Taking off my glasses I launch into the story, shedding light on every detail. Bryn’s eyes repeatedly go wide, and she occasionally asks questions. Together we pull up the woman’s viral content and feel sick to our stomachs at how the author answers the comments with incendiary replies designed to fuel the fire she gave birth to.
Bryn shudders and looks at me. “When you’re done, can I read it before you send it?”
“I’m almost done.”
“Really?” She jumps back and waves her hands. “Then I won’t interrupt you a second longer. Let her have it!!!”
Putting my glasses back on, I sigh, “Let’s hope the truth prevails.”
Bryn exhales and says, in a distracted way, “I’m calling Harlow over. She is going to be so proud of you.”
I stop typing, struck. “You’re proud of me?”
“Are you kidding? Of course I am!”
“My father wasn’t.”
She frowns. “How does he know?”
Rubbing the bridge of my nose I groan, “He golfs with my editor. They spoke about what a disappointment I am over a cigar last night. He called me while they were together. Thank God for voicemail.”
She snorts, “He’s never understood you, Haven. Forget him. But watch out because he won’t be the last. Those people will not be nice when they read what you wrote.”
“I’m not writing it for them, Bryn. I’m writing it for the people who didn’t join the angry choir, who are wondering what to make of this, because someone needs to publicly come to Billy’s defense.” I mutter to the screen, “I’m writing it because his parties are too fun not to go on just because some chick gets off on public smearing.”
“Could it get that bad, that he’d stop having them?”
“Someone already commented that he lost the warehouse. And they were rejoicing in it! They don’t even know him!”
“What?!! Fix this! I love those parties! If they ended—” Bryn can’t even finish the sentence. She grabs her bag, digs out her phone, and walks back to her room. In the distance I hear, “Harlow? Get over here. Something very big is happening.”
A smile spreads out from my heart as I keep typing.
CHAPTER 13
BILLY
I ’ve got my head in my hands. I’m so fucking exhausted by the fires I’ve tried to put out the past couple days. Even two of my party staff got on the I’m-a-bad-person train, and they know the real me. That’s how infectious bandwagons can be.
I haven’t read the article.
The video will remain unseen.
As will the others I hear are popping up purely to get in on the action because they saw the popularity of hers.
Gabs asks me for the last time, “You sure you don’t want to watch?”
“No! I don’t drink poison just because everyone else does. I don’t need that shit in my head.” Leaning back in the swivel chair I exhale and rub my face. “You need rest. Go home. Let’s just wait for this to blow over. What a fucking nightmare.” Closing my eyes I groan, “I might have to cancel my Thanksgiving party.”
Gabriella’s footsteps get closer until she stops in front of me. I open my eyes, and they widen at how close she is. “You want a massage…or something?”
My frown deepens. “Gabs.”
“You’re so stressed out. I could…make you feel better.” What was meant to sound sultry came off as awkward. And really, really sweet.
“Thanks, that’s really nice of you, but it’s not a good idea.”
“Because I work for you?”
“That and—”
“—What if I didn’t? You might need to lay people off anyway.”
My mouth slackens. “Come on, let’s just not go there, okay? It’s not a good idea.”
She tears up, embarrassed, walking quickly into my living room.
I leap from the chair and chase her down, running ahead to grab her hands. “Hey hey hey, stop that. It’s nothing against you!”
“You’re not attracted to me!”
Now she looks even younger. How can I tell her that’s not a turn-on for me? I don’t want a submissive innocent.
“Gabs, look, you’re a great girl, but you work for me. It’s just never how I thought of you. You’re super attractive—any guy would be nuts not to see that! Hell, that bitch from Halloween even left because she thought there was something between us. I’ve had to tell Wyatt, Nate, Caden, Mathew, and Nicholas, many times that you and I aren’t sleeping together. They thought we should! They wouldn’t have if you weren’t adorable. And you are!”
Staring at me with tear-stained cheeks, she frowns, “What bitch? Who are you—?”
“The one who wrote that article smearing my reputation!” Dropping her hands I grab my head, exasperated. “Haven! I can’t believe I was so wrong about her!”
Tilting her head, Gabs wipes her eyes. “Did you like her, Billy?”
“I did.” Resigned, I collapse onto the couch. “Until I realized how off my picker was.” Craning my head back I close my eyes, wishing I could erase that dumb bat bite stunt I pulled. I thought it was funny.
“Your ‘picker’?”
“I picked her. I thought she might be someone I’d like to get serious about. What an idiot.” Opening my eyes, I lean forward. “Hey, I’m sorry, Gabs. I’m being insensitive to what you just said to me. See how tired I am? It’s turning me into an asshole.”
Gabriella stares at the floor. Is she going to cry again? I ready myself for a night of consoling her so I can look in the mirror and be proud. The last thing I’d want to do is break her innocent heart. I don’t want to go down in her history as the first guy to do it. This is what I get for hiring a girl right out of high school.
“I need to show you something.”
Oh God, what is it? She didn’t get a tattoo of me or anything, did she?
I carefully say, “Okay,” as I wait for the worst. “I’m here.”
She pulls out her phone, scrolling around a minute before she pauses and meets my eyes.
She begins to read: Halloween Prank in
