A New York Love Story (20 page)

“On the contrary, it will take very little time!” Liberty said, entering the office and putting a copy of the
Enquirer
on the desk. “I have already received several calls from our clients asking if
you
are really Cade Harrison's new girlfriend. I've pretended that I didn't know anything about it. However, clearly many of them have recognized you. The word will get around at the speed of light!”

Clover came over to the desk with her heart in her throat and looked at the magazine. She felt a strange sensation seeing herself with Cade on these pages that showed a few moments of the most magical evening of her life. It was the first time for her – a simple and anonymous girl – to hit the headlines…
how does it feel to make news? Frankly, like hell!
She already felt very stressed and she could only imagine how Cade must have felt all these years.

“Anyway, they don't have anything. These pictures only show two people eating in a pizzeria!” Clover burst out.

“And there were
five
people! They could at least put all of us on the cover… that would be fun,” Zoe said, to lighten the atmosphere.

But Clover was seriously starting to worry. This whole article spoiled her joy. It was especially the uncertainty of not knowing what Cade thought that made her anxious.

“How should we deal with the situation here at the store?” Eric asked, pragmatic as usual.

“If this story continues, it will be hard to contain the client's curiosity, and the publicity could be good for the store… However, I absolutely don't want to fuel any gossip,” she was specifically addressing Zoe and Eric, who spent most of their time at the store. Then she turned to Clover, “You do your best to protect yourself from the paparazzi. We'll decide how to deal with the situation later, depending on how it all evolves.”

Clover nodded. She knew that sooner or later something like this would happen. If her relationship with Cade had a future, she needed to get used to it. This was the main reason that had stopped her from making a drama about the gossip. Now that she knew her own deep feelings, she should be flexible towards Cade's career, accepting it's down side.

It would be impossible to keep their secret forever. She didn't want her privacy to be invaded by the media or by curious people, yet she didn't want to be forced into hiding either. Cade cared about her. She was sure of this. Therefore, even though it was too early to make plans about a future together, she felt they would be able to withstand the gossip in one piece.

She left the room to start working, but she couldn't help hearing Zoe say, “They are so sweet together! Did you notice how he looked at her last night?” Clover stopped just behind the door.

“We should take it easy on guessing…” Eric said. “They have just met and we don't know how Harrison feels. He was in New York to hide from the paparazzi; now that they have found him, he may decide to fly back to LA as soon as possible.”

“I can't believe that Clover doesn't mean a lot to him. He organized a surprise party for her birthday and was been so sweet and caring with her all evening. That must mean something!”

“Yes, that he wanted to take her to bed! And he succeeded, actually…” Eric said, cynically. “A man like that doesn't have to make too much effort to get what he wants.”

“Jesus, Eric! Did you wake up in a bad mood this morning?” Zoe burst out.

“No, I'm just trying not to fall into female sentimentality, like you do. We don't know this guy; we can't be sure he's in love with Clover after just one week.”

Zoe continued stubbornly, “I'm sure he's not acting… trust me. I know immediately when a man is in love with a woman. I have a nose for this kind of thing…”

“Sure you do!”

Liberty interrupted their conversation, “Okay, now get to work, guys! We'll discover what the truth is very soon. In case you happen to be right, Eric, let's be ready to help our little Clover. She seems to really be in love with Cade Harrison. I hope that she won't regret her trust in him.”

Clover left the store in silence, her mind invaded by thoughts. Cade was a celebrity, so it was absolutely normal that the journalists had an interest in him and in the people around him. Especially after his tumultuous breakup with his ex, the media, of course, were curious, seeing him with a new, unknown woman. Yes, it was all understandable, so – why did she feel so anxious? She had a bad feeling.

She and Cade hadn't discussed their feelings yet. Nor had they talked about a lasting relationship between them. She had tried to resist this powerful attraction, exactly because she feared an uncertain future. Now, making love to him had only strengthened her feelings and it would be harder than ever to be without him – to start over. But was it necessary? Cade liked her and she liked him – actually, she
definitely
liked him!

This gossip had come at the wrong time, too early. She would have preferred to discuss the situation with him before appearing on a tabloid cover. Yet, why shouldn't their relationship eventually work? She just hoped that obnoxious, curious people could leave them alone.

But luck wasn't on her side. All the clients she met on the street assaulted her with questions about Cade. Not even the pouring rain could stop them! She was walking fast, but with the persistent feeling that everyone looked at her with curiosity – as if she had appeared on
The New York Times
front page as President Obama's secret mistress!

She found this sudden interest in her intrusive and absurd. She decided to tell her clients that she had simply helped Cade Harrison with his family's Christmas shopping. She tried to say as little as possible. Firstly, she wanted to discuss the best strategy with Cade.

She was returning home when she heard her cell phone ringing. She hoped it was him. She hadn't heard from him all afternoon, and her mistrustful side had begun to imagine the worst. Was he angry because of the article? She remembered his anxiety and even paranoia about being recognized during his first days in Staten Island. And the night before, when he understood that the white car was following them, he looked really furious… or had he already had enough of her? Just the thought made her shiver.

Hearing his voice was a joy and relief, although his tone wasn't enthusiastic at all. He sounded tired, nervous… maybe bored?

“I got your cell number from Zoe… hope you don't mind.”

“Of course not…”

“Is everything okay? Have people recognized you on the street? Did they ask you strange questions?”

He got right to the point
, Clover thought. She sighed, “Nobody offered me any money for an interview, if this is what you are thinking. I had to answer questions to a couple of curious clients, but I didn't say anything compromising. I just said I helped you with Christmas shopping.”

“Perfect!” he sounded relieved and Clover felt a pang of disappointment.

“Has anyone followed you?”

“Jesus, Cade! Am I ending up in some trashy spy movie?” she mumbled, a little too sharply. She was in a taxi and she turned to check behind… “I see two cars behind me. The people driving could have a camera, some binoculars, a pad and a pen… which weapon should I fear most?”

“Clover, it's not funny. If the journalists find out where I live, it will be the end of my peaceful vacation.”

“Like it is my fault! I didn't choose to go to that pizzeria – just to refresh your memory – and it's not me that the paparazzi follow.
I
should be the one that is upset by this whole story, and you should be accustomed to this mess! But, on the contrary, you seem to be freaking out – like on the verge of a nervous breakdown…”

“Wait a minute, your calmness sounds strange to me, since you always seemed to deeply despise everything to do with my life and profession…”

Clover felt a knot in her throat, “What do you mean? Would you prefer to see me pulling my hair out and howling?”

“I would prefer not hearing you sound almost satisfied…”

“I'm
not
satisfied! Last night everything was beautiful, and I would definitely prefer to remember it without the pictures in a trashy tabloid. But it has happened and we can't do anything about it… actually it could happen again.”

Cade sighed, “You're right. Sorry, I'm very stressed. I just don't want them bothering us.”

“I'm almost at home.” Clover held her breath, hoping that he would ask her to join him right away. But Cade remained silent and her heart sank. “Perhaps it might be better if we don't see each other tonight, don't you agree?”

“If someone has followed you, they will control what you do and where you go. If you come over here, they will wonder why…”

He doesn't want to see me
… she thought. It had only been four hours since she hadn't seen him, and she already missed him so much.

“I understand… I don't want my neighborhood to become a reporters' camp site either, especially as I will have to live here much longer than you.” Clover closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Don't worry, I won't even glance at your house.” She got out of the taxi and went straight to her door, without looking back. “Here! I am inside. I locked the door and I promise I won't open it to strangers. You can relax now…”

“Relaxing will be difficult,” Cade sounded really worried. “I had hoped to have more time to enjoy New York, but they have found me. And now that they have seen you too, things are going to get a lot more complicated.”

“How long do you think all this will last?”

“It depends…” Cade hesitated and Clover sat on the couch, legs shaking.

“It depends on what?” she asked cautiously.

“It depends on us.”

Is there an ‘us' with us?
She wondered. At that moment she heard the beep of a call waiting. “Someone is trying to call me.” She felt almost relieved to interrupt that embarrassing silence.

“I had hoped for a different kind of evening, Clover. I'm very sorry… now that we have started…”

…now that we have started to have fun…
she thought bitterly. But then she remembered Cade's sweetness and felt guilty. “Yes, I feel the same way. Let me know how you want me to deal with the situation in the next few days. Good night, Cade.”

She hung up and took the waiting call. It was her mother…

“Clover, I must confess that reading the
Enquirer
's article took my breath away. At your birthday dinner I believed Cade when he said that you were simply his personal shopper. But then both your brother's insinuations and this article made me think that you have hit the target this time!”

“Come on, Mom, get to the point…”

“It would have been a big score for you, Clover! A
great
score, actually… too bad there is nothing going on between you and Cade Harrison.”

Clover felt a chill down her spine, “How did you arrive at this idea? If I'm not wrong, the article suggests the opposite…”

“Yes, the article… but Cade's denial has been quick and, and in my opinion, almost excessive. After all he should be used to rumors about his many fictitious flirtations… he could have waited a little bit and let you enjoy a few days of fame!”

“I don't know what you're talking about, Mom.”

“Really? Cade Harrison's official statement appeared online a few hours ago. Look for it and read it, you're mentioned too.” Then her mother's voice sounded sad. “I'm sorry sweetie, maybe this time you've aimed too high. He's a very famous actor, incredibly successful. A man like him can have everything he wants from life. It's impossible to believe that someone like him could fall for a normal woman.”

Clover ended up the call. Her heart felt as if it was going to jump out of her chest. She hadn't even digested the
Enquirer
's article yet and now more news… An official denial by Cade?

She rushed to the computer and typed Cade's name. She was overwhelmed by news and links about him, but after narrowing her search to the last couple of days, she found the news she was looking for.

N
O NEW LOVE ON THE HORIZON FOR
C
ADE
H
ARRISON.
“S
HE IS JUST MY PERSONAL SHOPPER
.”

The stolen photographs – that appeared in this morning's Enquirer showing the actor Cade Harrison with a mysterious redhead have created quite a stir that has generated a lot of attention and rumors. But the whole story seems to be just a soap bubble. In fact, a few hours ago we received the official statement from the hero of No Man's Land, who denies any new love relationship.

Harrison, who is in New York for a vacation to recover after the stress of his tumultuous breakup with the actress Alice Brown, declared that he is very upset by the tabloid's article. He has clarified that the young woman, who appears with him in those pictures, is simply his personal shopper.

“I don't have anything further to say about this story. I am spending some free time shopping for Christmas gifts and I had simply accepted a birthday party invitation. I try to have a good time during my holidays, like every other normal young man has the right to do… I think I deserve it, especially in the light of a very stressful period in LA. The shots that show me with that young lady have been artfully chosen to create a scoop – they don't demonstrate anything. I have more compromising photos in my family album than these! I attended a dinner in a crowed pizzeria with a small group of normal young people, something that rarely I have a chance to do, because of my profession. Frankly, I don't understand all this interest in seeing me just chatting with a woman whom I barely know. Since I've become famous, the media has attributed to me innumerable relationships and affairs. Honestly, there's no way that I could even have the time for all these women!”