Chapter 24

Chris and Carol fussed over me and tried to make me presentable.

I was a bundle of nerves. Interviews were never something I liked to do. They were all the same wanting to know how I had met Houston, how we were friends for all these years and then the rumors of us having a past relationship or that we were on the verge of breaking our partnership over his flaunting his latest conquests in front of me and me having enough. That story got recycled at least every three months in the gossip rags that Houston and I had a bet on what month it would be featured.

It was never how hard I worked 2 jobs and attended Harvard Law School at the same time and still graduated in the top 5 of my class. How I was his right hand and helped him build his empire. That I was key to all his decisions to make him the millionaire he was today and of all the people we'd helped along the years. They only wanted the glamorous part of our story, not the blood, sweat and tears that came with it.

It was hard to convince people that I got this job because of my hard work, my willingness to take a chance with him and to use my brain not my back to be the professional I was today. But the louder you spoke about it the more it was drowned out with more ridiculous questions. I finally resigned myself to not caring what they thought. I'd numb myself to their whispers behind my back or off colored comments. I knew the truth as did my family and Houston.

I frowned thinking how many relationships I had walked away from because my boyfriends could not believe there was nothing between me and Houston. The only one that really got me and understood was Carl and he paid the ultimate price for dating me and putting up with my career.

"Hey sis no frowns it will give you wrinkles. We don't need those damaging your pretty face, you seem so far away what's going on?"

I shrugged, "just preparing myself for this interview, they always try to unnerve me by throwing something that will be total out of left field and I don't want to be surprised, that's why I chose Charlie Reynolds I spoke to him at a luncheon not long ago I told him he seemed decent for a reporter and he said I wasn't that bad for a lawyer. We hit it off and he even asked me out but I let him down nicely we remained friends. I didn't want to go down that rabbit hole again with someone in the Media."

Carol squeezed my shoulder and I was thankful she didn't bring up Robert not wanting to deal with that right now. That relationship almost cost me my friendship with Houston and I didn't need to be reminded.

There was a knock on the door and Star poked her head in.

"Hi Boss Lady, are you almost ready? Maureen says I needed to bring the Calvary."

I looked at Carol and my stomach did a flip.

"Why do we need the Calvary Star? What's going on upstairs?"

Star went into detail on what had been happening upstairs from the information she had gotten from Jaime and Buzz the news crew. Ashley Jacobs instead of Charlie Reynolds showing up to interview me and what Maureen was doing at this very moment. When I asked how Houston was handling himself, Star shrugged her shoulders saying he was doing just fine with the Shark. How Ashley had him eating out of her hand and he was all goo goo eyed for her inviting her to his Beach house for a weekend of sailing and who know what else. Oh I knew but didn't voice it she was too young to hear it. She even said he wasn't acting like himself by brushing her aside and yelling at Beast.

It shouldn't have surprised me that he had gone back to his old ways but I had thought we where on a different path. I covered my face with my hand and felt nauseous.

Ashley Jacobs.

A blast from Houston's past. One of his many distractions and she was here to interview me. This day was getting better and better. I let out an F bomb and they all stared at me. I apologized, that wasn't like me. I recounted my story to them and my last encounter with Ashley. She was a reporter on TV Houston was enamored and they had dated for a while. She never liked me always calling me his secretary and made sure that I was cut from any communication with Houston when they were together.

When he had asked me to go to an event with him I knew he was moving on to his next distraction and Ashley was history. Little did I know that he had been avoiding her and when she showed up to the same event I was the one that was caught in the crossfire. I had found a beautiful white dress that as soon as I tried it on I knew it would be one of my favorites, even Houston had made a comment saying he would have to make sure he kept extra close eye on me since men would be falling over themselves to get my attention. I rolled my eyes but enjoyed his attention and I started to wonder if he would ever see me in a different light.

Ashley was not happy that we were at the event together and she cornered me and started to yell that I had come between her and Houston and why didn't I just leave him alone and stop following him like a love sick fool. She then proceeded to throw a glass of red wine that ruined my dress and my night. Everyone was looking and I was beyond mortified the whispering started wondering why I was still around and wasn't I tired of having to be always the rebound girl for him. I needed to leave.

Houston followed me out and apologized over and over again telling me what had happened between him and Ashley and how he had just dropped her. I didn't want to deal with him or the people that came out to see what I would do. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction I couldn't lose my cool I would be labeled as the woman scorned or the rebound girl. I just walked to the curb and got into a cab and left. I got home, took off my dress and threw it in the trash can. The phone rang. I knew it was him. I answered and yelled at him to leave me alone and not to come over. I did not want to talk to him or see him to please respect my wishes and hung up. I unplugged the phone and went to take a bath. I had a good cry and wondered why he didn't want me to be more than best friends but talked myself into accepting what he gave me and left it at that I was still angry that I had been put in that position so I avoided him for days not coming into the office and sticking to home or just court. He finally came over and threw himself at my mercy and as always I forgave him. I just asked that he not put me in the middle of his relationships and we would be fine.

"I really liked that dress. I never could find anything that came close to it since. Remember Carol we went shopping at that little boutique on Melrose."

"So now we know why Maureen wants us to come upstairs, let's go see this Ashley Jacobs and why she thinks she's better than my sis here."

I smiled, "I don't know, what if they don't give us the footage, we need to find out who Jake's mom is and if I have to talk to her I'm not going to have much choice."

Carol shook her head "Nope she will not be interviewing you I'm sure Maureen, Will and Uncle Roy have a plan come on let's go upstairs I want to see her face when she sees you. Remember never let anyone make you feel any less than what you are. Sis you are beautiful inside and out from what Star has said about Ms. Jacobs she's can't hold a candle to you come on we got your back."

I got up and started for the door. My family followed upstairs and I looked to see Will and Uncle Roy. Beast sat up and started to come to me. I came down to his level and petted him.

"Hi baby you behaving yourself. Yes you are, aren't you?" He rolled to his side and wanted belly rubs. Star laughed and started to give him what he wanted.

I followed Carol and Chris to my office and didn't find Houston till I heard the laugh. They were outside and I stopped walking to my office and instead walked to the terrace. I saw Ashley sitting on Houston's lap and I stopped and closed my eyes.

I was a fool. Not seeing what my brain knew all along. Houston loved women and couldn't commit to just one. Well he was almost committed to one woman but it wasn't me. I felt disappointed. All the kisses we shared were his way of getting our lives back to normal. I knew deep down that he wasn't serious but for a moment I thought he had a change of heart and really wanted what I had wanted all along. I remembered what Carol had said and stopped. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions but it didn't matter. Seeing them outside was just what I needed to see. I stepped back and wanted to run but I wouldn't. I'd just smile and cherish the time he made me feel special.

I couldn't hold this against him. He never promised me anything and I would just be happy we still had our friendship and I'd have to figure out how much time he would be available to help me out with Jake.

Ashley asked him if there was anything romantic between us and I really wanted to know the answer myself. I left everyone else in the office and made my presence known to Ashley and Houston and looked at both of them.

Houston looked like he was going to have a stroke. Ashley just tightened her grip around Houston's neck and I just stood there waiting.

Houston got up and almost dropped Ashley.

"CJ hi um did you talk to Uncle Roy or Maureen um do you remember Ashley."

She was clinging to him and smirking like she had won little did she know I really didn't care what she thought.

"No, why do they have the questions and where's Charlie Reynolds? I thought he was going to be doing the interview, not her."

He kept looking at me waiting to see some type of reaction but I wasn't going to give it to him. I knew where I stood I would stop looking for something that wasn't there.

"So Houston cat got your tongue I think Ashley asked you a question why don't you answer her."

Okay so maybe I was a little hurt and angry. I needed to hear it from the horse's mouth that it was all a game to make me feel better and to help me get my life back on track. That he was just toying with me and the sooner I realized this the sooner I'd let my heart heal.

"Oh Ms. Parsons I will be conducting the interview Charlie Reynolds came down with food poisoning and well I just happened to be available and here I am. So let's get this over with. Me and Houston have a lunch date, don't we honey."

She had her arm around his waist looking up at him and he was just looking at me, his eyes showing all types of emotion but I turned away. I was done.

I was about to tell her no way in hell she would interview me since my best friend didn't want to lose his sure thing. My heart took a beating with this knowledge but I would put on my brave face and crumble when I was alone and at home.

Carol Maureen and Chris came outside and saw the happy couple. They came to stand next to me.

"Hey sis, I don't think we've met. Oh wait aren't you Ashley Jacobs the reporter from channel 5, wow what a thrill it is to meet you. Heard so much about you."

Ashley let go of Houston and was taking in all the praise from my sisters little did she know she was in for a rude awakening.

Maureen smiled, "Oh yes Ashley we've heard so much about you especially from Delia Fowler you know Mitch Fowler's wife the station manager and Steve Mitchell's boss."

Ashley turned white as a ghost. She looked at Maureen as she continued.

"You see me and Delia are on a committee and I just happened to call her to let her know what I thought of her husband's News Department pulling a fast one on my sister. Imagine her surprise when she didn't know what I was talking about and got her husband on the line and said he would get to the bottom of this. So in the next 2 minutes we should be getting a call from either Steve or Mitch so what do you suppose they are going to say?"

Ashley looked at me and the ladies beside me. They had always been there for me as I was for them. They had handled this situation. The phone rang and Uncle Roy came out to tell Ashley that it was for her.

She went in to get it and I did not want to miss this neither did my sisters we were walking in when Houston grabbed my arm.

"CJ please let me explain."

I tried to smile but turned away, "Explain what Houston I know what you were doing and I thank you but you don't have to worry about me anymore we are still friends and I think we should leave it at that. I don't want us to lose…"

"No! I was trying to get her to give up the footage and I was going to kick her and her crew out of here once I had it. I had to make her believe I was on board with her plan. Uncle Roy knew he was helping me out and I need to talk to Star and I feel like I just made things worse. Please CJ I don't want to leave it. I want to talk to you about…"

I put my hand to his lips and whispered, "it's okay I believe you but no more sleeping beauty and no more of this us talk we have to focus on Jake that should be our priority."

He was about to answer when we heard a shriek from inside and I ran in to see what was going on.

Ashley was yelling on the phone and slammed it down. I looked for Star. She was behind Uncle Roy and Beast was starting to growl but Star held on to his leash. Will stood in front of Chris, Carol and Maureen and Ashley turned to me and picked a glass and threw it at me. Houston grabbed me and pulled me to his side as the glass shattered behind us.

"It's all your fault, I just got fired because of you and your friends. You were always jealous of me and what Houston and I had together but I will make you sorry for meddling in my life."

"Oh can it Newsroom Bimbo Barbie you did this. No one to blame but you your boyfriend Steve the soon to be ex news chief. You deserve what's coming to you and I am to instruct you to hand over your badge and news credential you are no longer affiliated with the station and HR will be sending you your last check and I am so happy to say sayonara good riddance and chalk one up for the good guys. So be like a tree and leave."

Jaime was too happy when she said that. Will handed Ashley her jacket and my both of my sisters waved goodbye to her. As she made her way to the elevator.

"Oh and Ms. Parson's Mr. Reynolds will be here shortly and the news footage you requested is on its way. I am to apologize to all of you and if you need anything else I am to be your liaison."

I was still in Houston's arms not believing what had just happened.

"CJ are you okay?" I looked up at him and nodded.

I tried to pull away but he wouldn't let me go. "Houston let me go please."

He grabbed my hand and brought me out to the terrace, sat down and pulled me into his lap, trapping me so I couldn't get up.

"I am never letting you go. Do you get that. I am asking you to forget what you just saw. There is nothing I mean nothing going on with Ashley Jacobs. Yes I dated here but that seems so long ago. Things change and I am sorry my past will always rear its ugly head but that's where it will stay in my past. We will have a conversation very soon. We will be alone and no interruptions. I want us to talk about us and crossing that line CJ. I want to be more than your friend. I want to be able to hold you and kiss you like this."

His hand snaked around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss that made my heart stop. My brain was throwing up all the red flags but in the end my heart won.

I kissed him back like I had always wanted to. We wanted this but still we had too much to do. The elevator dinged and he let go. Our foreheads resting against each other.

"I think we need to have that talk tonight. What do you say, CJ?'

I got up and ran from him knowing what I wanted to say but was to afraid to let him know, if we crossed that line it would change everything and I wasn't ready to destroy what we have.