The Comeback

Chapter Thirty

Roman

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jack asked as he took a swig of his coffee.

"What do you mean am I sure? Of course I am sure. I can't let Renee take the all the heat for something my ex-wife did." I replied with a shake of my head. 

Jack was sat opposite me, looking as if I was crazy in what I was planning to do, he couldn't understand that I was struggling with the guilt that was weighing on my shoulders. Even if I was not directly responsible for what has happened, I couldn't help but blame myself. Maybe if I wasn't in Renee's life none of this would have occurred. 

"Renee is a strong girl, she can handle this. She is handling this like a pro. She's back at work, she's back at recruiting new talents and getting the support in place so that they can have a successful career." Jack started rubbing the temples on his head as he looked deep in thought. "I just think you doing this interview will only stir things up more. I mean Liza has always been a nut-job but I can't help but feel she has a more sinister plan at play. She wouldn't just gamble everything for one interview. I really think your underestimating her again." Jack explained. 

Jack was right in a way. I knew that she would have something up her sleeve but I couldn't let Renee's life be affected by this. I cared about her deeply, she was the person that helped me the most following my divorce. She was there for my children, she supported them through the court proceedings. She had done more for me and my family than anyone else. I couldn't stand by idly as she was constantly followed by the paparazzi. She wasn't used to this life. She preferred her privacy, which was one of the reasons she silently supported Lewis on the side. Now she was carelessly thrown to the wolves by Liza. 

I looked in the mirror and straightened my tie. I was wearing a navy blue Armani suit with a crisp white shirt. I was currently standing in the small dressing room that provided by "Good Morning Britain". It was a morning show which covered the news and lifestyle events. The topic of my family had been making headlines for the last week, it had yet to die down. There were many anonymous fake sources coming out confirming the story that Liza had given during the interview. I knew it had something to do with her and although I was maintaining the privacy of my family with "no comment", it only seemed to imply to the public that both me and Renee were guilty. 

"You know, Renee is going to be pissed when she finds out you took this interview." Jack avoided making eye contact but then started to whistle like he was some innocent bystander. 

"By then it will be too late, there will be nothing that she can do. She doesn't deserve this Jack. We both know that." I sighed. 

"I do understand what you are saying but you should have at least given her a head's up. You know she doesn't care what the media says. She would rather you protect your boys than her."

"If I had given her a heads up she would have tried everything in her power to stop me from doing it. I know she cares about me and my boys but it doesn't mean that we don't care about her either. If taking this interview means that I am able to set the record straight and give her some peace then I would do it within a heartbeat." I defended. There was an eerie silence between the two of us and as I looked at Jack from the corner of my eye, I could see that he wanted to say something. His face almost looked red from holding it in. "Go on, I can see you are dying to say something. So say it quickly before I change my mind."

Jack took a deep breath. "When are you and Renee going to you know, own up to your own feelings? It's clear that you don't see each other as just friends. You certainly wouldn't just do this for a friend." He finished with a raised eyebrow. 

I couldn't help but glare at him as my heart hammered in my chest at his words. No, there was only platonic, sisterly affection to Renee. She was a friend and only friend. I mean yes she was extremely attractive, I couldn't understand how Lewis could even find another woman on par with Renee. I mean of course she had a heart filled with gold and she was filled with love and care for those she identified as family. She was an intelligent, witty and charismatic woman. Who wouldn't find that attractive?