Cole’s P.O.V

I couldn’t help but scream out her name. Only to have the rain and the incessant yelling of the paparazzi drown me out. If only they could drown out my thoughts, of which were yelling at me how much I'd fucked up this time.

It wasn't even my fault but I had a feeling she wasn't going to feel that way. There was something about her, I could just tell that someone had done a number on her, and honestly, I was surprised that she had trusted me as quickly as she had. All of which has probably gone down the drain with everything that has happened.

There was a stiffness to my walk as I had to push my way back to the car; however, I wasn’t stiffly walking because I had to fight my way through, it was because it felt like my tail was between my legs like a dog. Embarrassed, confused and hurt. I could feel my insides screaming at me, a lump starting to form in my throat that made it hard to breathe.

Jackson, who was also my personal bodyguard, quickly encased me and I felt him ripping the hold a paparazzi had on my jacket. Shoving me into the back of my Rolls Royce. I heard Jackson on the phone, telling the security team that they better be looking for possible places as to where Violet could be. Thank God they know me well enough to know what I'm thinking. Hearing her name though snapped me out of my trance.

Speed dialing Nancy, she efficiently picked up on the first ring. “I need you to have my lawyers, PR team and entire security unit all in the conference room waiting for me when I get into the office in 20 minutes. Tell the lawyers they need to have drawn up the paperwork to sue Sophia for defamation of character and anything else they can think of. I want to know that we've got a vague idea of where Georgie and Violet are heading, so make sure that security has the best hackers and trackers on that. I need the PR team to tell me what the actual FUCK just happened and how it's possible that that bitch is still out there spreading all this shit.” I honestly had no time for pleasantries, I heard her say, “Yes, Sir” before I hung up the phone.

I had an amazing assistant who knew that I respected her and I'd be lost without her. Occasionally she would get a rather rude phone call if I was very stressed, but that didn't seem to bother her, especially when she got weekend spa retreats. She was truly the Donna to my Harvey, except I wasn't madly in love with her and she was happily married to my cousin but that's a whole other story.

We arrived at the office and there was Nancy waiting for me right at the door, her iPad in hand. I figured it was to brief me on whatever I needed to know before this meeting.

Jackson, Nancy and I strode towards the elevator, the briefing starting as the doors to the elevator closes, shooting us upwards.

“The legal team is working on the 3rd draft of the legal documentation for suing Ms. Stutterheim for Prima Facie Defamation. They are combing through the documents to make sure there are no places that they can poke holes in our claims. The two main angles that they are pursuing are the publication of communication of Violet to all the tabloids.”

As the doors opened to my floor, Nancy did not miss a beat as she continued to brief me while we headed to the main conference room.

“The other main reason they are looking at is damage or some sort of harm caused to the person’s entity who is subject to the statement. They are primarily using what Ms. Stutterhiem said that she is a malicious person, saying that she looks like the person to slip a date rape drug into your drink so she can get her 10 minutes of fame.”

I nodded my head as I listened to all the angles the legal team was using in their approach. I rattled off some of my thoughts on where they can find hardcore evidence and proof of what Sophia has done to Violet. There were videos of Sophia giving interviews, as well as giving written statements of Sophia’s defamation of Violet's character. We have proof from security cameras showing the paparazzi harassing Violet, yelling obscenities at her because of what Sophia has told the press. The legal team can also prove that before Sophia went public about you two being photographed at the club, she lived a normal life that would typically not put her in this situation.

By the time Nancy was done debriefing me and taking notes, we had arrived at the main conference room, where, despite it being a Sunday afternoon, was bustling. Teams were working collaboratively together, helping each other to look at information in a different light. Drafting and redrafting solutions and game plans.

I made my way to the head of the table and the room fell silent. All eyes falling on me, waiting to give the next command.

My eyes fell on Richard, who was head of the PR department for this company. “What do you have?”

“Sir, we need to make sure that we communicate to the press very clearly that you and Sophia broke it off a couple months ago. The best spin that we can put on this story is that Violet is just a friend and that you guys met just earlier that day or we can go the route that all the piranhas would love and say that it was an immediate connection. You guys met in a coffee shop and just hit it off, so you invited her to your club to see how well she fit into your world. We can say that she blew you away, so your guard was completely down and this is how it got all out of hand with Sophia. She was still upset about your break up and wanted you back so this is why she has fabricated this whole story.”

I ran my hands thoughtfully through my hair, trying to figure out how I was going to get Violet out of the mess she is in because of me. I didn’t want to bring her into this more than she has already has been.

“Let’s just get my statement out, claiming that she has been lying. That we have been broken up for a couple weeks and that she is having issues dealing with the break-up. We will see how the press takes this, and if everything calms down, then we are all set. The only thing I am hesitant about is adding fuel to the fire and making my feelings for Violet apparently before I even know if she will ever talk to me again.”

With a nod in acknowledgement I turned to my legal team telling them that I expressed some thoughts and ideas to Nancy, and that they need to ask her for her notes.

I was breezing through all these strategizing and debriefing with the teams because I wanted to know where Violet. She was all that was on my mind and I needed to find her. I needed to explain what was going on and that I never meant to get her involved in this mess.

I turned my attention to Greg, one of the members of my security team w ho had been working closely with the IT guys barged into my office, “I think you're going to want to hear this” He stated, before connecting to the main screen in the conference room, displaying his findings for all of us to see.

“We think we’ve tracked them to Canada. From what we’ve gathered they didn't go on their own and they had a friend who helped them cover all of their tracks.” He glanced at me to make sure I was following, I nodded my head for him to continue, “ They seemed to have ditched the car they were using, rented a car under an alias and used fake IDs to cross the border. There's no record of them anywhere from there, luckily I had a friend at border control who gave me the names of their alias and we managed to track those although that wasn't an easy feat either. Whoever was helping these girls really knows what they're doing. They appear to be traveling with another female hence why nothing popped in the APB that was put out as it was only for two females.”

“Do we have an exact location for them as of right now?” I asked as I anxiously tapped my fingers against the desk.

“Ahh no sir they are currently driving but once they stop-” He was interrupted by one of the IT guys, “ We have that location sir they just pulled up to a cabin which appears to be registered to Georgie who was using her mother's maiden name. Georgie Collins, Sir.”

“Send that address to my cell right now and can we fly a helicopter up there.”

“Yes sir there is one warming up on the roof as we speak and the address is already on your phone and the pilots. You should be able to take off in 5 minutes Sir.”

“Perfect, thank you all I really do appreciate it,” I said to everyone in the room, they all nodded and I could see they understood, it's not very often that I call them all on with such urgency. I turned to Nancy, “Please cancel everything for the next two days or until I am back with Violet, don't phone me unless it's absolutely utterly urgent, I trust you to take care of whatever needs to be done otherwise Mia should be able to handle everything.”

With that, I ran out the door and up to the roof, not willing to waste any more time. I had to find Violet and make things right she deserved to know the truth, that I hadn't slept with Sophia the other night, we were not engaged, never had been actually and had in fact broken up months ago. By the time I was on the roof we were ready for taking off, I jumped in and up we went.

An hour later we were nearing the location that my security team had given me. I just hoped that Violet was here. All of this wasn't fair to her. We had only met yesterday morning and she's been dragged into all this drama. She didn't deserve all of this, I had to explain to her what was going on and try to fix everything with her. I really liked her and I didn't want to damage whatever chances I even vaguely had by some false rumors.

The pilot eventually landed the chopper in the large snowy front yard of this beautiful wooden double-story “cabin.” I really wouldn't say it is a cabin it's more of a wooden mansion that's placed in a real-life winter wonderland.

As soon as we touched down and it was vaguely safe to disembark I was out of my seat and running up to the gate that surrounded the cabin. I hadn't wanted to land right in their front garden and risk damaging anything or upsetting Violet anymore.

I don’t think that the girls could have missed the sound of us landing, especially with how quiet it was out here but I still knocked loudly on the door.

Georgie eventually opened the door, boy did she not look impressed. Before I could even open my mouth to say anything, she held up her finger to silence me, “You do not get to come flying here in your ‘im a rich boy helicopter’ and think that that's going to make everything okay. You have no idea what she's been through and you have the nerve to lie to her and cheat on your Fiance! Does that word not mean anything to you? How could you do something like that to someone as sweet and precious as Violet? YOU do not get to hurt my best friend, you don't get to come barging in here like some shining knight and that think it's going to make everything okay, because I assure you that it is not! And if you think some measly little apology is going to solve anything then I've got news for you, mister. YOu can just go and get back in your helicopter and go back to wherever it is that you came from. Violet does not want to see you and if it were up to me I would have just let you freeze out here and not even open the door. Speaking of, how the hell did you even find where we are? This place is not easy to find and we were careful to cover our tracks.”

I opened my mouth to respond but just as I opened my mouth she interrupted me again, “I'm not finished with you yet! You can speak when I say you can!” She rolled her eyes before continuing, “Do you have no pride, no moral code? I mean who even asks someone to marry them and then goes out with another woman? Are you that much of a douchebag. You know I did some research on you, I know all about all the one nightstands and the drunken escapades…. Oh my god is that what you wanted Violet for, some slutty drunken one night stand, you pig! I despise men like you, the ones who have no dignity for women.”

That's when I decided that it was enough, I understood she was defending her best friend but she had no right to tell me I had no regard for women. I did, yeah I had my fair share of one night stands and maybe I might be rather rude to them afterward, but I found if you aren't they never leave. But I was never disrespectful to them.

“Okay enough,” I growled out, trying to keep my emotions in check and not get mad at her if it was anyone else, the other side of Canada would hear me yelling at them for disrespecting me like that. “All of the things Sophia said were untrue. We were never engaged, hell we barely even dated, but that girl is psycho and developed an unhealthy attachment to me. Please really need to speak to Violet. I need to explain everything to her and apologize. I know that won't fix everything but I really need to speak to her.”

“It's not happening, not now at least. You really upset her and there is no way I'm letting you inside. She’s going to be heading back to the city in a week's time, maybe if she feels up for it and decides she wants to hear you out then you can speak to her otherwise why don't you go home?” Georgie glared at me, crossing her arms and blocking the door. For such a small person she sure was rather intimidating.

“I can't do that sorry I have to speak to Violet now, I need to explain everything. I'm not leaving until I speak to her.” I squared up to Georgie myself. I towered over her and was at least two of her wide and yet she never wavered in her treacherous glare. I admired how fiercely protective she was over Violet and I was so happy that Violet had someone who was so protective over her but I wasn't trying to hurt her. I really just wanted to love her, hold her and tell her how much I care about her and that there is nothing going on with anyone else.

“ Well, I guess you’re just going to wait outside because you are not coming inside. I suggest you leave soon, it appears a snowstorm is coming and I wouldn't want to be trapped outside during that and you won't be able to fly your precious helicopter back when the weather picks up.”

“Guess I'm waiting. I'll be fine outside, a little snowstorm doesn't scare me.” I stubbornly said standing my ground. If I was thinking clearly I would realize that she was right and I probably should find cover or head home, but there was no way I was leaving without talking to Violet.

“Your funeral buddy,” Georgie said raising her eyebrows, rolling her eyes before turning around and walking back inside, shutting the door in my face.

The blinds in the corner window of the house would occasionally open ever so slightly before snapping shut. I expected it was one of the girls checking to see if I had actually left. They had done this every ten minutes for the last two hours.

I knocked on the door for the fifth time in the last hour, “Violet, please baby I just want to speak to you. I understand if you hate me and never want to speak to me again but please let me talk to you.”

The door creaked and suddenly started to open…