I absolutely knew how insane it sounded for Jesse to be falling in love with me after only two weeks. It wasn't logical. As flattering and wonderful as it sounded, it couldn't be true. Maybe he'd simply had too much champagne. I had been in a serious committed relationship with Brad for two years before I finally even thought I was in love. How could anyone realistically think about something as personal and incredible as love after only two weeks?

After Jesse had said that, a long pause of awkward silence lead me to tell him he was an amazing man and give him a kiss before turning over and yanking the covers down to go to sleep. I'd pretended to be asleep so I wouldn't have to talk to him until I heard his breathing shift into a resting state with a soft, cute snore every so often. Once I was sure he was asleep, I breathed out a heavy sigh and rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling deep in thought. I stayed that way for most of the night, pondering Jesse's words, pondering life and love and what was or wasn't logical, not falling asleep myself until around four in the morning.

When I woke, my head hurt like I'd drank too much champagne the night before, and the sunlight blaring in through the open curtains was a sensory overload when I first opened my eyes. I wished I'd shut the curtains before falling asleep.

The sound of running water caught my attention and I forced myself to get out of the big comfortable bed. Padding across the floor, I peeked through the cracked open door to see that Jesse was taking a shower. I debated joining him, but I worried that he'd be upset over my lack of a response to his shocking statement last night. Thus, I chose to avoid him.

Figuring I'd catch up on some news while I waited my turn in the shower, I found my phone and looked up articles on the previous night's event. I wanted to see how the public had perceived the fundraiser and if the donation goal had been met.

Scrolling through articles, I saw tons of reviews on Jesse's and Mandy Cartwright's speeches. Most gave them an A-. The lowest review I'd seen was a B+, which sounded pretty great to me. I thought they both deserved an A+, but then again, I was also a little biased. I was thrilled, however, to read that not only had they met their fundraising goal, but exceeded it by nearly seven thousand dollars. Apparently, there had been two very generous anonymous donors who had chipped in a collective two hundred grand!

I was overjoyed that the event had raised so much for such an amazing cause. It sounded like everything had really gone over perfectly after our departure. Even Haley got to be in some pictures. I spotted her a couple times while thumbing through a gallery that one of the newspaper photographers had posted. She was laughing, holding hands with her date while they chatted with a man who I thought was another doctor. I made a mental note to ask her how things went with her handsome date when I got back to the apartment. It was really refreshing to see her looking so happy and carefree after having been so stressed over the big cross country move.

Then I saw it. My heart stopped for a solid moment and I got a sudden urge to vomit.

There was a photo of Jesse and I slow dancing together. The photographer had captured us from the perfect angle where it was obvious how we felt about each other. That wasn't the problem, though. The comments on the photo were.

Tons of comments from people I'd never met were accusing me of being a slut who was sleeping my way into the C.E.O.'s wallet and a cushy executive job. I didn't have to think about where they could've gotten that idea. I knew it had originated from my ex. But how the hell would all these random people take an interest in me all the sudden? What would lead so many strangers to make negative comments about me, someone they'd never met?

My suspicions were confirmed a few photos further into the gallery when I spotted him in a picture, standing beside a well-known attorney in conversation. He held a glass of what looked to be whiskey and he wore a sharp looking grey tux. His hair had changed some since I'd last seen him, but all those years had done nothing to improve on him as a person. I could tell just from the photo. My ex was still the same horrible person he'd always been. You could see it in his eyes.

But how in flying fuck had he known I'd be there? Or had he? Was this some bizarre coincidence that was starting to play out my worst fear coming back to life? I knew it had been a terrible idea to get involved with my boss. I knew what risks came with having a completely inappropriate relationship with Jesse Reese. I'd taken the chance anyway and life had slapped me in the face once again. Just when I was finally starting to think I could be happy with this man. Right when I was beginning to figure things out.

A million thoughts were swirling through my mind – thoughts of running away again, just like I'd done in Dallas. I probably didn't have anything to lose anyway, seeing as Advantage Republic appeared to be going under and I was likely going to be out of a job in a few days. Maybe it wasn't ridiculous to think of running away to another city.

But then there was Haley. She had a great job now, but she couldn't afford the apartment alone. I couldn't just skip out on her. We'd signed a year long lease. Maybe I could stand to hang around long enough for her to find a roommate, though. Maybe one of her coworkers at the medical center could use a place to stay. It was New York City. There had to be thousands of people looking for an apartment to share the bills with someone. But then I'd feel guilty for sticking her with some stranger. What the hell was I supposed to do? I definitely couldn't ask Haley to move with me again. She was so happy with how her life was coming together now. I couldn't ruin that for her.

And then there was Brad. He'd seen me at the fundraiser dancing with Jesse, and he had to know who Jesse was. Everyone in attendance knew who Jesse was. At some point in the night, he'd spread the lie about me to some reporter. That had to be where all this shit had come from. But I had a lot more to worry about than just some horrible career-ending rumor. I would bet money that right that moment, my ex was canvassing the city, figuring out where I lived, every detail about my job, where Haley worked, and who my coworkers were. The dam was about to break again, but this time, I was sure the floodwaters would carry me beyond the point of return. Brad had a vendetta, and I knew he would stop at nothing to get revenge on me for having the audacity to outrun him before. He'd vividly shown me his true colors back in Minnesota. I couldn't bear to go through that again.

"Good morning," Jesse's voice came from the bathroom doorway and I jumped in surprise.

I'd been so focused on the horrible news that I hadn't even heard the water turn off.

His brows drew inward and he quickly came over to sit beside me on the bed, wrapping an arm around me. "Hey, what's wrong, love? What's going on?"

It was as if he wasn't upset at all about my lack of a reply to his love comment last night. He just went straight into caring, wonderful Jesse mode, and I appreciated that so fucking much.

I could feel the burn of tears working their way to the surface. A wicked headache was already brewing and my stomach felt like I'd just gotten off a sixteen round rollercoaster ride.

I didn't know how to tell Jesse about my ex. He'd been so sweet and understanding when I'd told him all the crazy shit about my past, but that was just it. The past was in the past. Would Jesse think differently now that there was a present problem? Would he decide to end our relationship now that drama was infiltrating the happiness? It seemed like most men disappeared at the onset of drama, rather than trying to be supportive of their partner. Honestly, I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want anything to do with The Bradley Chronicles Volume II. I probably wouldn't care to hang around for that shit show either, if I were him. After all, Brad wasn't Jesse's problem. He was mine, solely, and I didn't want to drag other good, innocent people into my ex-boyfriend trouble. Things had been hard enough the last time with Haley being involved. She hadn't deserved the bullshit she'd gone through just for sticking by my side, and Jesse didn't deserve to go through it either.

So there I was debating a runaway again, unable to open my mouth to tell Jesse what the hell was wrong with me. I was pretty convinced that I just needed to remove myself from the equation – remove myself from New York City – and everyone I cared about in Manhattan would be saved from the wrath of Brad because I would no longer be around them. That was the best plan I could think up at the moment and it made me feel like absolute cow manure to think that it sounded like a great idea. I shouldn't have to leave my friends, my job, my sort-of boyfriend – whatever Jesse was to me – to protect their lives and careers and happiness from my ex's shit; but I felt like I had no other choice. I cared too much about Haley and Jesse and my amazing coworkers; I couldn't let them get dragged into this mess with me. That stupid saying about letting people go if you love them kept popping in my head and it was pissing me off by that point.

"Vanessa?" Jesse asked again, rubbing his hand up and down my back in a soothing motion. "What's wrong? Can I do anything?"

I sucked in a sharp breath that made my lungs hurt and pulled the covers up around my chin, bringing my knees to my chest and burying my face in the sheets. I proceeded to scream bloody murder into the fabric until the waterworks took over and Jesse pulled me into a protective embrace. He held me against his chest with his arms around my body, gently rocking me side to side for the longest time. He didn't say a word. He just let me sob for what seemed like forever until I was all cried out and my bawling hard turned to sniffles and heaving to catch my breath again.

"I'm sorry I'm crying all over you after you just showered," I mumbled in the most pathetic voice that made me sound like a small child.

Jesse smiled sweetly and shook his head, scooping my hazardous bedhead hair away from my face and running his fingers through some loose tangles. "It doesn't matter. You can cry on me all you want. I'm here."

It was a statement that was so simple, yet so meaningful to me, because no man had ever said something like that to me before. And the fact that Jesse wasn't bolting the opposite direction as soon as the tears started was amazing in and of itself. It made me feel stupid for leaving this man, but I was confident it was my only option. I wouldn't let him go through all that unnecessary drama. Brad had the kinds of allies who could help him ruin Jesse's career if he wanted to push it that far, and really, that wasn't a far push where Brad was concerned. If history had taught me anything, it was that my ex spared no expense to enact vengeance.

"Thank you for not getting mad," I muttered, looking up at Jesse through teary lashes.

He reached across the bed to where his suit jacket lay and retrieved an embroidered handkerchief, placing it in my hand and resting his chin on top of my head.

"I have no reason to be mad, Vanessa."

I sniffled and rubbed away my tears with the cloth. It smelled like his cologne and somehow that made me feel a little better.

Sucking in a deep breath, I decided then was as good a time as any to spill the terrible details to him and mentally prepare myself for if he automatically said goodbye. Surely, the drama wasn't worth the effort to keep the relationship going after only two weeks of knowing each other. That wasn't logical.

"My ex is in town," I began, clearing my throat and nearly choking on my own spit – how attractive.

Jesse leaned back to get a good look at my face, his eyes studying me harshly and his brows raised in what I thought was a look of surprise.

"Oh?"

I gave a slow nod. "Yeah... I was looking at photos from the fundraiser and he's in some."

He seemed to be having trouble understanding the magnitude of what I was trying to tell him, and rightly so, as I obviously wasn't spitting out the information the way I should be.

I continued before he could say another word. "Short version: There's a montage of horrible comments on photos of you and me – people calling me a whore trying to climb the ladder by sleeping with you – people I've never met – and I know it's a lie he spread. I know it. He had to have seen us dancing and recognized me and now all fucking hell is breaking loose again and I just know he's going to try to ruin my life again, Jesse! I don't know what to do! I have to leave. I have to-"

Jesse grabbed my hand, preventing me from bolting out of the room. I made it a couple feet from the bed when he pulled me back into his arms. I folded into his chest and began sobbing again. I didn't have the strength to disagree with him on this. I broke down.

"Shh... It's alright, love. I'm here." He cooed softly in my ear, his arms snug around my body as he placed sweet kisses on top of my head.

For once, something was enough in my life. When my world was crumbling and everything around me seemed to be withering away into ashes, there was Jesse, taking the place of everything I needed in another human being. He was my rock. How could I leave that behind?