Make Believe by Genevieve Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

and now it’s going to be all over the papers about you and me! Hudson’s going to go crazy! Oh fuck!”
    “I don’t understand why that’s so bad. We had photos taken yesterday at the ball and that was OK. But not now, what’s changed?”
    “It’s not planned, Jessica. It’s all about publicity and the timing of it. Everything’s created to feed the press! This,”  he points to me and him, “This hasn’t been approved; it’s going to change everything. I can’t explain it. You’ll just have to believe me. I can’t drop you at your place as they will follow and see where you live. I’ll have to take you to mine instead - I have private driveway and they won’t be able to get anymore photos there.”
    I agree with him. I don’t want to annoy him anymore; he knows what he’s doing.
    Elliott punches a couple of numbers into the driveway keypad. The huge wooden gates open and we are greeted by a magnificent driveway that curves towards what only can be described as a mansion.
    “You live here?” I croak.
    “Yes, this is where I call home.”
    “It’s incredible! I have never seen anything like it.”
    He pushes a button connected to the garage and the door opens. We drive straight in.
    We’re instantly greeted by what I can only presume to be a butler.
    “Good evening, Mr. Tate.”
    “It’s not really, Simon.”
    Simon notices me in the car and rushes to my door, but I’ve already opened it.
    “Sorry, Ma’am, I didn’t realize Mr. Tate had company tonight.”
    I smile really awkwardly wishing I knew what to say.
    “Sorry Simon, this is Jessica, my makeup artist. We were having dinner and then got caught by the fucking paps! So now we’re stuck.”
    Elliott semi-smiles at me and then I follow him into the house. We walk through the garage into a huge kitchen where we are greeted with an immaculate view of his garden through an enormous glass frontage.  The kitchen is amazing, all black granite and silver. Very now! His kitchen is the same size as my whole flat back in London.
    We don’t stop and I follow him into a lounge. “Jess, do you want a drink?” He sounds so pissed off.  I’m afraid that the dinner has ruined any chance of anything we may have had – work-related or otherwise. I still don’t really understand why he’s so cross or what the difference between the two sets of photos are?
    “Whatever you’re having,” I smile.
    “Sit.” I do as I’m told.
    “Two whiskeys on the rocks, please, Simon. Large ones!”
    Err, I hate whiskey! But I’m not saying a word.
    “I suppose I should ring Hudson and let him know what’s happened, then he can do damage limitation! I hate it when he’s friggin right.”
    My ears pick up. The whole evenings been ruined anyway. I might as well try and find out what he’s talking about.
    “What do you mean ‘he’s right’?”
    “It doesn’t concern you, Jessica!” he snaps.
    But I want to know. I’m not some little fan he can boss about!
    “Elliott, please allow me the decency of an answer. You obviously have something on your mind which concerns me,” I bite.
    He looks at me, shocked.
    I look back directly at him! I’m not taking no for an answer.
    He stands up and walks directly towards me. Shit! I feel the panic mounting. He grabs my hands and pulls me hard onto my feet. It’s all happening so fast. He grabs my face gently with both hands and kisses me, pushing his tongue forcefully into my mouth, I relax letting him, I don’t  want it to stop. I place my hands on his hands and pull my face away from him. He doesn’t want to let me go, but stops kissing me. He rests his head on mine. I look up at him and he opens his eyes.
    “I’m sorry,” he whispers.
    “What for?” 
    “Everything - for kissing you, for snapping at you, for being an asshole.” I smile, but he doesn’t move his head from mine.
    “It’s all fine. I just need to know what’s going on that’s all.” I stroke my hand down the side of his