“Or the videos.”
“Yes.”
“You realize some of us have identifiable tattoos, birthmarks, or scars.”
“Do you really believe your wife is going to be trawling illegally uploaded porn online?”
Brie’s lips purse, likely refraining from laughing, but I’ve had it.Hours of fielding member calls, and yes, my response is unprofessional, but I’m scraped raw.I can’t guarantee a video won’t leak of him.
“How many years back are the leaks?”
“As my letter said, so far nothing over one year old has been released.”From what I can tell, the more personal rooms weren’t breached until Elena split from Magpie, but I’m not sharing that level of insight.Could discovery expose more if the DOJ prosecutes Elena Vasquez?Yes.Is that in my control?No.
I feel like reaching out to the owner of Ashley Madison, the site that married couples use to cheat, to commiserate.When the site was hacked, I imagine he went through much the same thing.
All that said, I do feel for the couples who weren’t cheating on anyone and rightfully fear they’ll be exposed in a public forum.It’s not something I would want to happen, and in truth, I’ve used the rooms here, participated in more than one event.Hell, I might find myself with a sex tape of my own.If Elena possesses such a tape, I’m certain she’d be willing to share it widely without blurring my face.Given she attempted to kill me, humiliation feels beneath her—but not off the menu.
“This is a nightmare,” the man growls.The call ends and I lower the headset.
Typically, I’d take calls on speaker to avoid having a phone pressed to my ear, but given the delicate nature of my conversations, I’ve been avoiding the speakerphone.As I exhale, leaning back in my chair, I close my eyes, throat burning from constant use, tongue sanded with too many apologies, and a budding desire to avoid any more conversations for the rest of the day.
“You hanging in there?”Brie asks.
The red light on my desk phone lights up.I hold a hand out for her, gesturing for her to come to me.
“I’m done for the day.Messages can wait.”
It’s after eight in the evening and I’ve lost the ability to remain professional.It’s a sign I need to stop and pick it back up tomorrow.Alicia has a team working on this with me, answering questions with pre-approved answers, but my clients include a list of prominent, wealthy individuals who aren’t satisfied unless they speak to the owner.
And then my cell rings.It’s Tommy.Normally I’d call him back later, but while on the phone with members, both my father and sister called my cell.I hold up a finger, letting Brie know I’m going to take the call.
“Tommy,” I say in a tone that implies I’m exhausted and likely not alone.
“You’ve pissed off Margot.”
“What’d she say?”
Brie comes to my side of the desk and rests on the edge, watching.
“Said you blew a contact.Well, she called it a valuable relationship.Was so pissed she switched to French and you know my French sucks.What’d you do?”
“Saved her from herself.”I reach for Brie’s hand and rub my thumb along the end of her nail absent-mindedly.“Maybe.Did she say anything else?Anything you understood?”
“She’s on her way to Greece.Sounded business-related.”
And it would be.“Well, let me go.”
“You gonna call her?”
“No.”
“I don’t understand you two.”
“Right back at you.”
I end the call with Tommy, and press my father’s name.“I probably should’ve called him earlier.Let me get this over.It won’t take long,” I tell Brie.
She sees the screen in my hand.She knows.She crosses her arms over her middle, tentative.
