
on the film, he invited me to come on the set whenever I liked.

“
It
’
ll be a new experience for
you,
”
he said.

“
I totally
want to do it.
”

“
Then I
’
ll see you in a year or
so.
 
That
’
s about how long these things take.
”

Later, I finally found Iris in the crowd, who looked lovely in the red
Valentino dress Blackwell had sent to her, and who gave me a kiss on the cheek
and wished me the best.
 
Then, Alex
took to the podium just beneath my photograph at the rear of the room and
introduced all of the authors being recognized tonight.
 
It was something to truly remember,
especially when the crowd applauded when he mentioned my name and talked
briefly about my book.

At that moment, Tank reached for my hand and squeezed it.
 
“
Enjoy
this,
”
he said.
 
“
Never
forget it.
 
This only happens once.
”

I looked up into his eyes, saw his love for me
—
naked and raw, and filled with pride and passion
—
and I knew that the
time was right.
 
“
I won
’
t forget this,
”
I said.
 
“
Not
ever.
 
I also haven
’
t forgotten that the other
day you asked me to move in with you.
”
 
His eyes widened in
anticipation.
 
“
So, I was wondering.
 
Do you still have enough room in that
apartment of yours for me?
”

“
You
’
re willing to move in with
me?
”
he said.

“
Willing
?
 
Let
’
s try this.
 
I
’
ve given it
a lot of thought, and I
want
to move in with you.
 
I love you, Tank.
 
I know that you love me.
 
I hate being away from you.
 
I want to wake up next to you, I want to
go to bed with you, I want to cook for you, and I just want to be with
you.
 
So, why not take it to the
next step?
 
Why not just do it and
see what happens?
”

“
What about
Jennifer?
”

“
If you and I
agree that this is right for us, Jennifer is ready to move forward with
Alex.
 
She
’
ll sell the penthouse.
”

“
Does he know
that?
”

“
He will soon.
”

“
I can
’
t believe this.
”

“
Believe it.
”

As happy as I knew he was, his face was almost grave.
 
He wasn
’
t taking my decision lightly.
 
Instead, he was taking it to heart.
 
“
You
’
ve just made me a very
happy man.
 
And you won
’
t regret it.
 
I promise you that you won
’
t.
 
I
’
ll cherish you forever, Lisa.
 
This is a new beginning for us.
”

I stood on my toes and whispered in his ear,
“
I wish I could make you an even happier man right now.
”

“
Same
here.
 
More than you know.
 
And believe me, I
’
d return the favor.
 
If I could take you over that podium
over there, I would.
”

“
Goodness!
”
I said.

“
I mean it.
”

“
Some people
already have started to leave.
 
We
certainly won
’
t be
the last ones here.
 
I think we
’
ll be home in thirty
minutes or so.
 
Can you wait that long?
”

“
Look down at
my pants.
”

I did
—
and
saw a tent.

“
Oh, my.
 
Best if I stand in front of you.
”

“
Thanks for
having my back.
”

“
Or, in this
case, your front.
 
And thanks for
having my back later.
”

“
Oh, I
’
ll be behind you later,
”
he said.
 
“
Trust
me.
”

Jennifer, Alex, and Blackwell came over at that point, and each gave me
a hug.

“
You
’
re now officially on your
way,
”
Blackwell
said.
 
“
And nice job with the press.
 
I was watching
—
and listening.
 
You didn
’
t miss a beat.
 
Brava, darling.
 
You learned
from the Wenn publicity machine.
 
The kind of attention you just received can be difficult to navigate
even for a pro, but you made it seem as if you
’
ve been doing it for years.
 
For me
—
and you know that I bullshit no one
—
you came off
seamlessly.
 
I kept looking for
little mistakes that I could nail to your forehead later in the night, but
nothing came to mind.
”

“
That
’
s only because you and
Wenn
’
s publicity
department coached me.
”
 
I looked at Alex.
 
“
They
were wonderful with me.
 
So was
Barbara, as she always is.
 
All of
them gave me pointers that helped me.
”

“
That
’
s all fine and good,
”
he admitted.
 
“
But
I think Barbara will agree with me here
—
when
it comes right down to it, Lisa, when the press are shooting questions at you
and photographing you
—
you
really are on your own, which can be overwhelming.
 
Everyone is after you.
 
Photographs are flying.
 
People are asking you questions you might
never have thought of.
 
I
’
ve been there, and I know
that you need to be on the top of your game to deliver.
 
Really, it
’
s ultimately up to you to follow through with what
’
s expected of you.
 
By the sounds of it, Barbara is pleased,
and that says everything I need to know.
 
You listened to her and to the team.
 
You took it seriously
—
not that I ever
thought you wouldn
’
t.
 
You
’
re a professional
—
we all knew you
’
d be.
 
But
we also know that all this is brand new to you.
 
So, good for you for making it through a
trying evening.
”

“
I actually
had fun tonight,
”
I
said.
 
“
And I have news.
”

“
What news?
”
Jennifer asked.

“
You might
want to listen to this, girlfriend.
”

“
Oh,
”
she said.
 
“
That
news.
”

“
Yes, that
news.
”

“
What news?
”
Blackwell said.
 
“
Why
do you girls always talk in code?
 
I
’
ve asked you that twice
this evening.
 
It
’
s infuriating.
”

“
I
’
m moving in with Tank,
”
I said.
 
“
He
asked me if I
’
d
consider it a few days ago, I talked it over with Jennifer, and I
’
ve made my decision.
 
Tank and I are about to get closer than
ever.
 
I plan on moving out of 800
Fifth next week, and moving in with him.
”