Chapter 71
Chapter 71 – Outed
Jane
I’ve only just dropped the pups off at pre school and am on my way to the office when my phone rings.
ncing at the touchscreen disy in the car’s center console, I see Linda’s name appear, and promptly
ept the call over bluetooth.” Hello?”
“Hey,” She greets me, sounding a bit tense. “Have you seen the news?”
“No.” I sigh, already fearing the worst,“ What is it now?”
“You just got outed.” She exins gently, “In a very public way.”
“What do you mean?” I ask nervously, thinking that it’s beyond depressing my life has reached a point
where she could
be talking about half a dozen secrets or lies.
“It’s on the front page of the Gazette.” She replied simply, “Elise Carrington exposed – NightFang’s Luna
returns from the grave.” Linda pauses,” apparently someone let it slip that your identity is fake and
exposed the truth – including the fact that you faked your death.”
I curse under my breath. This is thest thing I needed. “I was worried standing by Ethan’s side at the
funeral might draw too much attention to me.” I groan. “I should have known better.”
“I don’t think it was the funeral.” Linda corrects me, “The way this is written, well, let’s just say it’s not a
ttering article. There’s a lot of details here that they couldn’t have gotten from thest few days, or
even just looking into your
RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
life in the Dark Moon pack.”
“Great.” I mutter grumpily, “As if this week wasn’t going badly enough already.”
“Sorry babe. Call me if you need anything.” Linda offers.
“Thanks.”
A little whileter I have the chronicle spread out in front of me. My photo is stered across the front
page, right alongside a snapshot from my funeral. As I begin to read, my heart sinks.
Five years ago Jane ckwell divorced the Alpha, just over a year after a mysterious attack paralyzed
family
friend Eve Mechant. Seven monthster she supposedly died birthing the Alpha’s daughter Paisley,
who’s young life has been marked by a heart condition and multiple surgeries. Howeverst month La
Louve CEO Elise Carrington swept into
town to settle the disturbing fraud allegations regarding her perfume’s sale at Eve Mechant’s exclusive
boutique – and citizens couldn’t help notice the striking resemnce the entrepreneur bore to ourte
Luna. Today we can confirm that the two women are one in the same. Jane ckwell is very much alive,
and has been masquerading as the elusive fragrance magnate ever since – but faking her death and
forging a new identity is the least of her secrets.!
The article goes on the reveal all the details of the police reports Eve and Petra filed against me after the
attack six years ago, ming me for Eve’s injuries and noting my sudden disappearance from public life.
It then provides aundry list of the probable crimes Imitted to get away, and goes on to specte
about my involvement in Petra’s murder. If Eve was still in the good graces of the media, I
might think she was responsible for this, but given all the details of the current investigation included, I
suspect the police leaked the story.
Part of me wants to call Ethan, but I know how he’ll respond. He’ll promise to take care of it and tell me
not to worry, even though I can’t do anything but worry. I’m already so confused about his motivations
that I don’t think I can
handle adding anotheryer ofplexity to our situation, so I resist the urge to reach out.
However, that determination onlysts as long as the morning, for when I step out of the atelier to go to
lunch, I find a
crazed horde of reporters waiting for me. At first I stop in the doorway looking like a deer in the
headlights as the cameras sh around me, my mind incapable of deciphering one question from
another as
the various microphone wielding correspondents shout in my direction.
When I finally regain my senses, I fight my way through the crowd, keeping my sunsses lowered over
my eyes, and muttering “Noment” until I’m blue
in the face.
It’s not until an unfamiliar woman steps up and blocks my path, that I finally stop. “Jane, what do you
have to say to NightFang customers who are advocating boycotting your perfume in light of the
allegations against you?”
This actually gives me pause. The NightFang pack is the most prosperous on the continent, which
means it has the wealthiest citizens andprises thergest ie revenue for my business. If they
boycott me, I could lose an inordinate amount of money and risk the future of thepany.
Taking a deep breath, I turn towards her and carefully choose my words. “La Louve is my creation, but its
products stand on their own. Our customers do not wear our fragrances because they support our
politics or enterprises, they wear La louve because it is the height of elegance and prestige. Our
Staring straight into the camera, I continue. “I dare the woman of the NightFang pack to find a fragrance
as enigmatic, luxurious and scintiting as our signature, or as nuanced as some of our other lines.
Every woman is unique andplex, and we’ve created our perfumes to match those indefinable
qualities upon which we all pride ourselves.”
“So you’re saying that CEOs like yourself should have no ountability if their products are good?” The
reporter demands.
“I’m saying that corporations have the
utmost responsibility to conduct their business ethically, and the usations against me have nothing to
do with my business. They are of a personal nature.” I amend, knowing that while the reporter might
have a point and our customers would be well within their rights to boycott, high fashion has a long
history of trumping morality. “Five years ago I ran away from a bad marriage, and I did what I felt was
necessary to protect myself. But I never harmed Petra or Eve Mechant, and anyone who says otherwise
is either misinformed or pursuing their
own agenda.” I conclude.
Pushing past them, I decide to forgo lunch and head straight for Ethan’s office. I don’t know if my
pandering to our wealthy clients’egos or cravings for exclusivity was sufficient to undo the damage this
article has done. I can’t stand the thought of losing everything I’ve worked so hard for over thest few
years, especially not due to another one of Eve’s schemes.
Charging into the pack headquarters, I walk straight into Ethan’s office, bypassing his assistant even as
she races after me, insisting I can’t go in. When I open the doors, I find Ethan seated behind his desk
and his Beta, Matthew, sitting across from him. One of the pack elders is on Matthew’s left, looking very
grim indeed. Ethan rises immediately when he sees me, and the other two turn
around in surprise.
“Jane.” Ethan greets me, striding around his desk. “Are you okay?”
“No.” I whisper shakily, ncing at Matthew and the elder.
“Can you give us a moment?” Ethan requests of the men. They nod and depart, leaving us alone. “I saw
the Gazette.” Ethan tells me, clearly not needing any exnation for my sudden appearance. “I’ve
already contacted them about printing a restriction, but I’m afraid the damage has been done.
“People are talking about boycotting La Louve,” I share, pressing my palm to my temple, “there are
reporters camped outside my office and yours, they’re probably at the Penthouse too. I don’t know what
to do.”
Ethan pulls me into a hug, and I for once I
don’t fight him. He rubs my back and purrs gently, making me rx even though I don’t want to be
soothed. “That isn’t fair.” I mutter into his chest, breathing in his rich, Alpha scent.
“What isn’t?” He croons, kissing my hair.
“This is very serious.” I tell him,” Nightfang she-wolves are my biggest customers, if I lose them I could
lose my business. I can’t afford to let my guard down.”
“You can.” He insists, “because I’m here to watch your back while you take a breath. That’s what
partners do.”
“We’re not partners.” I answer with a pout.
“I meant in business, Janey.” He teases,” I might not be your main contact anymore, but I’m still board
president.”
“Oh.” I breathe, “right. So, what do you think I should do?”
“Let me deal with the press.” Ethan suggests, “And the police. I don’t care much for the investigator on
my Mother’s case, but I might be able to knock some sense into him yet.”
My mind reels, and I feel so tempted to let him take care of everything for me, but I’ve taken that path
before, and it didn’t turn out well. As much as heforts me, I simply don’t trust him when ites to
my freedom. “No.” I object, pulling away from him. I look up into his dark eyes, gathering my courage as
his brow furrows with displeasure. “Thank you, Ethan, but I think I have to do this myself.”