Page 10 of The Pursuit of Happiness

“Shit,” Selene whispers to herself. She was hoping for a solid answer just as we all were.

I feel my chest sink. I’m not stupid, I know Slater didn’t record it. But that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t in on it and that doesn’t mean that he’s not the one who leaked it.

Dallas continues, “Our best guess at the moment is that the video was recorded and distributed from an out of date phone. If that’s the true case, finding who leaked it is going to be a lot harder than expected, but wewillget to the bottom of it,” he promises Selene.

She nods, “Thank you, Dallas.”

He dips his chin, “There’s more.” This grabs all of our attention. I sit up straighter in my seat and find that it feels harder and harder to breathe with every given second. I can’t take many more plot twists in this fucked up story. Dallas shares, “The video was leaked to the tabloids first and it was distributed at four twelve in the morning.”

Harvey scoffs, “So whoever leaked the video did it intentionally so that the tabloids would be the first to get it. They wanted the media to react the way it did.”

Brody asks, “What does that mean?”

Harvey’s jaw sets and he looks furious, “It means that this is just as we suspected. Someone wanted to fuck with your chances of winning that Muse Award and they thought that damaging your reputations and giving you bad press was the way to do it.”

“Slater,” I whisper and everyone’s eyes land on me.

Dallas asks me, “You think he’s behind this?”

Ivory answers, “Thunderstrike is our competition for that award and you think it’s a coincidence that Slater had to do with that video? Obviously he was behind it. Him and that creep, Rogan wanted to fuck with our chances of winning that award.” Her voice is incensed as if her blood is boiling from inside. Her cheeks even have color.

Brody deflates, “I can’t believe they would go to that kind of extreme to do this to us.”

Selene announces, “Well they aren’t getting away with it because if they want to play dirty, I’ll play dirtier and I’ll start with that little shit, Slater Nicks. You three are winning that Muse Award because you fucking deserve it and I don’t care how dirty I have to play to make sure that happens.”

The room goes silent and the hair rises on the backs of my arms. Selene is furious and rightfully so. We all are. Dallas’ eyes are trained on Ivory though he speaks to Selene, “So what do you want Harvey and I to do?”

Selene raises a brow and for a second I forget that I’m looking at Selene Stone and not at a queen commanding her people, “I need you to find out where that video came from and I want to know the names of everyone who’s involved.” She turns her gaze on me, “And then I am going to sue the fuck out of them for violating California Penal Code 647(j)(4) which makes it absolutely illegal to distribute sexually explicit material of an individual without their knowledge and consent. If you think that’s where I’m finished, I’m not even getting started because if I find out that Slater Nicks was involved and you have drugs in your system, I’m going after him for non-consent,” her voice is so macabre it strikes fear in me as though I’m the one who leaked the video. I’ve never been more afraid of Selene before.

Ivory reaches for my hand and squeezes, “Selene will fix this,” she promises.

I nod. I never doubted Selene. I know if anyone can fix this it’s her. “But Selene, what about the tabloids?”

“We have our team removing all pictures, audio, and video from social media sites, tabloids, everything. You don’t have to worry about that,” Dallas promises.

I shake my head, “That doesn’t mean people didn’t save copies.”

“If they did, they’re in possession of revenge porn. I’ll put out a press statement reminding people that if they distribute it, wewill be taking legal action,” Selene answers.

Brody huffs a sarcastic laugh, “Selene, you can’t possibly sue every single person who does that.”

Selene gives Brody a commandeering look, “I don’t have to sue every single person. I just have to make them think that I will so that they’re so scared shitless that they don’t do it.”

Harvey gives Selene a nod of approval, “Then it’s sorted. Dallas and I will put the entire company on this right now.” Dallas and Harvey exchange a look and Harvey looks down at Brody, his shoulders relaxing, “I’ll be home later, I want to work on this.”

Brody nods and kisses him chastely before saying lowly, “Thank you.”

He kisses her forehead before heading for the door, Dallas at his back. When it’s just Selene, Brody, Ivory, and I, Selene exhales, “God, I am so fucking pissed right now.”

“I’m sorry, guys,” I apologize to all of them. “I never meant for any of this to happen.” I say to Brody only, “I’m sorry this is the first thing you have to hear about and deal with when you get home. I hope it didn’t taint your trip,” I feel so unbelievably guilty right now.

Brody cocks her head at me and rolls her eyes, “Have you forgotten that I almost got us dropped from our record label and sued?” Five months ago when Harvey left Brody heartbroken, she was so depressed she never showed up to the studio to finish the album with us. We only had one song left to finish, but we missed the deadline because Brody didn’t show and our record label threatened to drop us and tried to sue us. It was a complete nightmare and I’ve never been more afraid of my career’s destruction becoming a reality. Until now, of course.

“Don’t remind me,” Selene grumbles, but Brody remains focused only on me.

Brody rolls her eyes at Selene’s comment but continues,“What matters is that I’ve fucked up before and I’ve done things without thinking that hurt you guys and risked your careers along with mine. So what I’m trying to say is that I’ve made mistakes too and I would never hold it against you for doing the same.”

Ivory adds, “We found a way out of it then and we will now.”

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