Chapter 45 CHAPTER 45: Paparazzi
Hazel
A cold dread settled in my stomach as my mother helped me into the car. Closing my eyes, a wave of memories crashed over me – William's fury, the echoing screams, a whirlwind of despair. Her gaze burned into me as she turned to me.
"Hazel," her voice was sharp, "you're a mess. Talk to me. I want to know what is bothering you"
“I’m fine, mom,” I mumbled, the lie hollow on my tongue.
“I know you, Hazel. I know because I’m your mother. When you say you’re fine, then something terrible is going on with you and I know when you're hurting. I won’t pry but remember, I’m here when you’re ready to talk.” Her words were gentle yet laced with worry.
I felt more terrible after the speech by my mom because I was making everyone miserable everywhere. I turned and the confirmation of that feeling came when we got home. Pushing through the door, I saw my dad in his wheelchair. It had been six months since I'd last seen him. Heart pounding, I knelt by his wheelchair, arms outstretched, but he just stared at me with a look of disappointment in his eye, a silent condemnation that mirrored the storm within me.
"Dad," I called softly.
"You should be in your husband's house." He croaked.
"He sent me home," I managed to choke out.
"You are not welcomed here anymore," he declared sharply, his words squeezing my heart into a tight knot of anguish.
"George, please," my mother intervened, her voice a soft plea as she witnessed our painful exchange. Unmoved, my father’s face remained impassive, his eyes void of any warmth as he wheeled away, disappearing into the solitude of his room.
I collapsed on the floor as the tears flowed unrestrained. My mother was quick to my side, her arms enveloping me in a much-needed embrace.
"Don’t worry about your dad, he will come around. I will make sure of that," she whispered, her words a soothing balm. I nodded, still encased in her protective hold. Gently, she lifted my chin, cradling my face in her hands.
“I’m glad to have your back. Besides, you need a change of environment for a while. Maybe you will see the world from a different perspective. She spoke.
“Thank you mummy”. I gave a half smile
“I made your favorite” she smiled, trying to cheer me up.
“Thanks mom, but I'm not hungry,” I replied, but her face fell.
“Mom, I'll eat when I wake up. I just need to sleep for a bit. It's been a long and emotionally draining day for me”, I admitted. She nodded and put her arms around my shoulder as she led me to my old room. She had earlier asked the maid to arrange it and make it suitable for me.
“Your husband said you should call him if you need anything and also to tell you that the driver that brought us will be here on standby in case you need him” she chirped in.
“He didn’t have to do that” I replied, but smiled inwardly. It was refreshing to know that no matter what went down between us, he still cared for me and the baby.
“Call me if you need anything, okay, I will check up on you later, and you owe me lots of gossip” my mom winked before she bent and kissed my stomach and then gave me a tight hug before exiting the room.
William
After the call with my father, I rushed out to get the driver and remembered he had gone to drop off Hazel and her mother. I hurried back inside to get the key to the silver Bentley, so I could meet up with my dad. As I got in, my phone buzzed incessantly, a swarm of notifications demanding my attention, but I ignored them but made a mental note to check them on my way.
As I settled into the driver's seat, my phone erupted with another buzz—this time, a call from Ava, my PA. "Why would Ava call at this hour?" I wondered, half-annoyed, half-curious. Convinced she’d leave a message if it was urgent, I dismissed the call, pressed my foot down on the brake, and ignited the engine with a push of the start button. The engine’s roar filled the silence as I emerged onto the road, the car humming beneath me.
Driving at a steady pace, I planned to glance through the flurry of notifications piling up on my phone. Just as I reached for it, Ava’s call cut through again. Reluctantly, I hit the receiver button on my car’s dashboard.
“Hello boss,” Ava's voice crackled through the speakers, tinged with unmistakable panic.
“Yes, Ava, is everything okay?” I asked, sensing trouble.
“You’ve not checked my messages. There’s a tape circulating on social media about you and Emily,” she blurted out.
“What tape?” I asked, my brow furrowing in confusion and growing concern.
“Ehh, erm…” Ava stuttered, her hesitation sending a spike of frustration through me.
“Talk Ava, Goddamnit!” I demanded, my voice rising in anger.
“Sir, I just sent you a link… again,” she responded quickly. A notification chimed, and I slowed down to tap the link she'd sent. What loaded on my screen nearly caused me to veer off the road. There was a video of me having sex with Emily. She was writhing and moaning under me while I slamped in and out of her. I gasped and stopped the car with force.
Watching it, the memories flooded back. It was our last night in college, drunk and reckless. Emily had suggested making a tape, and in my drunken and horny state, I had carelessly agreed. Now, that decision loomed over me like a dark cloud. I gritted my teeth as I thought about Hazel and my unborn baby. This was a video on social space, and it may be there forever. I needed to do something fast, and I knew the only person who could help me was my father. Good thing I was going there.
The Bentley roared to life as I slammed my foot on the gas, the phone clutched white-knuckled in my other hand. A swarm of notifications buzzed on the screen, but I ignored them as I sped towards my father’s.
As I approached my father's house, paparazzi swarmed like vultures trying to force their way inside. As they saw my car approaching, they all ran to me like a moth to a flame, then the questions started flying – is that you in the video? Mr. Williams, are you having an affair with Emily? Their questions bombarded, and their cameras flashed relentlessly. My heart started beating in my chest rapidly as the gate was opened and I drove in. I turned off the engine and put the car in park before I got out. I took the stairs two at a time to the living room. As I got in, one of the maids came out and bowed.
“Your father asked me to lead you to him,” she said. I followed her as she led me to my father who was seated on the balcony watching the whole scene playing downstairs. As I got close, he turned and took down his glasses from his eyes to the bridge of his nose, then gave me a stern look.
“How could you be so careless, Williams?” His voice was thick with disappointment. “I raised you better than that.”
“Dad, that video is not recent,” I began, scrambling to explain. "It was back in college. I don’t know how they got hold of it, and I didn’t know Emily still had it."
“Why would you let yourself be recorded during your intimate moment knowing who you are”? Are you a child? He scolded.
I stood there actually feeling like a child being scolded, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me.
“The video was sent to me and I have called the right people to take it off the internet, wipe it everywhere and begin an investigation into the origin of it with immediate effect.
“Thanks dad. You said you had Emily. Where is she? Did she leak the video? “I asked all the questions at a go.
“Her phone was stolen a few days ago and that was how the whole scandal began” he replied.
“I don’t believe her cock-and-bull story. She set me up. She has been calling and threatening to destroy me since I stopped seeing her”.
“She is not responsible for any of your misfortunes, William. Even if she went to the press and also leaked the video. You know better than to trust a woman, and a scorned woman at that”, my dad scolded.
“You have caused pain to a lot of people. Your wife defended you a few days later, and now you have put her to shame with your irresponsible behavior. Even if the video was doctored or made twenty years ago, with the scandal swirling around, nobody would believe you. He continued.
I slumped on the chair opposite my dad. I knew all that he said was true. This could end really badly if actions were not taken fast.
“I need to call Hazel” I muttered.
“Tell her to come and see me in the morning” my father chirped.
“Why”? I was stunned by his request.
“Internal damage control” he replied. I looked up at him and frowned before dialing Hazel’s number. It rang but there was no response until it went to voicemail. I tried again and got the same answer. I paced back and forth scared she had already seen the tape. I hesitated to dial her mother’s number, but I had no choice. The faster the better. I called and she picked up the first ring.
“William, is everything OK”? She asked. Concern edged in her voice.
“Yes, I need to speak with my wife,” I responded tersely.
“She is asleep right now. She slept off immediately she got home”, she informed me.
“Uhm. I guess I will call back in the morning”, I replied and gulped.
“If it is something very important, I could wake her up for you to speak with her” she suggested gently.
“No, do not wake her. I was just calling to check up on her, that’s all”, I added to ease the tension.
"Okay, we are fine. My husband sent his greetings," she added warmly.
"Goodnight, Mrs. George."
"Goodnight, William." With that, I hung up and quickly typed a text message to Hazel.
Returning to where my father was seated, I posed my next question with a hint of urgency.
"Where is Emily?" I asked.