Chapter 73

Hal

Hal frowned at the unexpected question. He hadn’t even been thinking about his career in what felt like years to him. His mind had been entirely preoccupied with Jesse. In fact, even the last professional action he had taken had been his interview with her. He had not been active in his career for what felt like an eternity.

And why should he be active? He had enough money at this point in his life to live the rest of his life without lifting a single finger and even more was being raked in every day with each sale of his movie.

Truth be told, Hal had hardly even given it any thought at all. More than anything, her question just brought up unpleasant memories of the past, and Hal couldn’t help the way his heartbeat started to increase even at the memory of the personal level at which he had been committed to his film.

He was reminded of the physical and mental stress he had put himself under while making the film. He had done it for that purpose, of course. The making of the film was almost cathartic to him. It was cleansing. He had made it so he could reveal those parts of himself to the whole world, even if he did not confess it.

Hal could not describe the relief and exhaustion he had felt when he was done. Even now, he could still very clearly remember the ache that seemed to fill his very core. He wouldn’t ever go as far as thinking he had gotten Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from working on the movie, but the mere memory did fill him with anxiety and discomfort. It had been one of the most arduous times in his life, and he wasn’t thrilled that Jesse had brought it up when they were supposed to be getting away from everything.

In fact, he was quite irritated with her. He moved away from where she was cuddled up to him on the couch and peered down at her suspiciously. It seemed odd that she would ask him such questions right here and right now. Unless, of course, that had been her intention all along.

Hal narrowed his eyes and felt a scowl form over his features as he was filled with a mixture of disgust and hurt. Jesse was a journalist, after all, and a smart one, to make matters worse. It would certainly not be beyond her mental capabilities to come up with this scheme on her own. And with the help of Elaine, it was almost too much evidence to dispute.

Hal should have seen it all along. Everything had happened so suddenly, after all. Her sudden conflict with Elaine, her leaving the magazine. After all, what journalist in their right mind would actually leave such a well-paying job?

It was finally clear to him that this was just a ruse to manipulate him and to trick him into revealing his personal life to her little by little. The first article had simply been to gain his trust and set her up for her final masterstroke. He had to hand it to her—it was an excellent plan, and he had been a more than willing participant.

Hal was slowly becoming consumed by anger, and it was only made worse by the look of concern that was written across Jesse’s features as she looked up at him.

“Hal?” Jesse spoke, and Hal felt a surge of rage just at the sound of her voice. “Are you …”

“What?” Hal snapped at her. “Am I what? Okay?”

Hal accented his accusing question with a harsh laugh, and he lauded the look of confusion that passed so suddenly over Jesse’s face. He had to hand it to her, she was good. Maybe she should have been an actress instead of a journalist.

“I don’t understand …” Jesse trailed off, and Hal scolded himself for almost feeling a little guilt at the hurt in her face.

“What don’t you understand?” he snapped at her, abruptly standing from his place on the couch to pace up and down the room. “I’ve caught you! I’m onto your little scheme. I have to admit you had me, you really did.”

Hal stopped in his vicious pacing to turn suddenly toward her and stand close to her. He saw fear flash through her eyes, but he didn’t care. If she was afraid, good, but he highly doubted it. She had known the risks when she started all this, so it was about time she met them head on.

“So what’s the story about then?” Hal pressed her through clenched teeth. “More details from my sordid past? Or is it a scoop about future projects I have coming up?”

Hal leaned down close to her face, and he nearly flew off the handle when she hastily stood up from the couch to back away from him. Still enraged, all Hal could do was laugh.

“Come on, Jess, give it up,” he urged her. “You’ve been caught. I can see right through everything. The first article? Leaving your job at The Edge? Very, very clever of you. You almost had me. But I’m not quite as stupid as you thought, am I? I can see through everything.”

Hal could hear his voice growing darker, and he could feel blood pumping through his veins as dark emotions swirled in his chest. There was of course anger, but the predominant emotions raging within him were hurt and betrayal. He had really fallen in love with her and all it had gotten him was this. It was all he could to keep himself angry, if only to keep him from succumbing to tears.

He was so angry, in fact, that he could hardly tell that he had effectively backed Jesse up against the wall.