Read All of Me (All of Me #1) for Free Online Page B

it, or at least they know what the tabloids told them. I didn’t bother sticking around long enough to confirm or deny anything. My parents made it clear I was a disgrace and the public labeled me a ‘home wrecking whore’. So I did what I had to do to escape the hurt, guilt, anger and shame.
    I ran.
    Eight thousand miles away.
    “Well,” Paige says, “this certainly throws a spanner into the works.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m assuming you don’t want to publish this as a non-fiction novel, which means you can either publish it under your own name and hope no one catches on, or you can publish under a pseudonym and get no credit for the work as yourself. You’ll also have to change the names of the characters.”
    Wait, what?
    “You’re publishing it?” I ask. I shouldn’t be so taken aback by the idea. I contacted her after all.
    “Yes, I love the story, and now that I know it’s real, I wouldn’t change anything. It will have to be edited, and cleaned up first, but the bottom line is I want this book on the shelves. The only other thing you have to think about is whether or not you want to publish it under your own name, which I strongly suggest. We’ll market it as a fictional New Adult romance novel. That way you can avoid another media shitstorm if news breaks that it’s actually a true story.”
    Where she had the time to think all of this through in the last two days is beyond me. Hearing it all has me feeling unsure, and I wonder if I should go through with it or not.
    Would I be prepared if it comes out that it’s a true story?
    No. The idea of that terrifies me.
    “Can I have a few days to think about it?”
    Paige purses her lips, sits back in her fancy office chair and removes her glasses. “I’ll give you until Friday, Lacy, but only because I like you and I think this book has potential. If I don’t hear from you I’ll assume you’re not interested. Okay?”
    “Okay,” I reply, standing up. “Thank you for meeting with me. I appreciate your time.”
    “You’re welcome. I really hope you’ll think about it, and call me.”
    I nod, and then walk out of her office. I feel overwhelmed but liberated at the same time. Even if I don’t publish the story under my own name, at least the truth will be out there. People will know what really happened, and I’m hoping that having the story set free will set me free.
    ***
    I take a seat at a table in the corner, and look around at the other people in the coffee shop. It’s full of lunch hour workers who are probably refueling after a hectic morning in the office. Not that I know anything about that. If I ever have to do work of any kind I’d prefer to do it from home. I always imagined myself being a stay-at-home mom someday.
    A throat clears, and my eyes drift up, locking with a set of blue ones. Great. I just can’t seem to escape him. His black suit is tailored to perfection, showcasing his broad, muscular chest (talk about a cliché), and narrow waist. His tie matches his eyes, and is brightened, and intensified by the white of his shirt.
    “Jason.” I say his name in an exasperated huff.
    “Don’t sound so excited to see me,” he says, pulling out a chair and sitting in front of me.
    “I’m not,” I reply. “I was having a rather pleasant day until you sat down.”
    His eyes harden, as does his jaw. It reminds me of just how sexy he is when he’s angry.
    “I don’t remember you being so snarky,” he remarks. He sits forward, crossing his arms on the table.
    “People change.”
    With a tilt of his head, I feel him trying to penetrate my façade and see inside me. It takes him far more effort now than it used to. I was an open book when we met. Until he tore the pages out and burnt them, leaving the charred mess for the world to see.
    “You can’t avoid me forever,” he says, his voice softer now. “And you can’t escape me.”
    “Who says I’m avoiding you?” I ask. “I haven’t left yet have