Chapter 11 The Press Conference
951 Words
The office suddenly felt too small.
Too suffocating.
Gena stared at Jared as though he had spoken another language.
A press conference?
Public announcement?
Her pulse thundered painfully inside her chest.
"No."
Her voice came out firmer this time.
Jared remained seated across from her desk, perfectly composed.
"You don’t have a choice."
The words ignited something inside her.
Anger.
Fear.
Humiliation.
Gena stood straighter.
"You keep saying that."
His eyes narrowed.
"Because you keep forgetting your situation."
"My situation?" she repeated incredulously.
He leaned back.
"The media already knows we’re connected."
"No," she corrected sharply. "The media thinks I’m your mistress."
His jaw tightened.
"Exactly why I’m fixing it."
Fixing.
As though she were another business problem needing resolution.
Gena crossed her arms.
"You mean controlling it."
His expression darkened.
"You care too much about public opinion."
"And you don’t care enough."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Jared stood slowly.
The simple movement sent unease crawling beneath her skin.
He walked toward the windows overlooking the city.
From behind, he looked calm.
Untouchable.
But she had started noticing it lately—
The tension beneath his control.
The way his shoulders stiffened whenever she resisted him.
"I’m protecting my name," he said quietly.
She almost laughed.
"Your name survived actresses, scandals, and gossip columns. It will survive me too."
He turned.
"And yours?"
The question caught her off guard.
For a second—
She hesitated.
Then—
"I can protect myself."
His gaze remained fixed on her.
Can you?
The unspoken challenge lingered.
Before she could answer—
The office door burst open.
Cherry.
Again.
And judging from her expression—
Disaster had followed.
"Boss!"
Gena rubbed her temple.
"What now?"
Cherry stopped abruptly after seeing Jared.
Then awkwardly smiled.
"Am I interrupting marital warfare?"
"No," Jared answered.
"Yes," Gena answered at the same time.
Cherry looked between them.
Then wisely chose survival.
"I’ll pretend I heard nothing."
She hurried toward Gena and lowered her voice.
"Sarah’s downstairs."
Gena blinked.
"What?"
Cherry winced.
"With reporters."
The room went silent.
Jared’s face hardened immediately.
"What reporters?"
Cherry swallowed.
"They followed her here."
Gena’s stomach dropped.
No.
No, no—
This was exactly what she feared.
Before anyone could move—
Ado entered.
His face looked unusually serious.
"Sir."
Jared turned.
"The reporters are asking questions."
His voice turned cold.
"About?"
Ado hesitated.
"About Mrs. Jacobo."
The title alone made Gena tense.
Ado continued carefully.
"Someone leaked the story that you brought another woman home while still involved with Ms. Sarah Valencia."
The room darkened.
Cherry looked horrified.
Gena felt her throat tighten.
And Jared—
Jared looked dangerous.
"Who leaked it?"
Ado lowered his head.
"We don’t know yet."
But downstairs—
Sarah stood elegantly near the lobby entrance.
Her designer sunglasses rested on her head while cameras surrounded her.
And despite her graceful appearance—
Her smile looked brittle.
She had not planned this.
Not entirely.
But when rumors spread online—
Opportunity had presented itself.
One reporter leaned closer.
"Ms. Valencia, are the rumors true? Is Mr. Jared Jacobo involved with another woman?"
Sarah lowered her eyes beautifully.
Perfect actress.
Perfect victim.
"I don’t want to speak badly about anyone."
More cameras flashed.
"But yes…" she continued softly, "I was hurt."
The reporters exploded.
And upstairs—
Jared’s patience snapped.
Without warning—
He grabbed his coat.
Gena frowned.
"What are you doing?"
His eyes met hers.
"Cleaning up."
Something about his tone made her uneasy.
Very uneasy.
"You can’t mean—"
"Stay here."
Again.
An order.
And naturally—
She hated it.
"You don’t command me."
His gaze sharpened.
"And you don’t trust me."
The truth stung.
Because she didn’t.
Not completely.
Not anymore.
He walked toward the door.
But before leaving—
He paused.
Then looked at her.
His voice lowered.
"You’re coming with me."
Her eyes widened.
"No."
"Yes."
"I refuse."
"You already refused the press conference."
His expression remained unreadable.
"I’m done asking."
The room fell silent.
Cherry looked seconds away from fainting.
Gena’s anger rose.
"You think dragging me around proves ownership?"
His jaw tightened.
"No."
"Then what does it prove?"
For several seconds—
He said nothing.
Then quietly—
"That you’re not alone in this."
The words startled her.
Because for once—
He did not sound arrogant.
Or cruel.
He sounded tired.
And somehow—
That confused her more.
Before she could respond—
His phone rang.
The screen lit up.
Sarah Valencia Calling.
His face hardened instantly.
Without answering—
He silenced it.
Then looked at Gena.
"We’re ending this today."
Her pulse stumbled.
What does that mean?
But he was already walking out.
And somehow—
Despite herself—
She followed.
Downstairs—
The lobby erupted the moment Jared appeared.
Camera flashes.
Questions.
Microphones.
And then—
The crowd noticed Gena.
The mystery woman.
Whispers spread instantly.
Sarah’s expression changed.
Her smile froze.
Because Jared did not walk toward her.
Not even once.
Instead—
He moved beside Gena.
Close enough for cameras to capture.
Protective enough to ignite speculation.
The reporters shouted questions.
"Mr. Jacobo! Is this the woman involved?"
"Are you cheating on Ms. Valencia?"
"Who is she?"
Sarah’s fingernails dug into her purse.
And then—
Jared did something no one expected.
His hand settled firmly at Gena’s waist.
The cameras exploded.
Gena stiffened.
His voice came calm.
Cold.
Authoritative.
"Enough."
The lobby quieted.
And with every camera pointed toward them—
Jared looked directly at the press.
Then said the words that shattered everything.
"Allow me to correct your misunderstanding."
Gena’s heartbeat stopped.
Because she suddenly knew—
Exactly what he intended to do.
And she was no longer sure she could stop him.
- Writer
