Unleashed

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Three Words

Ryker Fox

Ryker's Penthouse

It didn't take long for me to find out about Emma's identity being revealed on the news, because my social media and e-mail alike immediately started blowing up with notifications. People wanting, no..demanding answers. It still baffles me that people actually saw our relationship as their business.

The fact she happened to start out as my cleaning lady, and I had previous history with getting involved with my cleaning lady..made me look like some stereotypical Hollywood playboy. Which was super frustrating.

I know I've made plenty of mistakes in the past, but what I had with Emma was different. It was real. Probably the most real thing I've ever felt in my life. People who didn't even know us belittling it into me just trying to get a convenient piece of ass was not only insulting to me, but to her. Not to mention if we want to get technical, she never actually did any cleaning for me. Though I'm not sure that really would help my case.

I cringed imagining how much Dexter was freaking out. This had to break right before I had an important audition in the morning. My heart sank, as I couldn't help but feel this blew my chances.

But nothing upset my heart more than thinking of what Emma must be going through right now. I'm quite sure she has thrown herself into a panic attack.

I could barely think straight. I couldn't think of anything but Emma Riley. I wanted to be with her, to hold her and tell her that somehow everything was going to be okay.

I threw on my leather jacket and quickly slipped my shoes on as I prepared to head out the door. Instead of simply calling her, I would go to her house so I could comfort her properly.

As I grabbed my keys sitting on the kitchen counter, I shoved my consistently ringing phone in my pocket and set the alarm as I shut the door behind me.

I suppose I should have thought about it, but as I made my way downstairs and out front I was bombarded by a dozen paparazzi that had staked themselves outside my building.

I flinched and covered my face as the bright flashing lights of their cameras blinded me and made it hard to see in front of me the moment I stepped outside. They were all excitedly shouting at once, demanding some kind of statement on my 'scandalous' relationship with Emma Riley.

This is what we call the 'dark side' of fame. In that moment I felt like some kind of circus act, thrown in front of an audience for entertainment. This was one of the reasons it was hard to keep your humanity in this business. You are rarely treated like a human being.

Rage started to fill my heart as I heard some of the questions they were shouting. "Ryker, do you think Emma Riley is after your money?" "Is the young lady pregnant?" "Are you the only one she's sleeping with?" "How many other cleaning ladies has there been?" "Would you say you have a sex addiction?" My hands clenched into fists as I scolded myself to not take their cameras and beat them over the head with it. I wished Dexter was here, he could always calm things down in situations like this.

Suddenly, I had enough. I shouted at the top of my lungs, to be heard above their overlapping questions and camera flashes. "Stop! Everybody quiet!" I raised my hands up to motion for them to settle down, and they did as they was told as they realized I was about to make a statement..though they kept their cameras glued on my face.