“I’ll definitely make it.”
“Good.” He pauses. “We have some questions for you, as the proposal stated.”
My pulse races, and my gut tightens. I really do feel like a convict on trial.
“About Connor, right? About him calling me out in public?”
“Indeed. We need to get a full understanding of this situation. If you would care to explain.”
I wish they could see my face and the sincerity as my mouth runs with the explanation. Feeling on trial brings the trap of helplessness back, and my words come out in one ragged flow, with embarrassing tears. I can’t help them spilling free as I unload. A cathartic release in front of the people who control my career.
Connor is my ex, I was with him for years, helping him in the music scene. I thought he’d make it, honestly, but I didn’t think it would be like this! He cheated on me, with a girl called Carly, and left me before I became an entertainer. I was single when I signed up, I swear, and I never told him. I never, ever gave him a clue. I never even wanted to see him again. But Carly turned out to be Josh’s sister, and Connor found out I was an entertainer, and the whole thing got crazy…
“Calm down,” the man says. “It’s ok, Holly, this isn’t a trial. We’re purely trying to get a picture of what we are dealing with. Orla explained the situation after having spoken with you, and it was already under investigation by us.”
I try to breathe through my tears, struggling to calm myself.
“Ok.”
“If we’d have believed you were purposely trying to expose The Agency, or had taken any monetary deals which would jeopardise us, we would have barred your account immediately.”
I manage a deep breath, relief flooding through me.
“Thank you. I’m so glad you didn’t. I was so scared, I couldn’t face looking. Not for ages. Because my job means so much. I love being an entertainer!”
“We can tell that from your reviews.” He pauses. “And from witnessing your enthusiasm firsthand.”
I nod in my hood. I wish they could see my relieved smile.
“Back to the topic at hand,” the man says. “Does your ex-boyfriend have any evidence of your involvement with The Agency? Any details about us?”
“No. I would never share that information. Neither would Josh. Sorry, um, Weston. You know him as Weston.”
“Do you believe your ex would be trying to gain access to us? To uncover our identity?”
I shrug at that.Just be truthful, baby.
“I don’t know. If he was still bothered about me, then maybe.” I take a breath. “Connor’s a self-obsessed prick though, and he’s probably getting so much smoke blown up his arrogant ass now he’smade itthat he doesn’t give two tosses about me or what I’m doing. He’s drawing plenty of attention by screwing people around himself. He doesn’t need me around to cause a whirlwind of gossip. People have plenty of keyboard warrior fuel without him spouting on about me.”
“We’ve noticed that social media attention on you has decreased substantially over the past few weeks.”
“Thanks to Katie Del Francis and a poor MUA, yes.”
“And to many others,” the man says. “There is a lot more yet to come.”
Something in his tone sends a zip of energy straight up my spine. Whoever this is knows something. Knows things about Connor. Things I don’t.
“We are very well connected as an organisation,” the man continues. “We have access to a great deal of resources. And as I said, we have been conducting our own research behind the scenes.”
I can’t resist the urge to question him.
“Has Connor messed up even more since the MUA thing? What’s he done? Is he on drugs, or has he screwed more people over? He could have done anything, I know that. He’s such an idiot.”
I get a stab of resentment at the thought of the man I used to love. I thought he was so much better than this.
“I’m sorry, Holly, but I’m not prepared to share that information,” the man says. “We’re the ones asking the questions here.”
“Of course, sorry.”
