Page 70 of Texting My Secret CEO
He grins tightly. “Then you don’t need to act so scary,boss.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He grabs my laptop, opens it, types in the passcode—he’s the only other person who knows it—and then starts tapping. A minute later, he sighs tiredly.
“What is it?” I demand, pacing.
“The story is spreading. Dakota’s name is starting to appear in articles, as well as her photo.”
“Are the headlines being kind to her?” I ask.
He shakes his head slowly. “It’s just what you thought. Here’s one.Seductive Streamer DakkyDuck Bags Billionaire Jackson Cross.”
“That’s not even close to the truth,” I snap. “She didn’tbagme. We chose this. Together. Are they all like that?”
“Half are accusing her of being a—” He stops when I give him a dark look. “Of using you. The other half are accusing you of using your power to your advantage.”
“I knew we were playing with fire.”Pop. Another tennis ball bites the dust. I toss the remains into the trash and grab a third. “I knew it, Petey. But somehow, I didn’t want to believe it.”
“The whole team wants to meet,” Pete tells me. “This is going to require a coordinated PR effort.”
“I’m yours to command,” I say gruffly. “This isn’t my skillset. At all. When’s the meeting?”
He checks his watch. “Twenty-two minutes. We’ll…” He trails off, staring at the screen in complete shock. “Did you assault a trucker at a diner?”
I drop into my chair heavily, a surreal chuckle escaping me that has no humor in it at all.
“No,” I say. “I threatened him because he behaved like a creep to Dakota. Commented on her body, wouldn’t take no for an answer, tried to play the victim when I called him out.”
“The video shows you walking toward him like you’re ready to tear his head off,” he murmurs, watching it. I can see the reflection in his glasses. “Then it cuts. The trucker, Trent Stillwell, says that after the video ended, you put your hand on his arm and dragged him out of the diner.”
“He was already halfway out,” I snap. “And as much as I wanted to crack his head like an egg, I didn’t lay a finger on him.”
Pete grits his teeth.
“This is bad, isn’t it?” I say.
“Bro…” He unclenches his teeth with an effort. “It’s more than bad. If this isn’t handled correctly, this could be the end.”
CHAPTER 25
DAKOTA
Iwake with sunlight on my closed eyelids and a big smile on my face. I feel like I’m floating on that cliched Cloud Nine, like nothing bad is ever going to happen again. I’m not some naïve fool. I know that’s impossible.
But itfeelstrue. I grab my phone, clicking on the first notification. It’s a text from Jack, taken from outside my apartment building, saying he wishes he were here with me instead. I’m about to text him back when Mara calls me. It’s eleven AM—she’s usually at work at this time—so I answer fast, worried something is wrong.
“Finally,” she says tightly. “I’ve called ten times.”
“I was sleeping,” I reply. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“Have you been online today yet?”
“No… why?”
“Oh, Dakota,” she murmurs.
“Just tell me.”
