Page 84 of Flirt
“Okay.” He was going to need a little more to work with if he wanted to participate in the conversation. “I’m too tired for guessing games, Cam. Just tell me what’s on your mind.”
Angling toward him, Cameron took one of Asher’s hands and clasped it between both of his own. “The story is going to get out there. I’m sorry. I wish there was a way to stop it, but it’s inevitable. Now, it’s just a matter of when.”
Unfortunately, Asher agreed. Giving Kyle the money might buy him some time, but it wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t stop Kyle from going public with what he knew. Or demanding more money. Or both.
“We could kill him,” Asher offered.
Cameron chuckled, just like Asher had hoped. “You couldn’t even kill that spider on your balcony. Besides,murdering a guy to protect your reputation might be a little counterproductive.”
“Hmm, good point.”
Cameron squeezed his hand. “I think it’s time to for a plan, Ash. We need to decide what we’re going to do once this goes public.”
Thewepart of that statement sounded damn good, and it made dealing with everything else a little easier. “Any suggestions?”
~
Ever since Kyle hadleft his office, Cameron had been trying to think of ways to minimize the damage. Public relations didn’t really fall under his job description, though. They were going to need help.
“Well, first, we probably need to discuss worst-case scenario. If everything falls apart, what will you lose?” He hated to ask, and he didn’t want to think about that actually happening, but he had to know exactly what they were up against.
“Luke asked me something similar, so I’ll tell you what I told him. The absolute worst thing that can happen is that I never sell another book.”
Cameron didn’t like the sound of that at all. “That wouldn’t stop you from writing, though, would it?”
“No.” Asher ran his fingers through his hair, making the dark locks stick out all over his head. “I can self-publish. I can writer under a pen name. There’s no guarantee that I’ll have nearly the same success, but I do have options.”
A small, selfish part of him wanted that. Not for Asher to lose his agent, or for his publisher to drop him, but he wanted Asher to have more control over his career. He wanted him to be able to write what he loved, what made him happy. Not what sold the most copies.
“Well, if you end up broke and desolate, you can always sell that fancy house and move in with me.”
He’d said it flippantly, trying to lighten the mood, but the panic in Asher’s eyes had him fighting back a sigh. Obviously, it was too early in their relationship for any kind of talk about cohabitation, but Asher didn’t have to look like he’d rather swallow broken glass than live with him.
Still, he’d come a long way from the guy who never fucked anyone twice and kept everyone at arm’s length.
“Money is definitely an issue,” Asher said after a long, awkward silence, “but not for the reason you think. The only reason I got away with not being on social media or attending book signings is because I convinced Becca—who, in turn, convinced my publisher—that the air of mystery would work in my favor.”
Cameron had no trouble following his train of thought. “Now, it’s likely to blow up in your face.” His millions of fans had spent over a decade wondering who he was, what he looked like, how he lived, what he ate for breakfast. “You’re going to have every reporter in the country camped out on your lawn, and probably more people wanting money from you.”
Asher swallowed audibly and nodded. “It’s going to be a shit storm.”
“It will be for a while.” With most situations in life, Cameron preferred to be optimistic, and their current predicament was no different. “It’ll blow over, and everyone will move on to the next wedding, baby, cheating husband, or Hollywood rumor.”
“Until my next book releases,” Asher grumbled, “or the next movie. Then it’ll start all over again.”
Sadly, that was probably true. Cameron had no firsthand experience with anything like this, but he did own a television. It seemed the networks loved any reason to revisit a good scandal, especially during a slow news week.
Fuck, he wanted to help, to make this better for Asher, but he had no idea where to start.
“Do you have a publicist?” A good PR campaign couldn’t hurt.
Asher shook his head. “My publisher deals with all the marketing for the books, and the studio handles themovies. No real need for a publicist when I’m never out in public as an author.”
“It might not be a bad idea to looking into getting one. I have a feeling you’re going to be ‘in public as an author’ very soon.” It was all about spin, or so he’d read. He should research it. Make a list of PR firms. Gather contact information. “What about an attorney?”
“I don’t really know what good an attorney would do.” Asher chuckled darkly. “A contract is only good if both parties abide by it. Even if I paid him the money and threatened to sue him into tomorrow, if he really wants to sell that story, it won’t stop him.”
No, it wouldn’t, and Cameron had come to the same conclusion. “I’m not disagreeing, and I fully support you not paying that asshole a penny. With that being said, we don’t really know what’s going to happen. I think it would be a good idea to talk to an attorney.”
