Chapter Thirty-One
Cade
It was my publicist that told me about the post on XYZ first, and then I called my lawyer to see what we could do to get the photo down. After that, I called Serena. The one thing I worried the most about was people figuring us out and her picture ending up on one of these sites. I hadn’t counted on Alan being exposed, too. When my calls went unanswered and then my texts, I couldn’t say I was surprised. I probably wouldn’t be all that happy with the person who was the reason my kid was being called a secret love child, either.
The next day, still without a word from Serena, I skip my morning workout and drive straight to the university to see her. I make my way to her office and am caught off guard by a swarm of paparazzi as I reach her building. I pick my way through them as they snap pictures and yell questions out at me, ignoring them as I go. Security guards are stationed near the door and they let me pass, but keeps the vultures at bay.
When I reach Serena’s office, I knock and the door swings open a minute later. I open my mouth to speak, but am shocked to see a young man before me.
“Who are you? Where’s Serena?” I demand.
He steps aside so I can come in the office. “You’re Cade Thomas,” he says reverently. “I can’t believe this. Amelia is never going to believe me.”
I snap my fingers in his face – rude, I know, but in the moment, I’m frustrated and really just want to know where Serena is. “Let’s focus. Serena Jacobs...do you know where I can find her?”
“Sorry, sorry. She’s not here.”
“Not here? But she has class in an hour.”
“I’m teaching that class for her today.”
“And you are?”
“Oh, I’m Gus, her TA.”
“You’re Gus?” I ask, calming my tone.
“Yes. She’s mentioned me?”
“She said you’re one of the best students in the department. She went out with you and your boyfriend a couple weeks ago.”
“To the wine bar, yeah.”
“Have you talked to her?”
“This morning. I called to let her know there were paparazzi hanging around out there, but she already knew. The dean called her. She’s taking the rest of the week off, hoping these guys find some other story to follow before then and forget about her.”
“So, she’s at home?”
“I assume so. Hey, I know this is definitely not the best time, but would you mind a picture? My sister is a huge Condors fan. Actually, she got me into football when we were younger, and she’ll never believe you were here today.”
I want to be mad at him for asking at a time like this, but the kid smiles at me earnestly and I remember how much Serena likes him, so I oblige him.
“Thanks,” Gus says. “There’s this little bakery a block or two away that I sometimes grab Dr. Jacobs a chocolate croissant from before class. She could probably use one or two of those right about now,” he offers. “Maybe a dozen.”
My smile grows. “Thanks, Gus. I’ll check that out.”
“Yeah, no problem. Also, you might want to take the side exit to the parking lot to avoid the cameras. Just take a left when you leave the office instead of a right. And you know, flowers never hurt when you want to say ‘I’m sorry the paparazzi is stalking you.’”
I chuckle. “Good point and thank you so much. I’m sure I’ll see you around, Gus. Maybe I can get you and your sister tickets to a Condors game next season.”
His jaw drops. “Seriously? Wow, that would be so amazing.”
“Consider it done. See ya.” I wave as I retreat from the office and head left as Gus suggested.
I make my way back across campus to my car and pull my phone out, dialing Serena. It goes to voicemail again, and I let out a noise of frustration. I just want to talk to her, make sure she is okay, but she is avoiding me at all costs. I have to make it up to her.
Taking Gus’s advice, I find the little bakery and go in, grabbing an assortment of pastries before getting back into my car and trying Serena again. This time she answers.
“Serena? How are you?” I ask.
“I’m fine, Cade.” Her voice sounds weary like she’s about to cry.
“Are you at home?” She doesn't answer. “Serena, please, I just want to see you, talk to you in person. Are there paparazzi at your house? They’re at the school.”
“I know, Gus told me,” she replies.
“I met Gus.”
“You met Gus? When?”
“About ten minutes ago when I went to your office looking for you. You were right by the way, he’s a nice kid. Now, are there paparazzi at your house?”
“Yes,” she tells me quietly.
“You’re not at home, are you?” I guess. “Are you at Ashley’s?”
“I am.”
“Can I come over?”
“I don’t know...” She pauses.
“Please, Serena. Let me apologize to you in person. I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“It’s not your fault, Cade.”
“I feel like it’s my fault. What’s the address, Serena?”
There is another pause and silence for a long beat and I know she must hate me for all this attention being focused on her and Alan, but finally she tells me. “I’m on my way right now,” I tell her before getting off the phone. Almost immediately, it rings and I answer it without looking.
“Serena, baby, it’s going to be okay. We’ll talk about it when I get there okay?”
Josephine's shrill laugh fills my ears and I cringe. “Will it all be okay, Cade? Will it?” she says snidely.
“What do you want?” I bark at her.
“I was just calling as a friend to check on you. Isn’t that what friends do?”
“We are not friends, Josephine.”
“Of course, we are,” she says sweetly. “Only a friend would look out for you like I have.”
“You planted that bullshit story?”
She laughs. “I’m trying to save you, Cade.”
“From what? The best thing to ever come into my life? Screw you, Jo.”
“Now, Cade, is that any way to speak to me? You forget that I know people.”
“And you forget that I know the same people, and they like me a whole hell of a lot more than they do you. We are over and we’ve been over for a while now. I won’t tell you this again. Next time, I will call up some of those producer friends I've made, and I will ensure that your name is blackballed in this city. Do you understand me?
“If you think you’ll make my life miserable and I’ll come crawling back, you are sorely mistaken. I can make your life more miserable by tenfold if you ever mess with Serena again. Just fucking try me. This is over. It ends now.”
“Fine, it's over,” she mutters. “But you really should follow up with her on that love child before you get burned, Cade. I’m only trying to look out for you.”
“I don’t need you looking out for me.”
“You’ll see how wrong you are one day, Cade.”
“No, I’ll see I’ve been right all along. Do me a favor and lose my number. Goodbye, Josephine.”
I hang up on her before she can get in another word, and I toss my phone aside. I change lanes to get on the highway and push the pedal down, speeding off to pour out my heart to a woman I probably don't deserve, but one I can’t imagine my life without.