Around me, four McRaes gave me their undivided attention. I gave them the short but pertinent version of all that had gone down. The trip to Dad’s, the fact his stuff was all in storage, the implications for the blackmailer.
Viola and Leo blinked at me.
“Oh, yeah, I’m being blackmailed, too.”
Then I covered the paparazzi chase, hiding out, then running again. By the time I recounted being trapped at Mom’s with my abusive ex forced on me, all were open-mouthed.
“Oh jeez, no,” Viola said. “How could they?”
Hurt crept into my voice. “The movie industry moves like a machine, and I was just a malfunctioning part. By now, they’re all losing their shit. I’m lucky to have escaped.”
“What do ye think they’ll do?” she pressed.
“Nothing good. They must know by now that I’m beyond their reach.”
“Which makes ye the enemy,” Gordain said.
“Exactly. Particularly if I do what I really want to do next.” I darted my gaze to Cameron. “You told me the movie was a crime scene. You’re right. I don’t want people to watch that. The thought makes me want to curl up into a ball and disappear. So after you went to sleep last night, I called Los Angeles Police Department and arranged an interview for this morning.” I checked the clock on the wall. “In approximately four hours, I’m going to tell them exactly what happened and ask for an investigation.”
All the pieces began to line up, and I turned to Gordain next. “I want to employ you to head up my security. To protect Cameron as well as me, as I’m pretty sure he’s not going to leave my side. The only problem being, I’m not sure I can pay. Not right now anyway.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “All my money is invested in my mother’s business. She speculated heavily on this movie, from what I can gather. She was making such a fuss about the trilogy being completed that it’s all I can conclude. If it fails…”
“Her business fails, too,” Cameron added softly.
“It does. My home, my livelihood, it’s all tied up in this. But I won’t change my mind. Which I think means going public, too.”
Gordain gave a tight nod. “How public?”
Now, I looked to Leo. “Remember you told me about the video you and Viola recorded with your friend? You took ownership of the truth. I can’t even imagine what the press will say about this, but I know it won’t be pretty and I know it won’t be in my favour.”
Realisation rippled over the people in the room.
Leo tilted his head. “Was it the right choice for us? Yes, without a doubt. Will doing the same help you? I think so. Our song raised a lot of questions. My fans are dying for more. But it does open a can of worms.”
It wasn’t just about me, because by association, Cameron was part of this, too.
Cameron beat me to the punch. “Ye should do it. Talk to the police to make sure ye don’t compromise their investigation, but take control. I’ll support ye every step of the way.”
That was decided.
As one, we got stuck into the details.
“So, are we talking a tell-all video? When will ye release it?” Viola asked.
I wrinkled my nose, considering the options. “One thing I can’t control is whether the movie goes ahead or not. I have to make my peace with that. But I could launch an interview at the same time as the premiere, stealing some of the attention. It’s tomorrow night, so there’s time. I could even ask people not to watch the movie. I mean, I’m about to get sued from every angle, so why not?”
Viola’s eyes brightened. “What a showdown. All that glitter and glamour, all the press and photographers, and the people in the background rubbing their hands together over the money. Fuck them. Overshadow it.”
“It would make one hell of a statement,” Cameron agreed.
On his phone, Leo found the video he’d recorded. In it, he and another musician plus Viola performed a song, making a music video to force a stalemate with a new album. “We filmed this on a phone so the sound quality isn’t great. With enough time, I would’ve used better equipment. Cameron’s dad has the right kit.”
Cameron rubbed his chin. “He does, and he’ll happily lend us it, but he’s not a videographer. Do we know anyone who can edit video?”
The idea sprang into my mind with alarming force. Oh, it was perfect. My excitement flared. “I know just the person, and another who can do my hair and makeup, just like I would’ve worn to the premiere. I need to get people on planes.”
I sprang into action on my phone.
Tracking down Kessler, a woman with the right know-how and access, was surprisingly easy. Her agreement came even easier.
Guy’s shrieked acceptance had me spluttering a laugh.
But soon enough, it came time for me to make the call I was dreading. Gordain had already offered up the use of his office, and I eyed the door. But then the flush of warmth rushed through me, and I peered back to find Cameron at my shoulder.
Through all my manic planning, he’d given steady support.
Now, in his hands, he held a pair of headphones.
“I can imagine how hard this is going to be for ye, so I’ll be there to hold your hand. I willnae listen, I’ll have music playing loud enough, but if ye need my hand in yours, I’ll be right there by your side. If ye want me.”
I turned into him, bound my arms around his body, and just held him. It took a long time before my mumbled, “yes, please” made it to his ears.
I was ready.
Raw, I recounted my story to the LAPD, repeating details and not holding back my emotions. It helped that I’d already told most of this to my therapist and then the full details to Cameron. The whole while, Cameron kept our contact, his gaze on the window, and his thumb brushing over mine. And though I became lost in the scene, I never lost focus on his touch.
He grounded me. He made everything so much better.
I still felt like a fraud, but it wasn’t entirely Derren’s assault that injured me, more the restrictions I’d felt in being able to do anything about it. The knowledge that if I didn’t do anything, this was the fallout. The breaking apart of my life.
Everything I said into the phone was dutifully recorded. The interviewing cop, a senior member of the department, was kind, spoke factually, and promised an update with her next steps soon.
Still, I hung up the phone and burst into tears.
Instantly, I was on Cameron’s lap, his headphones discarded to the floor. He kissed away my tears.
“Well done,” he whispered.
“I can’t believe it took so long to do that. So many months. A weight has been lifted off me.”
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Onscreen, an email arrived, the sender and title displayed.
Super fan: You forced my hand.
Shaking, I opened it.
Elise, you shouldn’t have done that.
You have twenty-four hours to get back to California for the premiere. Failing that, I’ll have to deliver on my threat. Remember, I never wanted to do this. This is your decision.
Your super fan
Attachment: Full picture.
I should have expected this. And in a way I had, but not so soon. So far, hardly anyone knew I wasn’t doing the premiere. Apart from the people who’d been in Mom’s house and everyone here.
Cringing, I loaded the attachment to the email.
But it wasn’t the teasing picture I’d already seen. Oh no, now it was the full shot.
I was looking at an image of my dad, laughing, with Rory in his arms.
