Chapter 276 - Tabloid scandal (2) (1/2)

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.