Page 45 of Filthy Rich

“So he’s not really dating Octavia? It’s all a publicity stunt by the studio?” I can’t see who she’s talking to, but I can hear the other woman’s voice. I don’t recognize her, but I bet someone will. Her voice is ridiculously nasal.

“Of course it is. You think he’d really date that crispy critter?” Patrice snorts in a very un-ladylike way. “He’s vainer than I am—which is why we’re perfect for each other. Once all this nonsense is past, I’m sure we’ll get back together.”

“Back together?” Jake’s fingers are twitching on the edges of his phone. “I swear, she’s such a liar. I’m going to kill her.”

“You can imagine that this hasn’t been great for our ratings.” Adam looks quite unhappy. “Who could possibly believe that the studio wants these videos out?” He shakes his head. “We’ve filmed twenty percent of the scenes, and this film’s already dead in the water.”

“It’s only Patrice they hate, though.” Jake’s scrolling. “And as you can see, it’s not fake between me and Octavia.”

“I think you meant Crispy Critter,” I say, unable to resist.

Jake slams his phone down on the counter. “I won’t work with her. I know we’ve filmed twenty percent of the scenes, but I just can’t pretend with her anymore. Not after that.”

Adam wheels around and points at me. “You did that. Are you trying to get her part? Is that what this is about?”

“You can have it,” Stu says. “If you’ll sign a cease and desist and stop posting internal videos as weapons to force our hand, we’ll give you the role.”

“I would rather die than take that role, or any role in a movie.” I blink. “I’m telling you, this wasn’t me. I had nothing to do with any of it. There’s no way any evidence points to me. I don’t know what you think you have, but maybe they spoofed something?” I don’t even know what that means, but I’ve heard it used about computers before.

“Spoofed?” Stu actually looks amused.

“Maybe someone’s setting you up.” Jake’s brow furrows.

Stu says, “But we found the leak—AJ.”

“You found what?” I sit on one of Jake’s stools. “What’s an AJ?”

“It’s a person, a tech guy,” Adam says. “Are you insisting you don’t know him? Because I’m sure, once we bring you in, he’ll confirm that it’s you he was sexting with on the company server—you even joked he had to send you the files or you wouldn’t. . .” He clears his throat. “You know, you said that you would refuse his advances later.”

“He what?” I splutter. “You must be kidding right now. You think I’m using my feminine wiles to lure tech guys into doing my bidding?” I point at Jake’s phone. “Did you hear what she said? That’s what most people think when they look at me. I’m not a vixen, luring men into temptation with my body.”

“We have all the messages,” Adam says. “It’s only a matter of time before we can tie it all together.”

“Great,” I say. “Once you’ve done that and you have the right person, let me know.”

“I’m assuming you’re willing to share your phone, then, if you’re sure it has no trace of what you’re saying,” Stu says.

I whip it out of my purse and walk toward him.

Jake intercepts me. “Of course she’s not handing over her phone when she did nothing wrong. It’s your job to prove she knows someone named AJ—which she clearly doesn’t. You don’t get to snoop through her private stuff, and she’s not guilty until proven innocent. This isn’t Russia.” Jake snorts. “Or worse, TikTok.”

“Funny you should mention that. Previously those videos were only posted on YouTube and Instagram, but now the user, gorgeousmonstrosity3, has created an account on TikTok and the videos are trending there as well.” Stu holds out his hand. “Give us the phone, because we’re sure that?—”

“Gorgeous monstrosity three?” I ask. “That’s a weird name to choose. The song was written by Bea, and sung by me, so I could see taking the name gorgeous monstrosity, or even that I might claim two, but why would I pick three unless. . .” I scratch my chin. “Unless I was the third person to join the group.”

“Or the other two were already taken,” Stu says. “The video’s been up before of you singing it. You competed in that contest.”

“You looked like you had a thought,” Adam says. “Who did you think could be the third person?”

I actually really hope it’s not her, because I like Morgan a lot. I have no reason to think it was her, but she was there the first day, and. . . “Have you looked into Morgan Hadley at all?” I wince. “I know it didn’t really affect her either way. She was still going to be on the album either way, but. . . She’s a great guitarist, and she’s a smart lady, and I can’t imagine she’d do that, but she did make some changes to the guitar line, so she might feel some ownership of the song.”

“You think she might be ‘gorgeous monstrosity three,’ since she joined you two later on.” Adam sighs. “We should have thought of that.”

“Could you call her for us?” Stu asks. “Because as things stand, we’re running numbers to decide whether to shut this project down or try and find a replacement for Patrice. If we still don’t know where the leak’s coming from, we may be safer to just pull the plug.”

Bea would be devastated if that happened. It’s a huge break for her and for me, honestly. “What would happen to Morgan if it is her?”

Stu sighs. “The accounts have generated a lot of. . .interest. We can’t make her shut them down, but we’d make her an offer, like we have with you, to try and encourage her. . .” He clears his throat. “Er, we’d like to have some oversight in the future.”

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