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“Just leave.”
I collapsed onto my couch, grabbing the television remote, so I could relax a bit. It was the middle of the day, and all that was on were a few talk shows, but that’s when it hit me. If Katherine’s not going to listen, I’ll have to find another way. The rest of the world needs to know that Leighton is and never will be the woman for me. It’s time I take matters into my own hands and set the record straight. I thought, fishing around in my pocket for my cell phone, grabbing it and dialing away.
“Claire, hello. I need you to do me a favor.”
“Of course, Mr. Clarke. What do you need?”
“I need you to call every goddamn TV station in the country and see which one of them would like to do an interview with me.”
“A-Are you sure that’s such a good idea, sir?”
“Just do it for me, please. Try Ryan down at Talk Takes. Everyone seems to be watching that these days,” I said.
“Right away, Mr. Clarke.”
“Thank you, Claire.”
I felt a bead of sweat trickle down the back of my neck as the makeup artist powdered my face. I glanced over at the set I was about to be sitting on, baring my soul on national television, but I didn’t care. If it’s a spectacle they want. It’s a spectacle they’re sure as hell going to get. I sat in the foldable chair, calling Katherine again, listening to the sound of it ring, but this time she picked up.
“Look, Preston. I don’t think you should be calling me anymore. We’re done. So you can go on and be happy with your girlfriend, but just leave me alone. She’s perfect for you. She fits your life. I obviously don’t.”
“Turn on channel 10.”
“What?”
“Just turn on channel 10. Watch the next half-hour special. If you don’t want anything to do with me after that, I’ll leave you alone. I promise.”
“Okay, fine,” she said, and I could sense the confusion in her voice.
“You’re on in five,” one of the stage managers said, and I nodded.
I made my way to the stage, greeted by Ryan who ran me through exactly how the interview was going to go.
“I’m so glad you’re doing this, Preston. There are so many people that want to hear what’s going on in your life right now,” he said.
“I’m glad I get the opportunity to tell everyone what’s really been going on.”
Ryan sat across from me with his light blonde hair slicked back, his suit jacket crisp, and that television smile that captured the heart of many across the country. He took me through the first few simple questions and I tried my best not to look directly into the camera, but once I remembered that Katherine was watching my every move, I relaxed. I knew this was probably the only chance I’d get to tell her the truth, and if I wanted to salvage our relationship, I had to steal the show.
“So, tell me, how’s your newly rekindled relationship with Leighton been?”
This is my opening. I hope you’re listening, Katherine. I really do.
“Now, the press has done quite the job when it comes to giving people the inside scoop into my life, but they seem to always get the story wrong.”
“Oh?”
“There’s absolutely nothing going on between Leighton and I, Ryan. Do you want to know why?”
“Of course I do. I’m sure everyone at home wants to know just as much,” he said.
“Leighton has made it her mission to ruin things between me and the woman I’m actually falling in love with. All she wants is to wear me on her arm like an accessory so she can mingle with all of my business associates. That’s the way she’s always been, and I’m not the kind of man that tolerates that. The woman I’m falling for is kind, smart, beautiful, and she deserves the world. There is no Leighton and Preston. There never will be,” I confessed.
Ryan stood there trying to fight the smile that was curling his lips. I knew that he was going to bombard me with all kinds of questions about Katherine, but I promised myself I’d stay tight-lipped.
“Now, who is this lucky lady? Some speculate that it’s Katherine Hollis, the woman that’s rumored to be conducting your company’s fraud investigation.”
“The lucky lady knows exactly who she is. I just wanted to set the record straight and say my piece. She’s the one I want. There’s no one else. As for the investigation, whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? As far as we both know, Ryan, nothing has been found that so much as indicates I’ve gone off the books. I don’t cut corners and I sure as hell don’t hurt the people I love.”
“That’s all the time we have for today. Tune in next time for another Talk Take!” he said quickly, before pulling me aside.
“What the hell was that?”
“You got the information you wanted, didn’t you?” I asked him.
“I wanted scandal, not you professing your love to some random woman,” he spat.
“Well, you should’ve thought of that before you let me on the air. Thanks again, Ryan. I’ll be seeing you.”