Page 32 of Perfectly Yours
This is what Ellie has been telling me for the past two days, that mixing her work and our relationship is awkward. Stepping into that club would further complicate this new thing between us. “One day, absolutely, and when we do, I will reserve you for the night in a private room just for the three of us. Let you dance for us to your heart’s content and then I’ll reward you with my knot as you make Savin scream our name. How’s that?”
Heavy breathing meets my words and I have to reach down to adjust myself knowing that Ellie’s cheeks are flushed, her pupils dilated, desire running through her expression. “You… I have to go.”
“Goodbye, sweetheart. See you tomorrow.”
Savin wasn’t too happy about staying at home until I gave him a choice between the beignets I brought home or fucking him into the mattress. Unsurprisingly, he chose both, although I ended up holding him under an ice-cold shower to lower his body heat. Maybe it’s selfish of me but I’m relieved that Ellie didn’t stay the weekend. We’ve just started this relationship and I want to ease her into life with Savin. I’ve told her what it’s like but she hasn’t truly seen it.
I fear that she might pick up and leave when she stumbles upon one of those moments.
No one else has stayed.
Why would she?
Even if she is our mate, Ellie doesn’t want to trust that connection.
I take another sip of my coffee and refocus my efforts on the contract I’ve drawn up. Just looking at the legal document, I realize how easily Savin could benefit from a helping hand. I can’t always be there and we don’t trust many other people to not stress him out. This contract will give Savin what he needs while still providing Ellie the anonymity she asked for.
Satisfied with my work, I set it down, grimacing when my phone starts buzzing. I would love just one morning to spend with my Omega but when I see that it’s Jace, I’m not surprised. I answer the call and hold the phone up to my ear. “Yes?”
“Have you seen the cover of Famous Weekly?”
I frown. The only reason to read that trash is when one of my movies comes out and we’re still a week or two away from the first run-through of a script. Since this is a collaboration effort, my job is to help direct. Everything else has already been taken care of. “No. I don’t read celebrity gossip, Jace.”
“Well, you should. Have you not been getting calls or texts or anything?”
A laugh rumbles through my chest as I begin running my fingers through Savin’s hair. He immediately settles and I smile, relieved that he has some peace. “No, I don’t really do much with social media and I don’t pick up answers I don’t know.”
“Check your phone.”
It’s a command, one I could easily ignore but I’m curious. I pull the phone away from my ear and groan at the unread texts and calls from colleagues in the business, my mother, even Nathan. “Fucking hell. What happened?”
“Your mother happened! What is this about disowning her? They’ve even got pictures, Macon! We don’t need this kind of press for Savin.”
I’m still confused, carefully sliding off the couch and heading to the kitchen to start up my laptop on the counter. A few searches later I see pictures of our brunch littering the front page of the Famous Weekly’s internet version. In small letters to the right, I see the reason Jace is truly calling.
Exclusive, Mother Tells All.
My heart drops into my stomach as I scroll down to the page in question, the sinking feeling in my gut getting worse. My mother set up that entire meeting and exploited our privacy to stay relevant. Her words tell a very different story than what truly happened. She explains that she’s been locked out of the house by her son’s Omega and that Savin is drawing a wedge between us.
Having had the locks and the code changed this weekend, my mother wouldn’t be wrong that she was barred from entry but it has nothing to do with Savin and everything to do with the fact that my mother can’t respect boundaries. The problem is that this article paints Savin as the villain of the story. It takes the blame off of her and makes me seem like the victim, torn between an evil Omega and a mother who just wants to be part of my life.
“So?”
I grunt, forgetting that the man was still on the phone. “It’s all bullshit. Well, most of it. Jace, you know how toxic my mother is. I’ve told you that. She’s in everyone’s business but even more so, she despises Savin because he’s not the Omega she wants in my life. She wants the world to give Savin the boot but it couldn’t be farther from the truth—that he’s the issue.”
“And so that brunch was-”
“To let her know that I will be taking care of my own affairs from now on until she can respect my mate and husband. Were there a few emotions thrown around? Absolutely. But painting Savin as the villain is ridiculous, something that you should understand. He works for you. Tell me if my Omega could ever be so vile.” I huff out a breath, anger coursing through my veins. My mother hasn’t been in my good graces for a while but between this and that fucking Omega she sent here last week? I’m about ready to disown her completely.
“I figured but I needed to hear it. Both of you are going to have to make a statement. This shit is messy, Macon. I don’t like messy. When are you coming in?”
“Wasn’t planning on it. I’ve got the script to update and Savin needs the rest. We’ll be at the event tonight and I’ve got a new PA for him.”
“No shit? Excellent.”
“You’ll still go through me for a bit but if things go well, it’ll make it easier on the rest of us. When Savin wakes, I’ll have something written up and send it over.”
“Good. And call your fucking mother. If she ruins Savin’s brand, I’m coming after you.”