Page 149 of Fe
“You awake enough?”
Fen nodded. Ripley made the call and put the phone on speaker.
“Mr Belmont,” a woman said.
“Ms Curtis.”
“Please call me Bella.”
Ripley shook his head at Fen and mouthednot a friend. “Ms Curtis, you’re on speaker. I have Fen Wood with me.”
“Fen! Fen! You poor thing.”
Fen was immediately irritated.
“I’m Jack’s publicist. And we’re going to sort out this mess. You’re not to worry.”
Fen couldn’t help but wonder if thewemeant Bella and her team or Bella and Jack. Or even Bella and him. He wanted to ask what his father thought about it but then again, if he’d believed those lies…
“What the paper said… It isn’t the truth,” Fen said. “Now it’s on the internet for ever and ever. And it’s lies.”
She laughed. “The press never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”
Don’t laugh, you bitch!
“I’d like you to come in tomorrow and speak to our lawyers. Needless to say, don’t talk to the press. Not a word. Ten o’clock. See you then.”
She ended the call and Fen sucked in his cheeks. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. Should I even go?”
“It’s a good idea to present a united front. Your father won’t be happy about this either so… Maybe a joint statement will get rid of the rabble outside.”
“A statement saying he’s ignored the fact that I’m his son for the whole of my life? What spin could he possibly put on that?”
“He didn’t know? Your mother made him promise not to contact you? She lied to you?”
Fen shuddered. “Will you come with me?”
“Of course I will.”
Fen allowed himself a little hope.
It didn’t last long.
Ripley had told him to stay offline, but the temptation was too strong. His half-sisters were all over Instagram and TikTok. He curled up in a tighter ball on the couch.
“They don’t even know me,” Fen muttered.
“They’re looking for attention.”
“Scottstolethat stuff from my mum. How can he get away with doing that?”
“I’m not saying it’s irrelevant, but the information is out there now.”
“Has Christian called you?”
Ripley didn’t answer straight away and when Fen looked up at him, he nodded.
“What did he have to say?”
