Page 68 of Strut

I really didn’t want to fuck this up.

Rhys told me to get my head out of my arse and to keep Alec at the centre of every discussion and decision, and if I did that, I should be okay. I wasn’t so sure. There were a million ways I could be an arsehole, but I had to try. Unfortunately, there was one thing Rhys was crystal clear about. Under no circumstances was I to confront Darcy.Goddammit.At least not before Alec had decided about whether he was going to lay charges against the man.

“Don’t muddy the waters,” Rhys warned. “And don’t give the guyanythinghe can work to his advantage.”

I argued black and blue, but Rhys wouldn’t budge, and I knew he was right even if right left me angry as all hell. My fist in his face sounded pretty damn good right about then, but that was likely one of the aforementioned million ways I could be an arsehole about this, so I paid heed to Rhys’s warning, for now.

After his shower, Alec appeared in the lounge with some colour in his cheeks for the first time since he’d left the studio the day before. Something in my heart let out a soft sigh. We’d get through this. I wasn’t going anywhere no matter how much Alec pushed. He had no idea how stubborn I could be. I fed him melted cheese on toast like my mum used to make when I was sick and tucked him up on the couch with a blanket over his legs.

“Stop fussing and sit the fuck down.” He slapped my hand away from rearranging the blanket for the millionth time, and I did as I was told, watching him power through the toast. “Man, this is good.”

I grinned. “Yeah? I’m not a fan of toasted sandwiches. Mum used to melt a mound of sliced cheese in an old sponge tin on the stovetop until it bubbled and got all lacey and crisp at the edges. Then she scraped the whole lot onto cooked toast dripping with butter. Worth every heart-attack-inducing bite.”

Alec smiled around his final mouthful, his lips slick with butter. “Works for me.”

“What did Tim say when you called?” I ventured.

“He’s furious.” Alec wiped his mouth with the paper napkin. “He was all set to come over, but I put him off until tomorrow?” He sighed. “Not sure I’m up to that yet.”

“I don’t blame you.” I wiped the corner of his mouth with my thumb and then leaned in to lick the spot of greasy cheesiness clean. “Mmm. Yummy.”

He snorted and pulled me back for a much longer palate cleanser, then placed his empty plate on the coffee table and picked up the pad with my list and handed it to me. “Okay, talk me through it.” He slid down and pulled the blanket up to his chin, looking pale and nervous once again.

It almost broke my fucking heart.“Let him lead,”Rhys’s voice rang in my head.Well, okay then, and an hour later we had what we thought was a plan, kind of. It was more of a starting point, a few options to investigate before Alec considered anything more serious.

I was just about to make coffee when Alec’s phone vibrated on the coffee table and agenda item number one on our plan flashed on the screen.

Cage.

Alec’s gaze shot to mine. “I’m not ready.”

I shrugged. “It’s up to you. It’s probably just about a casting. You don’t have to say anything about yesterday if you don’t want to.”

He stared at the phone for a couple of seconds, then picked it up. The sharp tone of the female caller was audible from the other end of the couch, and I frowned. Then I watched as Alec blanched, and I scooted over to put a reassuring hand on his thigh.

He immediately put the call on speaker.

“—dropped the campaign and all other options on you. They’re going with Ray for this campaign. I can’t say I’m not disappointed in you of all people, Alec. What the hell were you thinking? Berlini is old school, you know that.”

What the hell?

Alec shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What did Berlini say?”

“Apparently Darcy Fenchurch told themyoucame on tohim. Stripped and offered him sex if he promoted you above Ray for the campaign. He claims to have been shocked and that he turned you down flat.”

Holy shit.

Alec gasped and almost dropped the phone. “He saidwhat?”

“You know damn well Berlini is super strict about that shit. There was no way they were going to book you after that, let alone consider you as their new face.”

A painful memory grabbed in my chest and doubt flickered for just a second. Then it was gone. No fucking way. I blinked hard, and when I opened my eyes, Alec was watching me. He shook his head.Shit.

Meanwhile, Cara was continuing on her warpath. “To be honest, I don’t give a fuck what you do, Alec, that’s your business. I’m well aware plenty of it goes on. But you need to be smart about these—”

“Now just hang on one fucking minute,” Alec finally interrupted. “This is all bullshit. Inevercame on to Darcy. Quite the opposite. If you really want to know the truth, which you never even bothered asking me about, he sexually assaulted me,Cara.Assaulted me.All he’s doing is covering his back because I told him no and got out of there as soon as I could. And right now I’m in the middle of deciding exactly what I’m going to do about him, and I haven’t ruled out the cops. You were first on my list to call, as it happens. I stupidly thought you might have my back.”

Dead silence.

---