Page 50 of Breakpoint
The dam of Dani’s composure crumbled. Jaz was the most honest person she knew, and she had been keeping secrets from her.
“Tell me?” Dani’s voice rose, a sharp edge of disbelief cutting through the quiet.
“I thought you already did,” Kira mumbled from the couch.
Jaz cut her eyes to her agent on the couch, shooting her daggers. “Not helpful, Kira. We received some photos—”
“And video,” Kira added.
Jaz rolled her eyes at Kira again. “And video of our date together in DC.”
“Wait, you two are dating?” Chris asked. His eyes widened in shock, and his mouth hung open.
“Dude, you ARE clueless.” Kira laughed. “How did you not know?”
Chris looked back and forth between Dani and Jaz like he was just putting the pieces together. “Dani, you're a lesbian?”
Kira laughed and shook her head. “This keeps getting better and better.”
“EVERYONE SHUT UP!” Dani screamed with her fist balled at her sides. There were too many people talking, and she needed to get to the bottom of whatever was going on. She blew out a breath to calm her nerves and turned to Jaz. “So, pictures of us in DC. What’s the problem? There are pictures of us together all the time.”
“This was taken during the movie. When we were kissing,” Jaz explained, her demeanor soft and lacking the normal confidence that Dani was used to. “But Kira and I are taking care of it.”
“How long have you known about this?”
“Since Cincinnati,” Jaz answered. “And we’re trying to find out their price and make it go away.”
So Jaz had known about this for weeks and said nothing. But Dani was more confused about something else. “Why would we pay them off?”
“Because, Dani, you can’t be lesbian,” Chris declared, butting back into the conversation,again.
Dani turned on him, eyes ablaze. “Excuse me? What did you say?”
“Dani, you’re the complete package. You’re the all-American white girl, who isactuallygood, with the sex appeal that sponsors and men fall all over. Why do you want to screw that up being gay? And with her?” He pointed at Jaz.
“Hey!” Jaz yelled at him. “Fuck you.”
Chris continued, “Dani, I know what’s best for you and your future. And I’m telling you to let Jaz pay this person off, and you go on being every man’s fantasy. Trust me.”
The room was quiet while Chris’s words sank in. Dani finally broke the silence. “I get it.” She nodded.
Chris smiled and nodded his head. “I’m glad you do.”
“You’re fired,” she declared with finality.
“Wait? What?” His face was aghast. “You don’t know what you’re doing here? Think of the endorsements! Think of yourbrand! This… this relationship you’re in…its—”
“It’s what? Wrong? Immoral? Unnatural?” Dani had fire in her eyes and rage like she had never felt. “I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m removing someone from my life who doesn’t support me. ALL OF ME.”
She’d swallowed the bitter pills of forced smiles at events with male athletes she barely knew, the strategically placed “candid” photos with eligible bachelors on her socials, the constant pressure to cultivate a sexy hyper-feminine, all-American heteronormative image. All because Chris swore it was the only path to success, to the lucrative deals, to the lasting legacy.
“Dani,come on,” he pleaded.
“I’m not interested in anyone who puts Daniela theproductfirst over Dani, theperson.You can leave now.”
Chris slunk out of the room, slamming the door on his way out. Silence descended around them.
She ran her hands through her hair, wondering how the fuck she was going to survive right before the US Open without an agent. She spied out the corner of her eye Jaz walk over to Kira and whisper something in her ear. Kira nodded and quietly exited the apartment.
