Chapter 16

The next morning, Bella was walking to the gym when a woman stopped her and looked at her with disgust.

“I really thought you had changed, girl. You fooled the whole town.”

Annabella frowned. “What are you talking about?”

The woman offered her the latest edition of The Middletown Gazette, and turned it so Annabella could read the headline: Beauty and the Beast.

Her blood went cold even before she saw the picture below the words. Derek and her, holding hands at her apartment door, their mouths inches apart, looking into each other’s eyes.

She grabbed the paper out of the woman’s hand and skimmed the article beneath the picture:

“A source close to Annabella Reed claims that she and the owner of the gym Derek Hayes have been involved in a relationship for weeks. It is said that the former model is looking for a way to re-launch her career, and dating an injured and decorated veteran is a publicity coup of the highest order. It’s said some modeling agencies had reached Ms. Reed...”

Annabella folded the paper back together and gave it back to the woman. Unease prickled the back of her neck. The article was nothing but lies.

A source close to Annabella Reed? Who? She certainly hadn’t told anyone. Except ... Janice! She was going to kill her!

Ignoring the continued smirks, snickers and winks from the locals, Annabella hurried down Main Street. She fled toward the gym.

Derek was there. His hoodie was back on his head. Obviously, he had read The Gazette article too.

“Tell me you don’t believe the bullshit Janice published.”

He looked at her.

Everyone around stopped exercising to witness the exchange between them.

Derek looked at Bella and said, “I’m not exactly swimming in self-confidence. I won’t deny that when I read the story it made me doubt us for a split second ... I didn’t know what to believe about what I read, and I didn’t want to believe the worst.”

Bella wrapped her arms around herself feeling a sudden chill. “Derek, please...”

Derek softly pressed a finger on Bella’s lips. “The article echoed my deepest fears, and made a lot more sense than what I’ve believed for the past weeks.”

Bella went light-headed with dread. “You can’t believe everything we shared was a lie.”

Derek smiled at her, “Relax, I don’t. I know what we have is real. I know Janice too.”

“Oh Derek!” Bella ran to him and he opened his arms to welcome her in them.

“I love you, Bella.”

Annabella cried. “I love you too.” Relief flooded her entire being. “I was so afraid.”

He kissed the top of her head, squeezing her tight in his strong arms.

“However, a tabloid story like this is going to be a gossip fest. You know the saying ‘Give a lie twenty-four hours’ start, and you can never overtake it’.”

Bella pressed her lips together. She hastily released herself from his embrace and walked to the door.

“Where are you going?” Derek asked her.

“To catch a lie and kick someone’s ass in the process,” Bella explained. She winked at Derek and left the gym. “I’ll set everything straight.”

She stormed out of the gym. Several people followed her as she practically ran towards The Gazette’s building.

Annabella pushed open the door and rushed into the office. Janice was working on her computer.

“Hi, girlfriend. What’s up? Did you read today’s issue? You and Derek made it to the front page,” Janice smirked, showing her a paper.

Bella stood in front of Janice, snatched the paper from her hands and threw it at her face.

“You are a true snake. You’re so full of venom,” she growled.

“Get down off your high horse, girlfriend. You did worse things in high school. You’re not better than me,” Janice yelled back.

By now, a small crowd was gathering at the front of the building and was watching everything through the glass window.

“Yes, I did and I’m truly sorry because now I know how much they hurt. You hurt the man I love. You cheapened our love. Everyone is going to think I don’t love him.” Annabella leaned forward and hissed. “This is the last of your cruel jokes. You are going to come with me right now and apologize to Derek.”

“Oh no, I won’t! I have work to do. Have a great morning!” Janice started typing on her keyboard, ignoring Annabella.

Bella yanked the computer’s cord out from the wall’s electrical outlet. “Not anymore. You are coming with me.”

Janice looked at her friend with a smirk on her face and said, “Make me.”

Annabella slapped Janice in the face so hard it made her cheek burn. She gasped and looked at Bella in surprise.

“YOU are going to come with me. YOU are going to set things straight with everyone, and YOU are going to apologize to us. Am I clear?” Annabella said, wiggling her finger in front of her former friend.

“You hit me!”

Bella slapped Janice again on the other cheek even harder than the first time.

“Yes, I did. Someone needs to slap the shit out of you,” she screamed.

“You assaulted me!” Janice exclaimed rubbing her cheek.

“You published lies about me!” Bella shot back. “How is it called? Defamation of character?”

A roar of approval came from the small crowd outside.

Annabella grabbed Janice’s arm and dragged her out of her chair and out of the Gazette’s building.

“Let me go, Bella! This isn’t funny. Are you crazy?” Janice struggled in vain to set herself free from Annabella’s tight grip.

“YOU’LL come with me to the gym. YOU’LL explain to everyone that what you wrote is nothing but a lie and then YOU’LL apologize to us. THEN and only then I’ll let you go.” Annabella pulled Janice’s arm forward causing her to stumble.