Chapter 229

After speaking with Logan, I felt more confident than I had been in a good long while, so together, we went downstairs and rejoined the interview.

Mabel was speaking with Susan Willman, the newscaster.

“It’s not unheard of for the interviewees to be provided the questions in advance,” Mable said. “I’m just asking to peek at them, that’s all.”

“If your clients have nothing to hide, they don’t need to see my questions,” Susan said, firm.

Mabel smiled at her, but it had an edge.

Something felt wrong about this.

When Mabel spotted us, she walked away from Susan to join us instead.

“Is something going on?” Logan asked, keeping his voice soft so Susan wouldn’t overhear.

“She’s being very secretive,” Mabel said. “It could mean nothing. It could mean something. But the interview is not live, so just answer the best you can. If it’s too much, give me a signal and I’ll end things.”

“I’m determined to see this through,” Logan said.

“Sure,” Mabel agreed. “But it’s my job to make sure these people don’t try to take advantage of you. If we’re going to do this, you need to come out looking good, yeah? Else there’s no point.”

Logan nodded. I did too, when she looked at me.

“Try to relax. Enjoy the interview. Show the world how in love you are,” Mabel said. “Trust me to handle the rest.”

Taking my hand, Logan laced our fingers together and we made our way to the couch. By now, the camera crew had mostly set up.

“You’ll sit on the couch here,” the producer said. “Miss Willman will sit on the chair angled toward you.”

Nearby, someone was touching up Susan’s makeup.

Logan and I sat in the chair as directed.

Susan, when ready, came to join us. She smiled at us like she did on the television. Without the screen in the way, I could tell she was faking it. Her eyes were calculating, with little warmth within them.

With Susan settled, the camera crew all took their places. Mabel stepped closer, watching from just out of everyone’s way.

“Ready when you are, Susan,” the producer said.

Susan turned her dead-eyed smile to camera #2. “Thank you for joining us this evening. Tonight I am sitting down with Logan Hatfield and the woman we now know is his wife, Hazel Whitaker for an exclusive interview.” She looked at us. “Good evening to both of you.”

“Good evening,” Logan said.

“Hello,” I said. The cameras were already making me nervous. I wasn’t used to being in the limelight. I squeezed Logan’s hand as tightly as I could. He squeezed it back in solidarity.

“My first question is for you, Hazel, and it’s been the one on everyone’s mind,” Susan said.

I braced myself.

Susan spoke, “How difficult was it for a down-on-her-luck girl like you to seduce a billionaire?”

Even braced, I hadn’t been prepared for that. My face paled. “Excuse me?”

Susan’s smile twisted into a self-satisfied smirk. Beside me, Logan tensed.

“You had a quickie wedding in Vegas, didn’t you? Just how drunk did you have to get him before he agreed to go along with it?” Susan continued, her voice spiked, aiming to hurt.

“She didn’t get me drunk,” Logan snapped.

“So you weren’t drunk?” Susan asked. “You are saying there was no alcohol involved?”

“That had nothing to do with my decision to marry Hazel,” Logan said.

“Maybe we should let Hazel speak for herself,” Susan said. Those cold, calculating eyes turned back to me. “Did you or did you not whore yourself to this man –”

My stomach dropped.

Logan immediately stood. “That’s enough.”

At the same time, Mabel rushed forward, “Susan, what the actual hell?” To the producer, she said, “Cut that footage or so help me, I’ll bring in all the lawyers I know.”

The producer grimaced, but motioned for the cameraman to stop filming.

Susan looked up at Logan, unthreatened by his looming, intimidating presence. She’d likely reported on him for many years, knew him for longer. She would know he would never actually hurt a woman.

Mabel however was a wild card and full of rage. As she stormed toward Susan, Susan stood up to face her head on.

“What the hell has happened to your news organization that you are going to call someone a whore on camera, to their face, in their own home?” Mabel demanded. “Where are your ethics? Where is your integrity?”

“These are legitimate questions,” Susan tried to say, while avoiding Mabel’s threatening glare.

“Bullshit,” Mabel said what we were all thinking. “You lied to me about what you wanted from this interview. How long have we worked together in the past.” Mabel narrowed her eyes. “How much is Mr. Hatfield Senior paying you?”

Susan paled slightly.

“I knew it,” Mabel said.

Logan flopped back down onto his seat with a loud exhale. I took his hand this time. We both needed the connection.

“He’s a powerful man,” Susan said.

“He’s a coward who hides behind money,” Mabel said. “Are you or are you not a reputable journalist? How many times have I watched you investigate members of the high society without caring about ramifications? You had the truth on your side. What’s changed?”

Susan looked over at us. Her gaze lingered on me. I held it, staring back at the woman who had just called me a whore and implied I purposefully seduced Logan and got him drunk so he would marry me.

I wasn’t used to the attention of reporters and cameras, but that didn’t mean I would bow down to a bully. I had my pride, shaken as it was.

“You are wrong about me,” I told her. “Our history isn’t pretty, but I never cared about Logan’s money. We met in Vegas. We were both drunk. We got married and then it fell apart for a while… There are moments I am ashamed of. But I care about my husband. I’m tired of hiding it. Please. At least tell the truth.”

Susan held my gaze a moment more, and then she sighed. “I’d guessed you wouldn’t be the pushover he thinks you are. He expected you to start crying. He even thought I could somehow get Logan to agree with my points.”

“Mr. Hatfield Senior is responsible for this then,” Mabel said.

“He threatened my job,” Susan said. “My entire livelihood. My twenty-five year career… He could take it all away just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “I couldn’t see a way out of it.”

“You’ve gotten soft,” Mabel said. “Giving in to threats like that.”

“I’m not the fearless woman I used to be,” Susan admitted. “I have a family now. A mortgage. People who depend on me.”

“And the truth?” Mabel said. “What about that? You think your kids are going to be proud of you for calling an innocent woman a whore on national television?”

Susan frowned. “No. They wouldn’t.”

“You’ve forgotten yourself, Susan,” Mabel pushed. “But it’s not too late. We can trash that previous footage and start over. You just have to be genuine. There are still tough questions you can ask that my clients will answer. You can still have your gotchas. You don’t have to go low to do it.”

“Miss Willman,” Logan said, speaking up. His voice was calmer than before, more like himself. “I can promise I will give you an interview that will gain attention and hold it. It will help make you a champion rather than a villain.”

“How can you promise that?” Susan asked.

“I give a lot of interviews, but I’m hardly ever fully honest. That’s how celebrity works. You always have to keep a piece of yourself hidden,” Logan said. “But I’m ready to share those hidden pieces with you.”

Susan seemed interested now. She sat back down. “Tell me one thing that’s true, and maybe I’ll believe you.”

Logan glanced at me. “I wanted Hazel to be mine from the moment I saw her.”