“You didn’t add drama. They did when they lied. I have a few phone calls to make. I’ll order lunch. Rest because we are still announcing our relationship tonight, and I want you looking flawless and unbothered. I’m taking your phone for now. I don’t want you obsessing over the comments.
As soon as I’m out of the room, my second-in-command’s phone is ringing. “Hey, Axel. What’s up?”
“Hey, Anderson. There has been an account I’ve been mulling over for a few weeks. I’ve decided to cut it. If you look in one of the files I dropped off, you’ll find the iFit folder; pull our ads, and cancel our subscriptions to all of our locations nationwide.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Feel free to look at the numbers if you think I’m crazy.”
“Axel, I’m here to back you, not second-guess you.”
“I know, but I’m also human. I’m just saying, feel free to look if my decision sounds abrupt. Full disclosure—I am pulling them for personal reasons, but I don’t believe it will have a big impact on the business side.”
Anderson is quiet for a moment. “At first glance, I agree. The money we save from canceling the subscription and advertisements offsets the money we’re making from the traffic from them.”
“Good. The founder and his daughter are shady, and I don’t want any more bad press.”
“Gotcha.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll see you Monday.”
I connect with my next frequent contact. “Diana! How are you?”
“What happened now, Axel? We’re still squashing the pregnancy story.”
“I know you’re busy really earning your commission. I need to set up a meeting, and I know you have the proper contacts to make it happen. There’s a bonus in it for you.”
“I’m listening.” She tries to sound put upon, but she lives for this shit.
“I need to schedule a sit down with Houston’s Channel 4 executive producer. I need you to impress upon him or her that it’s in their best interest to do it sooner rather than later.”
“Are you saying I get to use your super-rich manpower to get people to bend to my will?”
“Calm down, Ursula. Use the power, but don’t abuse it.”
She disconnects with a sinister laugh.
Person number three.
“Beau Scott speaking.”
“Hey, friend,” I tease.
“Axel, you haven’t found a lawyer in California, yet?”
“Plenty, but they’re evil. I need one with a moral compass for this one.”
“I’m listening.”
I tell him about Heaven’s ex and nemesis, their lies, and harassment.
“The evidence has to be on point to keep from being her word against theirs.”
“How about the fact that part of her livelihood is as a social media influencer, and the interview they posted full of lies is getting her personally attacked on social media. Wouldn’t that fall in the defamation arena?”
“Yes, a case can be built for that.”
“Also, could we get Bodhi to request the security footage of all the times they approached us and not the other way around.”
