Page 13 of You Spin Me Round

Leigh sighed. ‘It’s a shame they’ve chosen to take the low road.’

‘The low road is fine if you can prove it,’ Ivy mused. ‘The low road is what people want. It sells.’

‘That’s not what we care about.’

‘What dowecare about?’ Ivy asked snarkily.

‘Erin simply wants to maintain her deserved reputation as a skilled and hardworking actress and a person of integrity,’ Leigh responded, trying to stay even.

‘So why does she need a PR person to spin things?’

‘Every famous person has PR if they can afford it. It’s a full-time job managing someone’s profile, as I’m sure you know,’ Leigh frowned.

That was a weird question. What was this?

‘So, can I speak to Erin herself?’

‘Not right now.’

‘Why not?’

‘She’s going through a divorce. She doesn’t want to deal with this. That’s what she pays me for.’

‘Look, we all know that photo’s coming out, sooner or later, so my question is, if she wants to get ahead of it, will she name the mystery woman?’

‘She’s not any kind of mystery. She’s a casual mutual acquaintance. Which is exactly why Erin won’t name her,’ Leigh explained, trying to keep her tone neutral.

‘But she will be named. The second that snap goes viral, which itwill, someone’s going to know her. She can’t avoid this. Better she comes forward now.’

‘That’s not how we want to handle this.’

‘You want her to be blindsided?’ Ivy asked like it was a casual question rather than clear bait.

‘It’s not in my power to release the photo. I’m not the one that would be blindsiding her.’

‘Have you been in touch with her to let her know? Warn her of the impending, potentially life-ruining thing that’s about to happen? I mean, if Isabelle’s truth is the prevailing one, and this woman is the reason for the celebrity split of the decade…’

‘Erin doesn’t know her well, as I said.’

‘Erin could get to her, though, right? Through these mutual friends they have. Assuming someone has her number.’ Ivy raised an eyebrow. ‘I mean, you’ve had this conversation with Erin?’

Not really. Erin had been quick to shut it down, and Leigh hadn’t wanted to piss her off. But Ivy did have a point. Eventually, the woman in the snap needed to be tracked down. Whether it was before or after she became famous was the only question.

‘What is it you’re asking for?’ Leigh questioned, tired of this dance.

‘I’m just asking to be the one to interview this woman when it comes out. I could help her,’ Ivy said.

Bullshit, Leigh thought. ‘I’ll be sure to let you know if that’s something we decide to do,’ she said.

‘Oh, OK,’ Ivy said. ‘Because I do want to help Erin, as I said. Isabelle’s alotless sympathetic than her.’

That was interesting. ‘Oh?’

‘Of course. Erin has more of an underdog thing in this. But then again, if it turns out Erin married Isabelle for the considerable bump in profile, that’s going to lessen how sympathetic people will find her.’

Leigh had at last managed to follow Ivy’s shit-crumb trail. She put her fork down. ‘Is this your way of saying that if I don’t share the name of this woman, you’re going to write unfavourably about Erin?’

Ivy burst out laughing. ‘Oh my. Wow, wow, wow. You have got a lot to learn.’

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