Page 87 of Flirt
“You are,” Becca insisted. “In fact, you’re about to become really damn famous.”
“So, unless he flat-out lies, I’m screwed.”
“Not at all. We can file a lawsuit regardless.”
Asher shook his head. “Even if we get the book pulled and win some obscene amount of money, the damage will already be done. If he publishes the truth and I sue him, it looks like I’m trying to hide something. If he lies and I sue him, it still looks like I’m trying to hide something.”
Suing Kyle for monetary compensation had never crossed his mind. He already had more money than he knew what to do with. Even if the court ruled in his favor and had the book removed from publication, it wouldn’t change anything. The popularity of eBooks and other forms of digital entertainment had also given rise to rampant pirating. Pulling the book from a brick-and-mortar shelf wouldn’t stop people from searching it out—for free—on torrent sites. As the saying went, the internet was forever.
“Okay, let’s table this for now.” Rocking back in her leather chair, she templed her index fingers under her chin. “However, with your permission, I would like to pass this on to the legal team, just so we know what our options are.”
Asher offered a non-committal jerk of his shoulders.
Apparently, Becca took it as acquiescence, because she smiled charmingly and continued. “Beyond legal recourse, it’s all about perspective, and we need to manage that perspective. You were a kid who was manipulated and abused, and that’s that story we sell.”
“Wait, wait.” Sitting up straighter, Asher waved a hand to stop her. “What do you mean ‘sell’ the story?”
She sighed and tilted her head as if disappointed in his lack of foresight. “His side can’t be the only one people know. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to offer a response.”
“Like a statement?”
Her expression turned almost pitying. “Like interviews. I’ll set up a meeting with an excellent PR firm here in Dallas, but Asher, they’re going to tell you the same thing.”
He took a few seconds to process that, then asked the question that had been on his mind since Kyle had first dropped the bomb on him. “What about my career?”
Becca flicked her fingers dismissively. “Not to be callous, but scandal sells. However disruptive to your life, it’s only going to help your book rankings.”
The answer, while unexpected, did give him a measure of relief. Then, Becca opened her mouth again and shattered him.
“It getting out to the mainstream media that you’re gay is going to be the bigger hurdle to overcome. That blog was bad enough.”
Asher gritted his teeth and went back to counting her freckles.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t known that, but he’d deluded himself into thinking it wouldn’t matter. Naively, he’d believed that his past would overshadow the fact that he preferred men, but Becca had neatly burst that bubble with a few well-chosen words. Worse, she was right. Not everyone would want to read a gritty crime thriller written by a man who liked dick, as if his sexual orientation somehow negated his last dozen bestsellers.
The blog had been bad. However, it had only been a picture of him sleeping—alone—attached to a story written by a less-than-credible source. The rumors had swirled for a few days, but without confirmation or more evidence, it had eventually died away. Once news of his past surfaced, it wouldn’t just be rumors and hearsay anymore.
“Don’t worry. You’re not the first celebrity to endure a scandal, and you won’t be the last. We’ll get through this, Ash.” Clasping her hands together again, she rested her forearms on the desk and leaned closer. “Go home. Take a breath.Write.” She glared as she spoke the last command. “I need to get the ball rolling on this, but I’ll call you tomorrow with details.”
“Yeah, okay.” He gripped the arms of the chair and used them to push to his feet. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, then.”
Becca didn’t stand. “Breathe, Asher. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
By the next afternoon, things hadn’t gotten worse, but they sure the hell weren’t getting any better.
Asher had spent the morning talking to an attorney on retainer for Taggard and Associates, but he hadn’t learned anything new. Basically, he had options once everything went to hell, but there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.
The attorney had also informed him that having his past dragged into the open would be kind of like winning the lottery. People he hadn’t seen in years, or even those he’d only met in passing, would come out of the woodwork for their fifteen minutes of fame. Not that it “might” or “could” happen. The attorney had been adamant that he should expect it.
Asher had seen it happen to politicians, actors, and rock stars, but he never imagined it would happen to him. Considering the number of different men he’d taken to his bed in the past year alone, the media would have stories to fill their magazines, newspapers, blogs, and airwaves for months.
The only silver lining was that Becca had touched base with her contact at Platinum360 Public Relations. Talon Andrews had agreed to meet with Asher, but he couldn’tschedule a sit-down until after the weekend. Something about an emergency flight to Chicago to deal with a pop star who had throat-punched a reporter from some gossip rag outside of a Starbucks.
Becca had said he’d sounded enthusiastic about taking Asher on as a client, though, and he already had some ideas on how to minimize the damage. It sounded good in theory, and it helped that Becca trusted him. Still, Asher would reserve judgment until he met the guy.
Luke, of course, wanted to jump on a plane to Chicago, track down Talon Andrews, and demand he fix everything immediately. Lunch with him had been Asher’s next stop during his things-will-get-worse tour, and he was damn glad he hadn’t missed it.
