Page 128 of The Sun and Her Star

“We need to bring Jenn in on this, and we need to meet right away. Where are you?”

“Going to Apollo’s place.”

“No, you’re not. We still have a couple of offices in our old suite in midtown. Go there. I’ll call ahead so they’ll let you up.”

“I need to talk to Apollo.”

“No, you need to talk tome. Believe me, if you don’t get out in front of this now, it won’t matter if Apollo forgives you or not. Prostitution is illegal. I want to check statutes of limitations. I want to make sure there aren’t any charges being filed and warrants being issued.”

My blood runs cold.

“Oh, fuck,” I say under my breath.

“Exactly,” he snaps. “Now, turn off your phone. Come to my office and call me from the desk in suite 1502. My cell is on the second speed dial button,” he says.

“Excuse me, can we go to 300 Madison Avenue, please?”

“Sure thing.” The cab driver hits the meter to start it over and books a U-turn without missing a beat.

I can hear papers rustling on Dean’s end of the phone. “Don’t talk to anyone. Especially not Nanette.” And then he hangs up.

I stare at it and then remember Dean’s words. I text a quick, “I’ll call soon. Please don’t do anything,” to Apollo and then power my phone down.

We pull up to Dean’s office. As I approach the rotating doors, a security guard unlocks it, and it starts to swing.

As soon as I step into the lobby, he starts walking toward the bank of elevators. “Mr. O just called, said to get you upstairs without delay. The elevator’s waiting. It’ll take you the fifteenth floor. Their suite is unlocked.” I step into the elevator and once again, marvel at Dean’s well-oiled operation. He has the most efficient and discreet team in this business. This whole debacle wouldn’t have happened if I’d just told him and Apollo from the beginning, but I thought they’d be disgusted. Not want to work with me. Touch me. And, I wanted to forget it. Telling them, I’d thought, had meant giving it life. But, it was already there, and my fear and silence have fed it and turned it into a monster that I can’t destroy without destroying myself.

Anxiety sends my stomach into a series of flips that threaten to send the paltry contents of my stomach up. I step into the suite, turn the light on, and call Dean.

“The show doesn’t want you back for the special, and they’re not airing the two recorded seasons. You can keep your signing bonus, but they’re done,” he says as soon as he answers.

My knees buckle, and I sit back in the chair.

“Are you fucking serious?” I ask and put my face in my hands.

“Yes. And this is just the beginning. It’s going to get rough, kid. It’ll be worse, but itwillget better. And you’re not going to jail. The statute of limitations for—”

“It’s okay, Dean. For prostitution. And I already know this,” I say wearily.

“Yeah, it’s one year. You’re good. She’s not. What a bitch. I found out they paid two and half million for that interview.”

I whistle low. “Two and half million? Damn.”

“Yeah, well, we’ve spent the last two years making you one of the most sought-after celebrities in the world. News like that? They’ll pay for it.”

“I just don’t know how she got wind of this.”

“I’m trying to catch the last Acela from Union Station. We’ll work while I ride up. And I’ll get Cristal to book you a hotel. Any questions before I add Jenn?”

“No,” I say and try to take comfort that this man is working for me.

“You need to not worry about being embarrassed. She and I both signed nondisclosures. You just need to tell usanythingelse she or anyone else might have to add to what she’s already said. And then we’ll strategize.” I hear a car door slam and the beeps of a car coming to life.

“Okay. And Dean … Thanks.”

“You’re a good man. I know it, and so does everyone else who knows you. This sucks. But that’s why you’ve got me. Hold on, adding her now.”

Thirty minutes into our call, Dean asks us to hold. It’s the first break in the conversation I’ve had since this started.

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