I can't get You out of my head! (On Hold)

13. What is my name?

Frederic PoV

I'm impressed with how Jacob handled the press after my fuck-up. He got them of my back and got their sympathy, for now. Let's hope it will last just a little while. Now, we are going to have to strategise.

The tabloids getting wind of me and Jon is bad! I really  don't want them to discover his identity and put him through the ringer. He dosen't deserve that! I'm used to them watching my every move and judging me. But Jon has been able to avoid that up till now, despite his fathers work. And I want to keep it that way for as long as that is even remotely possible.

I'm very happy that only Jacob knows about what we did, he is going to keep quiet. If not for my sake, then at least for Jon's.

We talked yesterday and agreed to meet and plan today, Monday. We need to reschedule the press conference and we need to decide how to handle the inevitable questions about what happened when I ditched the after-party.

Jacob and Jon step into my office right on time. Jon is giving me a purely professional look, not giving away anything about how he feels, being in the same room as me again. Jacob puts a couple of different tabloids on the table, I'm still drawing headlines I see.

"I decided that we didn't need the full team for this meeting Your Majesty." Jacob starts when we are seated at the table. "I'm sure that the three of us can come up with a preliminary strategy. I have called a new press conference for tomorrow afternoon and I would like for the pictures to be taken before we start that."

Jacob probably knows my calendar as well as I do, and I know that those plans won't interfere with anything important. "That's fine Jacob. I'll be ready whenever you need me! Now, how  do I answer when the journalists inevitably ask me about what the tabloids are writing?"

Jon turns to me and says "Well My Rex. I would defiantly prefer that my name was not mentioned! We were thinking of going with simple evasion. Neither confirming nor denying anything, just saying that rumors are hard to avoid. We are hoping that that will be enough, until the gossip mongers grabs onto the next piece of trashy news." 

He sighs "At least that's what the strategy for tomorrow is. Let's see what the reaction is and then we'll plan further. For now, only the three of us and my sister know that I am the mystery man. Unless you've told anyone, that is?"

I blush a little but try to shrug it off "I have only told Noah. He is responsible for my personal security and I trust him explicitly!" They both nod and we move on. "Evasion seems like a good idea for now. I will go with that!" I say. 

A few more details are discussed before we call the meeting to an end. 

"Jon do you have a few moments or do you need to be somewhere?" I ask before he can get the chance to make his escape. For the first time today his professional mask slips a little and I sense some nervousness coming from him. He looks at Jacob who gives a slight nod.

Then he faces me "I guess I can spare a few minutes My Rex." Looking back at Jacob, he says "I'll catch you later Jake." When Jacob has left, I have Jon's full attention. "How may I help you My Rex?" His blank mask is back in place and I find that I really don't like it!

I sigh "Jon I thought that we had gotten past this "My Rex" thing. Didn't I tell you to call me Frederic? You should know my name by now. You have called me by it on more than one occasion!" I give him a flat look. When he dosen't react, I raise my eyebrow. "What is my name Jon?"

He blushes a little and looks down "Frederic." He mumbles. 

I decide to torture him just a bit. "Speak up. I didn't hear you clearly! What is my name?" I stand up and lean over the table so I can look down on him. He clears his throat, but keeps his head lowered "Your name is Frederic" now he enunciates every word.

I smile "Good boy!" He looks up at me hesitantly, like he is asking if I mean it and I feel my smile softening. "That wasn't so hard now, was it ?" I ask him. It is not until I hear the snort that he tries to suppress, that I catch the little innuendo I made. I smirk at him, enjoying the change in the mood between us that my unintentional joke created.

"Now Jon. I did not only ask you to stay back, because I wanted to remind you of my name." I go around the table to sit beside him. "I wanted to know if you were ok?" He looks at me confused. "Ok with what exactly?"

"Well for starters..." I point to the glaring headlines "...Ok with that!"

He looks at the papers like they emit a nasty smell. "No Frederic! I'm not ok with the tabloids writing weird fairy tales about you and me, even though my name isn't mentioned. Thank fuck!" The last two words are forced out between clenched teeth.

"Language Jon!" Yes the situation is not ideal, but I still do not want to hear him swear! 

I can see him bristling "Language?!? Really Frederic? If I'm not allowed to fucking swear the shit out of this goddamn situation, then please do tell me when the hell  AM I supposed to swear?" He pushes his chair back from the table, like he needs space. At least he is not hiding his feelings anymore. Too bad I have to scold him now. I stand up, put my hands in my pocket, lean slightly towards him and look straight into his eyes.

"You are not supposed to swear at all Jon! You are supposed to deal with the troubles that you are delt, with dignity. No need to pollute an already bad situation with dirty words. Be an adult! You should have learned to moderate the way you speak by now. If not, I will defiantly teach you!" I am pretty sure that I am not imagining the shiver running down his spine.

"We will handle the press Jon. I understand why it upsets you. I am not happy about it either and I will do everything in my power to keep you shielded from the vultures! But I need you to stay calm and collected." 

He nods "I'll try. I know that me going off isn't helping and I apologize for my outbreak. Please forgive me?" With the puppydog-eyes he is giving me, I would probably let him get away with a lot worse than swearing. So my forgiveness comes easy.

"On a more important note Jon. Are we ok?" I lean my butt on the edge of the table so I am in front of him, but still giving him space to think. I do not want him to retreat back into his shell again! And I really need him to answer honestly. Everything going forward hinges on how he feels about what we shared that night.

"Are we ok?" He looks like he is tasting the words, letting them roll around in his mouth. "Are we ok? Well that is the real question isn't it?".

Published September 26. 2018

Yeah that is the big question is it not?

Sorry my lovelies. Real life is kicking my butt right now... So my updates are probably going to be more sporadic in the near future.

Until next time.

Don't do anything that I wouldn't do!