Page 89 of Pick Six
“We belong together, Harp. I know he’s fucked with your head. Made you believe he could change for you. Promised you things we both know he’ll never deliver on. I know I fucked up and made you vulnerable to his shit. But I’m here now, and I’m going to fix things. Just come back to me and we’ll figure it out.”
It’s all so incredibly rich coming from Drew. Infuriating really, to hear him talk about Alex like he’s the villain in this situation while he’s actively plotting to destroy his career and his public image just because he’s pissed.
“I’m not coming back to you. You don’t love me. You just don’t want him to be with me. Those are two very different things.”
“Then I guess I’m releasing these photos of your injuries. Of the abuse he caused, and then calling the cops to tell them what I know about the incident. How sheepish you were. How you had to step out of the room because he lost his temper even in our meeting.”
“Drew…” I warn him softly but it’s useless because I can see the look on his face.
“Harper. You can either come back to me, or I can handle it on my own.”
“I don’t want you releasing these pictures or this insane fabricated story.”
“Then come back to me. We can go to therapy, and we’ll work through all of this.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“You can, or I’ll do what I have to.” He levels me with a dark look, his eyes devoid of anything but malice.
“You’ll destroy your own career in the process. No other client will trust you not to betray their NDA.”
“It’s worth it if I save you—us—in the process.”
“You are not thinking this through, Drew.”
“No.You’renot thinking it through. I’ll give you a few days to figure it out, Harp. I know you’ll come around to seeing it my way. But in the meantime, you need to get away. Break things off with him. Get out of his orbit—stay away from him. You’re not fucking safe. Then I’ll give you the time you need to figure things out before I release these.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking. He could lose his job.”
“I don’t care about his job, or him. He has enough money, fame, and women for a lifetime. He doesn’t get to take you and our life away from me. He’ll live, Harper. He’ll forget about you just as soon as the next new shiny thing comes along.”
My blood runs cold. Alex was right. If he was willing to do the things he did to me, he was willing to do much worse to him. And Drew would wield me like a blunt weapon if it meant he could take him out. I need to buy time. Time to think and time to fix this.
“Fine. I’ll… I’ll consider leaving him and trying therapy, but don’t do any of this. I don’t want those pictures out. They’re going to hurt me as much as they hurt him.”
“If you leave him, we don’t have to share the pictures if you don’t want to. But I think we should. People should know who he really is. What he did to you. What he did to me.”
I almost think Drew believes his own lies at this point, the way he’s talking.
“I’ll leave. But I need time to break things off. If I do it too abruptly, he’ll freak out and suspect something. I just need some time to get away. Give me a few weeks.”
“I’ll give you a week, Harper. Then I’ll start moving forward, with or without you.”
“Fine.”
“Something else I want you to keep in mind, if he gets in your head about this. Tries to convince you to change your mind... My father is still on the board for your museum.”
“I’m aware. Your father’s support during the levy has been very helpful. I’m grateful he put the fact we’re divorced aside and continues to support the institution and my work.”
“He’ll keep supporting you unless he hears my version of events. The real version. He hears that? That you cheated on me? That Alex betrayed me? That you both forced me to go along with this story because Alex threatened my job… His support will vanish. In fact, I’d guess he’d probably feel compelled to expose everything about your museum to the public before the vote so that people knew exactly what kind of institution they’d be supporting.”
“What are you talking about? The museum is completely above board.”
“Are they? Or is there a reason you’re so broke? Maybe funds have been redirected. Maybe there’s been embezzlement. We’d have to get to the bottom of it.”
My gut churns with fear and rage all mixed into one kettle.
“You wouldn’t do that.”
