Chapter 276 - Tabloid scandal (2)

JoAnna and Jeff took the shower together. They washed each other in silence while exchanging kisses, both of them feeling high on love that fills them to the brim.

JoAnna could not believe that she can feel this strong about a man. Yesterday she felt that her love for Jeff reached all high, and today she loves him even more. JoAnna wondered, 'How high will this go? How much more love can I handle before my heart bursts from love overload, if there is such thing as a love overload...' She giggled at her own thoughts as she dressed up while glancing at Jeff.

'I guess he will go to work now...', JoAnna took her phone to check the time. She saw that there is a message from Sarah. "Oh, no...", escaped her as she read the message.

"What is it?" Jeff was concerned seeing her expression.

"It seems that our photos got published." JoAnna went to get her laptop and look up the tabloid that Sarah named in her message.

Front page was a photo of two of them in the restaurant: JoAnna sitting in Jeff's lap and they are kissing. Front page title with the photo was: "Most eligible LA bachelor taken, or covering up his sexual preference?"

JoAnna stared at her screen completely baffled. 'This... why would they call out his sexual preferences?' She clicked link to read the article. It had few more photos of two of them, from the restaurant and beach, nothing inappropriate. But the article was over the top. It speculated who mystery woman is. If that is a real relationship, or is he just covering up that he is gay.

After reading the article, JoAnna concluded that they assumed Jeff is gay because they didn't see him with girls. She was not sure what to think of this, but she assumed that he will not like it. What man would like if others label him as gay in such a public and obviously mocking way? She looked up at Jeff who was above her reading from her laptop, hoping that he is not too upset, but besides slight frown his face was not giving away anything else.

"I will increase your security." Jeff told her.

"You are worried about me?" She thought that he should be worried about his reputation.

"Your face is visible." He explained. "Paparazzi will get a good price for more photos and information on your identity. Good thing is that they are not mentioning your name, otherwise I would worry about Greg also."

"Greg will be out of streets tomorrow. I'm not concerned about him." JoAnna stood up and looked at Jeff. "You are not bothered about people thinking that you are gay?"

"Who cares about that?" He shrugged. Then he paused and looked at JoAnna. "Do you care?"

JoAnna was not sure how to answer this. "Well... it's not like I don't know..." She blushed. Jeff was very pleased with her answer and could not keep his lips from stretching into a wide smile.

She paused for few seconds before continuing. "But... don't you have an image to maintain?"

He was touched and amused by her care. "My team will sue them for slander, and I will make sure they issue public apology and get out of business. That is how I maintain my image."

Jeff hugged JoAnna. "I'm sorry that you got into this because of me."

"I will be fine." She reassured him. "You will go to work now?"

"I should go.", it was obvious that he is reluctant.

"Go, and don't worry about me. I don't plan to go anywhere today. I will work on my research paper." JoAnna got on her toes and kissed him.

Shortly after that, Jeff was about to leave when his phone rang. It was Oscar.

Jeff could guess that his father saw the newspapers. He took a deep breath before picking up. "Yes?"

"Have you seen that you are in the tabloids?", Oscar's voice was cold. Nothing unusual.

"Yes."

"Is it true?"

"What?" Jeff was not sure if his father also wants to confirm if he is gay.

"That you have a woman."

Jeff smiled. "Yes."

"Is she the reason why you want to break up the agreement with Lambert?"

"Yes." Jeff had no intention to hide this from his father.

"Who is she?"

"JoAnna Hill." This was the first time he used more than one word to answer his father. Jeff usually keeps his responses to minimum. If he can convey his message in one word, that would be perfect. The only exception is when he talks to JoAnna or about her, then he uses long sentences. He does not do that on purpose. It is due to JoAnna's-love-effect that she has on him.

"Hill? From Seattle?" Surprise could be heard in Oscar's voice.

"Yes."

"CEO of Orion Enterprise?" He was hoping that it's Sophia. If they could merge with White corp. …

"No."

"Hmph… useless...", Oscar scoffed and mumbled something more that Jeff didn't understand.

Jeff was not sure how to respond to this.

"Does your mother know?"

"Yes."

"I will ask her for more details." Oscar didn't have more patience to talk to Jeff.

"OK." Jeff hanged up.

JoAnna was next to Jeff. "That was...?"

"My father is curious who you are."

"Oh..." JoAnna was worried that his family will give him hard time because of their photos that got published.

"I told my mother about you, but with my father I only discussed breaking the agreement. I didn't think it matters to him if I have a woman or not. He was always interested only in profits."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Her eyebrows scrunched thinking how his father treats him coldly.

Jeff placed his index finger between JoAnna's eyebrows, making her relax her frown. "You should stop worrying about me." He kissed her few times before leaving for office. "I will come back as soon as I can."

JoAnna walked Jeff to the door and watched as the elevator door closed after him.

She looked in the hallway and noticed that besides Bob1 and Bob2 there are two more men. "Are you Bob3 and Bob4?" JoAnna found their names entertaining.

"No, Miss Hill." Bob1 responded. "These are Max and Ross."

JoAnna was a bit disappointed that they are not called Bob3 and Bob4, that would be more fun. "Hi, Max and Ross. I will get you coffee in a bit."

"Please, Miss Hill... it's not necessary." Bob1 objected. "Boss might scold us if he finds out."

"You are watching over me, so I'm your Boss. And I say that I will bring out coffee for you in few minutes." She went to the apartment and closed doors behind her.

After some time, JoAnna came out with four cups of coffee, creamer and sugar. The bodyguards objected at the beginning, but just a bit. They took the freshly brewed coffee happily.

"I never asked, why are you called Bob1 and Bob2?" JoAnna was curious.

Bob1 responded. "My name is Robert, and his name is Bob... Bob1 and Bob2 is something that Boss came up with. He says it's more convenient. We don't mind."

"I see... ", JoAnna smiled thinking how Jeff is silly to give such strange nicknames. "Enjoy the coffee."

JoAnna went back inside and looked for contact information of her University colleagues who are doing their practical training in LA. She wants to ask them about their experience as part of her research of moving to LA, as well as to find out where she can get the drugs needed to mix the anesthetic cocktail requested by Sarah. JoAnna will need three types of drugs to make anesthetic that Sarah described, and she wants to get ingredients at different locations in order not to raise any suspicions.