“I could kiss you,” Jackson said, feeling a smile cross his face.
“Please don’t. That’s how we got into this mess,” Jane teased. She sighed. “And just so you know, you now owe the CEO of some publishing company a large favor.”
He held the thumb drive in his palm, knowing that at least his public approval could be gained back by what was on it. “Worth it. How did Max not find it?”
“It wasn’t a yacht. It was a little sailboat off to the side that got put in the yacht dock area because they overbooked. I had to look at the dock records to find it. But mostly, it’s because I don’t forget the little guy like he does. Max must not have thought the guy was important.”
“Whatever your publishing guy wants, it’s his. And you. You want a summer house in Paris? An island? It’s yours.”
“I like the way you think,” Jane replied with a laugh. “Just a bonus is enough. And, I want a photo of Max’s face at the press conference where you show the world this.”
“I’ll hire a photographer and have it put on an eight-by-ten canvas for your wall,” he promised.
Jane’s nose crinkled in disgust. “Ugh, no. I mean, it’s going to be an amazing look for him, but I don’t want to see his face in any shape on my wall.”
Jackson nodded. “Press conference is what time?”
“Two o’clock, downstairs,” Jane replied. “I have a speech written out for you. You’ll say how hurt you are by these accusations and that you would never, ever do this willingly to Emma.” Jane paused and looked at him. “If you can have Emma there, that would be helpful.”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “She’ll do it if you call her,” he said. “She isn’t speaking to me right now.”
“She knows it was fake, right?” Jane asked. “Why is she angry?”
“Because I didn’t tell her it happened in the first place. She found out when everybody else did,” he explained. “She’s not mad about the kiss. She’s mad that I kept it from her. And she’s got every right to be.”
“Oh, Jackson.” Jane shook her head. “That was stupid.”
“No kidding,” he agreed. The hopeful feeling left his chest. Without Emma in his life, nothing felt worth it. “I was trying to protect her and it backfired.”
“She doesn’t have to be at the press conference,” Jane said gently. “It’s really more about you, anyway. I can make the optics of it work.”
Jackson looked down at the thumb drive sitting on his desk. There was a solution here. He could feel it. There was a way to make this better. It was going to cost him some pride, but Emma was worth anything.
“I want to add some things to the speech.” Jackson looked up at Jane. “And I’d like you to make sure she’s there. I need her there.”
“Oh. You’re going to go down the full honesty path, huh?” Jane thought for a second then nodded. “It’s risky, but it could work out well for the company.” She looked at him. “If what you’re thinking of doing doesn’t work, you know it will ruin everything, right? If she doesn’t take you back, I can’t repair the damage. There’s no way you can keep the image you need.”
Jackson nodded. “I’m willing to risk it. For her.”
Jane sighed. “You really do love her, don’t you?”
“With everything I’ve got,” he replied, his voice firm. “So you’ll help?”
“Yeah. I’m a sucker for a good love story,” Jane replied with a laugh. “It’s a good thing I like you. And her. Otherwise, the risk of you destroying all my hard work again would be too much.”
She got up and turned to leave the office.
“Don’t you need this?” Jackson asked, holding out the thumb-drive
“You think that’s the only copy?” Jane scoffed. “I have that sucker uploaded on three cloud devices. I’ve worked too hard to let you screw everything up.”
Jackson chuckled. “Thank you, Jane.”
“Let’s just hope she forgives you,” she replied. “Or it won’t matter how many cloud devices I have.”
Chapter 35
Emma