Page List

Font Size:

’’A friend once told me I have a certain eye for noticing a diamond in the rough, and he wasn’t at all wrong’’ said Hudson turning and looking at me with a warm smile, and I smiled back warmly at him also.

‘’Diamond however isn’t precious enough a word to describe the untouched beauty you see by my side. A beauty who yes when we first met, was residing in the rough back ends that prevail our city streets, living a harrowing life of poverty no man, woman, or child should ever have to live’’ he said, squeezing my hand tight in that special way for me to trust him, and I squeezed it back assuring him I did ‘’I wouldn’t wish that kind of abasement lifestyle on anyone’’ he continued ‘’…nor the private circumstances that led to her unfortunate situation. This woman has literally been through hell and back, and came out the other side a lady still…only to have her past painfully slandered before her by means of ignorant propaganda, from those silver spoon-fed on the ‘elite’ side of life’’

The press all remained quiet.

‘’The lifestyle I myself live from hard work which awarded me this amazing trophy tonight’’ he said holding it up again for the press to see, who all instantly began snapping shots of it ‘’…is nothing in the way of generosity I couldn’t share with another who truly needed it, and she did. After witnessing an incident in occurrence that both alerted my attention and required my assist, I facilitated in inviting Miss Wainwright to stay with me in my home, at least until we were able to get her independently on her feet. It was with the offer to keep her busy by working for me as my personal PA, to which Miss Wainwright kindly agreed, and received a well-earned paycheck that I believe she deserved. I state clearly for the record that I went into this the right way, and with the intention to do good, by giving Miss Wainwright an opportunity no one ever has, and that’s to help turn her life around and be anything she wanted to be. I’m proud to say she didn’t let me down’’ he said looking at me and smiling ‘’…and proved herself every day with the amazing work ethic and dedication she has. Did I battle at times the attraction I felt building for her? Of course. To which Miss wainwright can accurately confirm I remained a complete gentleman up to, and until it one day was discovered those feelings were reciprocated for me also’’ he said, and I looked into the lens of each camera aimed at me by the press, with every warmth filling my heart as I smiled nodding in confirmation at Hudson’s words.

‘’Unfortunately, our relationship was not viewed so favorably by others around us, and I’ve since had to make some difficult decisions involving myself and my company’’ and I looked up comforting his eyes with mine as he let loose a small sigh.

‘’Attempted slander to mar my positive reputation is one thing, but the vitriolic act of exposing parts of someone’s life that they would rather have kept hidden, and with good reason, is a cruel act of one-upmanship sadly choking apart our society’’ he said placing his arm protectively around my shoulder.

‘’What makes what happened to Taylor any different than what can publically be found on the Tazer app?’’ a female journalist with her tape recorder outstretched to me, and a challenging raised brow on her face said.

‘’Malicious intent’’ I replied calmly ‘’if you’re a user of the app then you’re already aware that Tazer upholds a rich reputable source of both celebrity and world news. Our intent is not to cause harm, but to deliver news accurately as is, and in real time. We confidentially rely on the powerful assist of our editorial AI technology, which professionally oversees each article before it’s released. We earn our reputation by ensuring all news sources are publically listed alongside each article, with a 97 per cent accuracy rate making us one of the most legit, and reputable social networks out there. In regards to said article about myself and Miss Wainwright, that unfortunately landed in the remaining foul 3 per cent, with the ‘source’ – which we’re still currently investigating -coming from a person or persons who insisted on total anonymity, and who quite possibly used illegal hacking technology to override the article incognito, before editorial was able to scan it’’

‘’I see. Thank you Mr. Avery’’ said the journalist with an abashed smile.

‘’You’re welcome’’ he nodded back politely ‘’now it’s often said of life we must experience hurt to understand our full strengths. And there are no words to describe the level of respect I have for this woman’s strength, and it’s her strength I turn to to help keep me going ’’ he said looking at me again and smiling ‘’she’s already made me a better person, and continues to surprise me every day with new and beautiful things I discover about her. It’s good sometimes to go back and remember what we were taught early on in school’’ he said ‘’I myself particularly remember the saying: Rumors are often carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. What Miss Wainwright and I have isn’t just a ‘fling’ as rumors spread by shallow minds would have you believe. I am madly deeply in love with this woman, and I’m proud to have the entire world know about it’’ he finished, and my eyes instantly teared up blurring everything around me over Hudson’s sweet sentiments, before finding myself swept off my feet as he picked me up and kissed me Hollywood movie style, where an instant swamp of bright lights flooded us as the press went crazy snapping continuous photos of us both!

HUDSON POV:

I stood watching proudly with a huge warm smile on my face, as Taylor elegantly posed side to side swaying her beautiful dress for the press and cameras, who all instantly wanted to take her picture and learn everything there was to learn about her.

She deserved the real award tonight, and I felt so proud to be the man in her life as I stood by Taylor’s side watching her interview for the cameras, with every grace and elegance that came natural to her.

By the end of it all, Taylor had secured herself an exclusive one on one interview with People magazine, and a summer fashion edition photoshoot with Cosmopolitan magazine as early as next week. It was so sweet how ecstatic with excitement she was by it all, and I myself looked forward to accompanying her to each of the events.

‘’Omg baby, look’’ she said, excitedly noticing her social media followers already booming since posing for pictures, as the event was being live streamed online via the Tazer app, with everyone now knowing what my beautiful princess looked like.

‘’See sweetheart, I told you everything would be alright’’ I said holding her close to me and kissing her softly, as we made our way hand in hand around the back of the building to where we were parked.

‘’Deep down I never doubted you’’ she smiled, and sweetly tiptoed up to kiss me again before saying ‘’Oof, I’m so sorry Hudson, but I really need to pee’’ and I burst out laughing at how dorky cute she could be sometimes.

‘’I’ll be right here waiting baby’’ I grinned, and pulled her close for another Hollywood kiss, before letting her go do her thing as she lifted the hem of her dress, and hurried her way back inside the building.

With a quiet moment to myself away from cameras and press, I took my cell phone out and stood scrolling through my list of contacts. I know her condition wouldn’t allow her to fully recognize me, but the proud boy in me tonight wanted to call my mom at the Everglades Care Home, and tell her about the award I’d received.

‘’Mr. Avery?’’ a male voice behind me suddenly said, and I almost dropped my phone a little startled in the quiet deserted car park area.

I didn’t recognize the man at first as I turned my head and looked at him, but slowly his face returned to memory as the man I’d seen watching us earlier from across the street, when first arriving to the venue…

CHAPTER 55

‘’Can I help you?’’ I said looking him up and down slowly, my eyes narrowed in a reserve of caution at his, as he stood staring quietly for a moment. His eyes were cold, harsh, and aged, but unintimidated as he narrowed his own back at me before answering…

‘’That all depends’’

‘’On what?’’

‘’On your intentions with my daughter’’

My face lightened in shade at the surprise of his words, before slowly returning to normal, where I now stood looking back coldly at his thin wired bearded face.

‘’Your daughter?’’ I repeated.

‘’That’s right. The one the papers say she’s been shacking up with her millionaire boyfriend. I take that to be you’’ he sneered rudely.

My mind raced with a million thoughts, as I journeyed back to all that Taylor had told me about him, before journeying forward again wondering just what exactly his sorry ass was doing here…?