There was no way to describe the fury that was coursing through Nick's body. Even after several hours, the emotion had not dimmed. Not that there were any outward signs of his emotional turmoil unless you counted the tremor in his hands. Every other part of Nick was cool and composed, so composed that it caused Markos to send him concerned looks every few minutes.

Nick buried his hands into his pockets and turned away, unable to meet the man's gaze again. He didn't need or want concern. What he wanted was justice for Betsy. The fact that his naked body was also plastered over the internet was just a minor concern. No, it was the fact that Betsy's privacy had been violated which caused his temper to ignite.

The world outside was calm, the sea appearing serene as sunlight glinted off of the surface. There wasn't even a cloud in the sky. From looking at it, no one would think that a storm was brewing, waiting for the right moment to bring its wrath.

"We will sort this out Nico. We will find the one's responsible for this and we will make sure they are punished." Markos placed a hand on Nick's shoulder as he came to stand by his side. "We have an agreement with the local paparazzi. They do not violate our privacy and we give them exclusivity. Whoever did this was not a local. Loyalty runs deep around here."

Nick nodded his head. "I know. I've received reports that the culprit tried to sell the photos to the local press but they all refused." He ran his hand through his hair as he ground his teeth together. "Unfortunately the person selling the photos did a lot to conceal their identity. They used burner phones and a rather unimaginative alias. Joe Bloggs. I would laugh if this situation was happening to someone else."

The hand on his shoulder squeezed. "We'll get this sorted out."

"I've already got things set in motion. All of the sites which have posted the pictures will find themselves tangled up in a lawsuit very shortly." Nick muttered, folding his arms across his chest. "They will regret ever accepting the photos."

"Have you spoken to Elizabeth?"

Nick nodded his head, his eyes dropping down to his folded arms. "She's speaking to her sister right now. I'm not even sure why she's staying. Almost any other woman would have run for the hills if their naked body was splashed over the internet." Nick pressed his lips together to stop any more words from spilling out of his lips. He wasn't even sure why he was speaking, it was as if the words have a mind of his own just spilling from his lips before he could filter them.

Markos patted his shoulder, his eyes softening in understanding. "She is a unique woman. I told you from the beginning she is the type of woman you marry. I don't think she is going to go anywhere. Her heart is already involved. But that doesn't mean you can play the fool."

"I don't intend to."

A shrill ring filled the air. Nick stepped away from Markos's hold. Pulling his phone from his pocket, Nick stared at the caller ID for a moment before nodding his head towards the older man.

"I've got to take this. If you'll excuse me."

Striding away as fast as he could, Nick pressed the phone to his ear as he picked up the call. "Nick speaking."

"It's Tina," his assistant spoke through the phone. In the background, he could hear the click of the keys as she typed away on her computer. The woman was a workaholic but her dedication to her job was one of the things he respected most about her.

"Did you manage to do what I asked?" Nick asked as he found his way into the entrance hall, his eyes immediately being drawn to the tiled floor.

"I did." Tina replied after a pause, her hesitation loud and clear. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Nick didn't even hesitate. "Definitely."

"Okay, I'll transfer the call through now. Good luck." The phone went silent for a few moments, followed by the loud jarring as she dialled numbers into her hand set.

"Joining us today via phone we have one of the richest men in Britain. He's a keen businessman, a devoted father, and an incredibly handsome man to boot. It's Nicholas Davenport!" The perky presenter announced, her voice crackling ever so slightly down the phone line. "Thank you for joining us today."

Even though Nick hated the way her voice grated against his ears, he replied smoothly. "Thank you for having me."

"Now for the guests at home and in the studio, Nick is here to talk about an issue which concerns many of us. How much privacy do we really have? How far is too far when it comes to the paparazzi?" The woman paused and Nick didn't have to be watching the show to see that she was focusing her attentions on her audience, staring straight down the camera with the overly concerned expression plastered across her face. He had seen her show a few times over recent months and she was predictable down to the way she styled her hair. "Now I understand that some rather compromising photos were posted online by several newspapers overnight."

"That's correct. Nude photos were posted online of myself and my girlfriend. Photos that were taken without our permission, while we were in a home, and then posted online without our permission." Nick stated calmly, his fingers tightening around the handset.

"But surely, as a man in the public eye, you should expect your photos to be taken and for them to be shared." The interviewer asked. "It's the price that comes with fame. Every day celebrities have their photos taken and shared worldwide."

"No, that is not the price of 'celebrity' and nor should it be. If we had been out in public, if we had been lying naked on the beach, it would be a completely different situation. Then I would agree with you because we would have been putting ourselves out there with the full knowledge we would be seen. We would be acknowledging that pictures would be taken and tweeted around the world." He let his words hand in the air for a long moment. "But we weren't. We were in the home of a friend, in a place that we felt safe and secure, and our privacy was violated. This cannot be allowed to continue."

Nick paced up the length of the hallway, his muscles tight as he fought to remain his composure.

"Obviously, you feel very strongly about this."

Nick paused, his head bowed. "I do. Not for my sake. But for my girlfriend, who did not ask for her photos to be taken and plastered all over the internet."

"You are talking about Elizabeth Jones."

"I am."

"She's a beautiful woman."

"She is, body and soul. And she does not deserve this."

"Surely she knew this was a possibility when she started to date you - that she would become a celebrity by association should have been expected."

Nick knew what she was going to say, it was the role of a good interviewer to challenge a guest, but her words still fuelled the anger churning within.

"She knew the risks but never did she expect this. And neither did I. The paparazzi up until this point have always been respectful. They take their photos but there has always been an unwritten line that isn't crossed. I understand that they are doing their jobs. Yet, to have people take your photos is one thing but this crosses so many boundaries. Boundaries that should not be crossed. If we let the paparazzi remain unchecked, what is to stop them taking it further? What if next time they enter my home? The place where my children stay and are supposed to feel safe."

Nick paused, his hand fisted at his side as he considered the next words. "I am not trying to control the press. I believe in freedom of speech. This is something completely different. If they are allowed to continue unchecked, it will set a terrifying precedence where our basic right to privacy, to feel safe in our own home, is lost to us."

"You have clearly convinced some of our audience here. I can see a few nodding heads here in the studio." The chirpy voice advised. "Though I think a few people here are a bit concerned that this is all just a publicity stunt."

Nick didn't hesitate. "Never. My company thrives without this kind of attention and, as my previous relationship with the press has attested, I am a private person." He drew in a deep breath, his hand flexing at his side as he struggled to rein in his anger. "It would be one thing to expose myself to public scrutiny but I would never subject Betsy to that. The press are the ones who have overstepped boundaries here. They need to be told that there are boundaries. We have a right to choose how much of ourselves we share with the world. We have a right to have a modicum of privacy."

Nick, unable to stand the confinement of the house any further, stepped out into the afternoon sunshine. It was such a contrast to his mood which was still tumultuous. Still, it reminded him that life continued onwards even if it seemed like his had just exploded.

He sighed loudly, his hand running tiredly down his face.

"The reality of the situation is that the pictures are already out there. They can get removed from the sites but they cannot be unseen. Nothing can take this back." He stated, his feet carrying him u and down the length of the driveway. "I am asking for this change so that my children can grow up without the worry of constant exposure. I am asking for change so that no one else has to wake up to their personal moments being splashed across the internet."

The presented hummed down the phone line. "I think the majority of us agree with you on that point. How do you propose changes are made without impacting freedom of the press?"

"I propose that we make a stand together." He stated firmly, his shoulders pulling back and his chin tilting upwards. Even though no one could see him, he felt the strength in his conviction as he looked out over the beautiful horizon.

"A line must be drawn in the sand. Taking photos of us in our homes – in our bedrooms and bathrooms – is unacceptable. The only way to bring control over the paparazzi is for the voice of the people to unite. To speak up and say when enough is enough. Newspapers and e-zines rely upon sponsorship and readership and they will listen to your voices if you speak loud enough. Write to your MP's and local councillors so that we can get some legislation to help enforce this. I've started a petition to the government which you can all sign. Tell them where the line should be drawn and if enough of us speak it, they will be forced to listen."

The presenter cut him off before he could continue his impassioned plea. "Thank you so much for speaking to us today Nicholas. We'll make sure all of the details of the petition are posted our social media pages."

"Thank you for having me."

"You're welcome. Now it's time for a break here in the studio, we'll be right back after the adverts."

Nick hung up the phone and allowed his shoulders to slump. He pocketed the phone, his entire body feeling too heavy all of a sudden. The wheels had been set in motion but it would not make a difference to what was happening with Betsy. The damage had already been done.

Arms wrapped around his waist, a head resting against his back. He stiffened before her familiar scent tickled his nose. Nick placed his hands over Betsy's, holding her to him for several long seconds.

"Is everything okay?" She asked, placing a kiss on his back as she did so.

"Better now you're here."

She hummed and moved around so that she was standing before him. "Don't worry about this. We'll get through this. I know we will."

He felt her body tremble as she spoke. The sign that everything wasn't as okay as she pretended it to be. There was a slight shadow upon the usual brightness, it lingered in her eyes. It hurt his heart but he didn't put a voice to his concerns. All he did, was pull her into his chest and hold her tight.

They would get through it – together.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading. Don't forget to let me know what you think. And on another note, the #WattpadBlockParty is over but you can still catch my post, a one-shot based on The Billionaire's Housekeeper, here: https://www.wattpad.com/373832297-wattpad-block-party-winter-edition-iii-me2you804%0D

I'll put the link in the comments too.