Chapter 8 The scandal

As the sun rose over the bustling city, a new day dawned, filled with promise and possibility. But for Jojo, it was a day like no other. The unexpected kiss from Gerald Sullivan, the man known as Mr. Perfect, still lingered on her lips, leaving her with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite unravel.

Little did they know, their intimate moment had been captured by a paparazzo's lens, and the photos were now spreading like wildfire across the internet. The online world was abuzz with curiosity, as people scrambled to uncover the identity of the mysterious woman who had captured the heart of the elusive Gerald Sullivan.

It didn't take long for the internet sleuths to dig up Jojo's information, and soon her name, photos, and Instagram username were plastered all over social media. The unknown actress and former double became the talk of the town, with her Instagram followers skyrocketing from a modest 400 to a staggering 785,000 overnight.

Jojo's eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at her phone, her mind struggling to comprehend the sudden surge in attention. She pinched herself repeatedly, wondering if it was all just a dream. But the notifications kept pouring in, a constant reminder that her life had changed forever.

As she stood in her room, trying to make sense of the chaos that had erupted around her, Jojo's mind raced back to the previous night's events. The fundraiser, the kiss, and her hasty exit had all become a blur. She couldn't explain why she had fled the scene, leaving Gerald Sullivan's words unspoken. Her legs had seemingly moved of their own accord, driven by a mix of emotions she couldn't quite decipher.

Now, as her phone rang nonstop and her family banged on her door, Jojo felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. The constant questions from her loved ones only added to her confusion. What was she supposed to say? That she had no idea what was happening or that her life had been turned upside down by a single kiss?

In desperation, she turned to the printed file that Gerald's secretary had handed her. She rummaged through her messy table, her hands shaking as she searched for the paper. Finally, she found it and dialed the number on her phone, hoping against hope that someone would answer and provide her with a lifeline in this storm.

***********

Gerald Sullivan stood tall, his eyes closed, as he gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, his mind a thousand miles away. The usual hustle and bustle of the city below seemed to fade into the background as he replayed the events of the previous night in his mind.

He had met her, his past lover, and the woman who still held a piece of his heart. She had spoken words that had stirred up emotions he thought he had long buried. Her suggestion that he still harbored feelings for her had struck a nerve, and he had found himself reacting in a way that even he couldn't explain.

As he recalled the moment, his eyes snapped open, and his gaze fell upon the reflection of the man in the window. He saw a man in control, a man who had built an empire through sheer will and determination. But he also saw a glimmer of something else, something he couldn't quite acknowledge - vulnerability.

Gerald's thoughts were interrupted by the memory of the young woman, who had unwittingly become a pawn in his game of love and revenge. He had kissed her, a impulsive act that had surprised even himself.

He let out a low groan, his face contorted in disgust. "I must have gone mad," he muttered to himself, recalling the events of the previous night. He had kissed that little rat! The same woman he had called ugly just moments before. He gently tapped his chest, trying to swallow down the embarrassment. "What was I thinking?"

Just then, his secretary Colin walked in, a playful smile spreading across his face. "I expected you to cause trouble, boss," he said, chuckling. "But I didn't expect this kind of trouble."

Gerald turned to him, his glare meant to shut him up. But Colin was relentless. "A paparazzo caught you guys kissing, and the photos are everywhere! To make matters worse, everyone thinks she is your girlfriend!" He laughed, unable to believe it himself.

Colin continued to tease him, enjoying the rare opportunity to see his boss squirm. "Unfortunately, your little makeout session has made her an overnight sensation. Her followers are increasing by the minute, and she's now known as the woman who captured Gerald Sullivan's heart."

Gerald's face turned red as he spluttered, "Can you just stop... saying... the word?" His voice was deep, his teeth gritted in frustration.

Colin acted clueless, "What word, boss?" he asked, his eyes wide with mock innocence.

Gerald's glare could have melted steel, but Colin remained unfazed. "Kissing?" he ventured, his smile growing wider. "Smooching?" he tried again, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Ah, I know it now, make out session," he said, his smile growing even wider.

Gerald's face turned an even deeper shade of red as he growled, "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Colin's grin was unrepentant. "You have no idea, boss," he chuckled, clearly reveling in Gerald's discomfort.

The tension between them was palpable, with Gerald's embarrassment and frustration pitted against Colin's teasing and amusement. Finally, his patience snapped, and he bellowed, "Get out!" his deep, husky voice ringing through the room.

In a futile attempt to vent his frustration, he hurled a document at Colin, but his secretary dodged it with ease, his smile never wavering.

"I can't leave just yet," Colin said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You told me to find out everything about her, so here," he said, moving cautiously towards the desk, as if approaching a wild animal. He gently dropped the tablet on the desk, taking a step back, out of Gerald's reach.

Gerald picked up the tablet, his eyes scanning the screen with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. "Jojo?" He asked, his voice softening slightly.

Colin hesitated, then replied, "Short form for Jolene." His voice was barely above a whisper, as if he was afraid of triggering Gerald's wrath again.

As Gerald continued to scroll through the tablet, his expression softened, his curiosity getting the better of him. His eyes scanned the tablet, devouring every detail about Jojo. She was an upcoming actress, seeking to make a name for herself in the cutthroat world of Hollywood. Her bio revealed that she had also worked as a double for a famous actress, a fact that piqued Gerald's interest. Her filmography listed a few minor roles, nothing that would have prepared him for the impact she had on his life.

As he delved deeper into her profile, Colin's phone rang, breaking the silence in the room. He excused himself, apologizing as he stepped out to receive the call. Gerald sighed, dropping the tablet onto the table with a soft thud. He rested his head on his knuckles, his mind racing with the implications of the situation. How was he going to deal with this unexpected twist? His reputation was at stake, and he couldn't afford to have his name linked to some unknown actress.

Just as he was lost in thought, Colin reentered the room, a knowing glint playing on his lips. And beside him, stood Jojo herself, her eyes fixed on Gerald with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Gerald's head jerked up, his eyes locking onto hers, his mind racing with a possible excuse and solution to tell her.

"I'll leave you two," Colin said, his voice dripping with amusement, as he excused himself, leaving Gerald and Jojo alone in the room. The tension was palpable, as Gerald struggled to find the right words to explain the situation. His eyes remained fixed on Jojo's, searching for a glimmer of understanding, as he prepared to spin a web of deceit to extricate himself from this mess.

Jojo's eyes widened as she took in the opulence of Gerald's office, her mouth hanging open in a comical "O" of amazement.

"Take a seat," Gerald rasped, his voice like a rusty gate, as he gestured to the couch.

Jojo's gaze snapped back to him, her expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "I don't plan on wasting time here with you, so just listen to what I have to say," she said, her words dripping with sarcasm. "I don't care why you suddenly... " She paused, her eyes flashing back to the moment when he had kissed her, her face scrunched up in distaste. "I don't care why you did that, but I'll just assume we don't owe each other anything."

Gerald's brows shot up, his face a picture of confusion. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

Jojo smirked, pulling out a printout from her bag. "This," she said, waving the paper in the air. "I no longer owe you $660,000." Her eyes sparkled with triumph, as if she had just pulled off the heist of the century.

Gerald's face turned beet red, his eyes bulging in disbelief. "You think a kiss is worth $660,000?" he spluttered, his voice rising in indignation.

Jojo shrugged, her smile still plastered on her face. "Hey, it's not every day I get kissed by a millionaire. I figured I'd make it worth my while."

Gerald snorted, shaking his head in disbelief at how this little rat had quickly turned the tables on him. "You're something else, you know that?" he said, his voice laced with amusement.

Jojo smirked, dropping the printout file on the table with a flourish. "About the internet," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You should deal with it yourself, after all, you caused all this chaos." She trailed off, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Gerald chuckled, taking a seat on the couch and crossing his long legs. "Of course, I'm going to take responsibility for that," he said, his voice dripping with mock honor. "That's why I'm giving you the permission to act as my girlfriend." He spoke as if he had just bestowed upon her a great privilege, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Jojo's eyes rolled heavenward, her face a picture of exasperation. "You think I need your permission to pretend to be your girlfriend?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "And what makes you think I'd want to be your fake girlfriend anyway?" She raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical.

Gerald grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, for one, it'll get the paparazzi off our back. And two, you get to enjoy the fame," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Don't you like it? The attention you're getting, the thousands of followers you got overnight because of me?" He asked, his tone implying that she should be grateful for his benevolence. "You should feel honoured I'm giving you the chance to bask in my fame." His voice was throaty, his tone dripping in condescension.

Jojo scoffed, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "You're really unbelievable," she said, her voice laced with disdain. "Yes, I like the attention, but I'm not going to pretend to be someone I'm not because of fame. I'm going to get my own fame the right way."

Gerald's laughter was like a slap in the face, mocking and condescending. "I knew you were reckless, but I didn't know you were brainless," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think you can handle the spotlight on your own? You're just a nobody."

"You really are..." Jojo's words trailed off as Gerald abruptly cut her off, his expression stern.

"Since you refused my proposal, I believe we have no business together," he declared, his tall frame looming as he rose to his feet. His eyes seemed to bore into her, as if daring her to defy him.

"The moment you walk out of this office, you'll go back to living your normal life of being ignored," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. He returned to his desk, his movements economical and precise, as if dismissing her from his presence.

Jojo's hands clenched into fists as she watched him, the urge to hit him with the printout file almost overwhelming. But she took a deep breath and let it go, not wanting to stoop to his level. With a sigh, she turned and walked away, the sound of her heels echoing through the passageway of APEX Ventures.

As she passed by the workers, they stared at her, their whispers and murmurs following her like a shadow. Jojo felt her cheeks flush with self-consciousness, aware that they were all curious about the woman who had captured their boss's attention. She quickened her pace, eager to escape the scrutiny and get back to her normal life, free from Gerald's toxic charm. "How can someone be this annoying?" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head in disbelief.

As she continued down the passageway, the whispers of the workers grew louder, their words piercing her like daggers. "Are you sure she's the lady?" "There's no way boss would date someone like her." The phrase "someone like her" struck a nerve, a painful reminder of all the times she had been judged and found wanting.

She quickened her pace, her heart racing with frustration and hurt. Why did they always have to say "someone like her"? What was so wrong with her? Was she not worthy of love and respect? The memories of all the times she had been belittled and mocked came flooding back, the pain still fresh and raw.

She pushed open the door and stepped out of the building, only to be engulfed by a sea of reporters, their cameras and microphones thrust in her face. "Is it true you're dating Gerald Sullivan?" "How did you manage to snag the boss?" "What's your secret?"

"Excuse me," Jojo said, her voice firm but polite, as she tried to navigate through the throng of reporters. But they refused to budge, bombarding her with questions about her relationship with Gerald Sullivan. "Is it true you're dating the billionaire CEO?" "How did you catch his eye?" "What's the nature of your relationship?"

Her patience wore thin as she tried to walk away, but the reporters only grew more aggressive.

"I told you, there's no way Gerald Sullivan would date someone like her," one of them sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

Jojo's eyes flashed with anger as she turned to face the reporter. "Someone like her?" she repeated, her voice low and even. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

The reporter shrugged, his expression unapologetic. "We just want to know if you're truly dating Gerald Sullivan or not."

Jojo's frustration boiled over, and she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Yes, I'm dating Gerald Sullivan. Happy now?"

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and the reporters pounced on them like sharks. "When did you guys start dating?" they asked in unison, their cameras snapping away as they captured Jojo's every move.

Jojo's eyes widened in horror as she realized what she had just done. She had admitted to dating Gerald Sullivan, and now the whole world would know. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to backtrack, but it was too late. The damage was done.

In the luxurious office of Gerald Sullivan, the sound of his phone buzzing on the desk broke the silence. A message from Madam Helena, his grandmother, flashed on the screen in bold capitals: "BRING HER HERE TONIGHT!!" Gerald let out a deep sigh, his eyes rolling in exasperation. His grandmother was once again meddling in his life, her demands impossible to ignore.

Colin, his assistant, looked up from the tablet in his hand, a question in his eyes. "What should I do about the rumor on the internet, sir?" he asked, referring to the gossip about Gerald's supposed relationship with Jojo.

Before Gerald could respond, the door swung open and Jojo herself walked in, her eyes fixed intently on him. "I'll do it," she said, her voice firm. "I'll be your girlfriend."

The tablet in Colin's hand slipped, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Weird how you changed your mind within 5 minutes," Gerald's husky voice remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Jojo's patience was already wearing thin. "Are we doing this or not?" she asked, her tone crisp.

Gerald remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Colin. Then, he spoke, his voice decisive. "Clear my schedule for the rest of the day." He stood up, his tall frame towering over the room, and picked up his trench coat. "Let's go," he said to Jojo, his eyes commanding.

Colin's confusion was evident as he watched the scene unfold.

"Where are we going?" Jojo asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Gerald's response was curt. "Don't ask questions and just follow me."

With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, Jojo trailed behind him as he headed for the door.

Colin watched them leave, his head spinning. "What just happened? Did they just become a couple? And where are they off to in such a hurry?" He shook his head, chuckling. "Only in the world of Gerald Sullivan..."