CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX –
MEGAN POINT OF VIEW
“Rise and shine, kiddo.”
Jane’s rough voice broke through the phone, shattering my peaceful sleep.
I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, trying to hold onto the last bit of blissful rest for a few more moments.
“Don’t you dare hit that snooze button,” she grumbled, like she could read my mind.
“Trust me, you’ll want to prepare yourself before turning on the TV.” She warned.
“What’s now?” With an annoyed groan.
I opened one heavy eyelid and squinted at the bright red numbers on the alarm clock.
5:13 AM.
For Goddamn Sake!
Only Jane would consider this ungodly hour an acceptable time to start psychologically tormenting me.
“Just get your leathery old ass over here and spit it out,” I grumbled, shoving upright and scrubbing my hands over my face. “Unless the building’s on fire, nothing could possibly be disastrous enough to merit this level of sadism.”
An ominous pause stretched between us, dense with unspoken weight.
When she finally responded, her tone was carefully devoid of any trace of her usual cantankerous bluster.
“It’s not a five-alarm fire, no. But you’re gonna wish it was once you see what new dumpster blaze your media team has failed to put out yet again.”
I felt an unpleasant lurch in the pit of my stomach at her foreboding words and the flat bite behind them.
Instinctively, my free hand clenched into a white-knuckled fist as a kaleidoscope of worst-case scenarios began whirling through my sluggish mind.
Had it been another forged video? A new rumor of me with Miles?
What now?
Clenching my jaw, I fought back the reflexive flare of panic bubbling up my throat.
If there was one lesson I’d been forced to learn through literal blood, sweat and tears over the past tumultuous years, it was to never show the slightest crack of vulnerability to the circling press vultures.
The media are shit! Just trying to find something to write on!
They could scent weakness and fear like bloodthirsty sharks, and they would inevitably converge to rip me apart again, blow by devastating blow.
“I’ll be downstairs in ten,” I said flatly, disconnecting the call before Jane could respond.
With that I rose mechanically from the rumpled sheets to begin yet another day under siege.
One unyielding mantra coiled through my mind like a furious viper waiting to strike – I would not be consumed again. Not this time.
Walking out into the common area a few minutes later, I did a double-take at the sight of Lilly already stationed on the sofa across from the flat-screen.
She glanced up as I entered, hazel eyes assessing behind the sleek frames of her glasses.
“Morning, Megan,” she said briskly, giving no outward indication of being fazed by the early hour or Jane’s cryptic portents. “Coffee’s hot and I’ve got the morning news queued up, ready for your viewing di-”
She cut herself off abruptly as a sharp knock sounded on the door, the tension in the room ratcheting up several notches in an instant.
Our gazes locked in a split second, an unspoken charge hovering in the air between us as she reached robotically for the remote to unmute the television.
Jane barreled through a heartbeat later, looking supremely disgruntled even for her as she beelining straight for the coffee carafe.
In a charged silence only punctuated by the harsh clink of ceramic and the grim murmur of the news anchors, my disgraced former mentor began slinging jaded commentary over her shoulder without preamble.
“… so, to no one’s surprise, the lurid saga of America’s best Lovebird power couple has spectacularly combusted on the public stage once more, with Miles and Hailey best artist of the year and best couples… And behind them is Megan Miles Ex saying she get over him when we all know she’s all over him when he dumped her!”
Here we go again!
….
I stiffened at the unmistakable sound of the ring announcer’s bombastic voice, steeling myself as the broadcast cut to a viral clip of Randy’s unhinged meltdown during our ill-fated weigh-in.
As his shrill, venomous accusation ricocheted off the walls of our temporary home base, I found myself instinctively suppressing a full-body flinch.
Even now, the barefaced wounding never stopped feeling like a gut-punch of pure violation.
“I’ve deleted all interviews and press coverage from today’s docket,” Lilly offered in a clipped tone, her body language screaming controlled efficiency as she scrolled purposefully through her itinerary.
“But you’ll need to be prepared for a media gauntlet arriving here within the hour. Both local affiliate trucks and cable news crews.”
To her credit, not a single trace of pity or discomfort seeped into her matter-of-fact delivery.
“Do I really have to?” I whined.
She didn’t waste time dithering over delicate sensibilities or faux sympathies.
“No, I’ll tell them you’re busy and shooed them off.” Jane smiled at me. “You don’t have to face them.” She added.
She knows best on my media phobia. And I found myself grateful for her no-nonsense pragmatism in that moment.
Because if any single person in this room deserved even an ounce of coddling or maudlin platitudes right now, it goddamn wasn’t me.
“You’re the best!” I blow a kiss.
….
I clenched my fists tightly, anger and frustration simmering within me. How dare they keep dragging my name through the mud like this?
“I clearly stated in that interview that I’m over Miles!” I spat out, glaring at the TV screen. “Why the hell won’t these vultures let it go?”
Jane shrugged, taking a long sip of her coffee. “You know how it is, kid. They’ll keep flogging that dead horse until they find something juicier to obsess over.”
“Well, I’m sick of it!” I roared, slamming my fist against the punching bag in the corner. It swayed violently with the impact.
“Whoa there, simmer down,” Jane cautioned gruffly. “Getting worked up like a raging bull isn’t going to do you any favors.”
I hit the bag again, harder this time, feeling the satisfying sting across my knuckles.
I know damnit!! That’s why I’m mad!
I bang at it again and it seems began to tear with the repeated abuse.
“Megan…” Lilly spoke up cautiously. “Maybe you should take a step back and breathe for a second.”
Rounding on her, I opened my mouth to unleash my fury, but her unwavering gaze gave me pause.
She simply waited, calm and composed amid the chaos swirling around me.
Yeah, she’s right!
With visible effort, I reined in my temper and forced myself to take a couple of deep breaths.
My shoulders slumped slightly as some of the tension drained out of me.
“You’re right,” I said through gritted teeth. “I can’t let them get to me like this. It’s exactly what they want.”
Jane grunted in approval. “Atta girl. Now get your head straight before those piranhas arrive to catch another bloody scrap of you.”
She fixed me with that penetrating stare that always felt like it could bore straight through to my core truths. “What do you need from me? Another exhibition match to blow off steam?”
I shook my head firmly. “No, I already declined that one. The last thing I need is to be in the ring right now. My head’s too scrambled.”
“Then what?” Jane pressed impatiently. “Spit it out before I get gray hairs trying to read your mind.”
My gaze drifted to the window, to the slivers of pale morning light slicing through the curtains.
A thought began to take shape, a simple yet profound need crystallizing in my mind.
“A run,” I said decisively, turning back to both of them. “I need to get out of this stuffy room and clear my head with some fresh air. Work out this pent-up frustration in a healthy way before I snap.”
Jane considered me for a long moment before giving a slow nod of assent. “Not a bad idea, kiddo. Put some miles on those games and get your mind right.”
“I’ll handle the media circus while you’re out,” Lilly chimed in, already thumbing through her tablet with brisk efficiency. “Just give me a window for when you’ll be back so I can keep them at bay until then.”
Some of the tightness in my chest loosened at her easy assumption of the burden.
She was a quick study, already adapting to roll with the ever-shifting challenges this lifestyle entailed.
Her steadfast competence was proving to be an unexpected balm to my latest whirlwind of chaos.
“You’re a real gem, Lil,” I said with a faint but genuine smile, using the shorthand nickname that felt right. “I owe you one.”
“Please,” she scoffed lightly, waving away my gratitude as she always did. “Just get out there and do what you need to refocus. I’ve got this handled.”
Feeling the first faint stirrings of clarity amidst the storm, I gave a decisive nod and headed for the door, snagging my sneakers and workout gear along the way.
The sounds of the TV and Jane’s grumbling faded behind me as I stepped into the hallway and drew in a fortifying breath.
Time to tune out all the external noise and voice for a little while.
To realign my energy and regain my unshakeable center before facing the wolves at the door again.
This vulture feeding frenzy wouldn’t last forever. All I had to do was weather it with the same stubborn, unbowed perseverance that had carried me through every other onslaught up until now.
They wanted to portray me as some jealous, unhinged ex still pining after the unattainable Miles?
So be it.
I’d simply have to remind the world yet again of the unbreakable truth at my core – Megan Williams wouldn’t be consumed by anyone else’s narrative ever again.
I’ll change that!