Each comment pierces me. But it's the ones about Korgan that make my chest tight with rage.
Typical savage behavior. Can't control themselves
She's lucky he didn't eat her after
This is why we need species separation laws
"I have to go," I tell Maya.
"Trinity, don't do anything stupid?—"
I hang up and storm out of my room, fury building with each step. The production assistants scatter when they see my face, which is probably smart of them.
I find Webb in the main interview room, looking smug as he reviews footage on a monitor.
"Enjoying the show?" I ask.
He looks up, all faux concern. "Trinity. I was hoping we could chat. This situation with the video?—"
"You mean the situation where someone violated my privacy and turned an intimate moment into a viral hate-fest?"
"Now, now." He stands, smoothing his tie. "Nobody violated anything. You were in a public space, on our set. The cameras are always rolling."
"In a storage shed during a rainstorm?"
"Our insurance requires comprehensive coverage." His smile doesn't reach his eyes. "For liability purposes."
Right. Liability. "And I suppose you had nothing to do with the caption that went with the leak?"
"I can't control how social media users interpret content."
The careful phrasing tells me everything. "But you can control which angles get leaked, and when, and to which accounts."
His expression doesn't change, but something flickers behind his eyes. Gotcha.
"The point is," he continues, "this represents an opportunity. A chance to address the, shall we say, concerns some viewers have about human-orc relationships."
"Concerns." I taste the word like spoiled milk. "Is that what we're calling racist vitriol now?"
"Trinity." His voice takes on a patronizing tone that makes my skin crawl. "You have to understand, some people aren't ready for this level of... integration. But we can help them adjust. We have a plan."
We.Like I'm part of his little scheme instead of the target of it.
"Let me guess. A redemption arc? Maybe a tearful confession about how I was confused and vulnerable? A public apology for my poor judgment?"
"Something like that, yes." He leans forward. "We could film it today. Get ahead of the narrative."
I gander at him for a long moment, letting the silence stretch until he shifts uncomfortably.
"Webb."
"Yes?"
"Go fuck yourself."
His mouth opens, but no sound comes out. I turn to leave.
"Trinity, wait." His voice sharpens. "You need to think about your future. Your bakery. This story isn't going away, and neither are the trolls. But we can help you manage the damage."
