“What’d she say?”
“That she didn’t believe Jay, but had been too scared of losing her job to speak up.”
“So not everyone believed him then.”
“No, not everyone.”
“Where there’s one in your camp, there’s probably two. If you’re willing to let others help you with this, Hope, I think between us we may be able to come up with a plan to get this Jay back while he’s here.”
She was shaking his head before he’d finished. “No, I don’t want others to know. Those photos and clips he took of me, he told me he’d release them if I made trouble.”
“Did you see them?”
She nodded. “They’re horrible. I’m rambling and look drunk.”
Newman was fairly sure he needed to do something to this Jay that would ensure he never messed with anyone again, and have a little chat with him about the right way to treat a lady.
“So. People get drunk all the time and end up on social media. Big deal.” He shrugged.
Hope dropped her eyes.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, Hope, this is not grade school. Tell me what you’re hiding. I may be able to help.”
He saw the devastation in her eyes as she looked at him again.
“People know how I feel about drugs, because I may not be outspoken, but on this matter, I will voice my opinion.”
“Sure, even I know that. I remember when that Kyle Blatch brought some to school, you ripped him a new one.” Newman wasn’t sure where she was going with this but didn’t think he was going to be happy when she got there.
“Jay put white powder around my nose, and some on the table, and he…” She closed her eyes. “He made it look like I was using heroin.”
“I’m going to kill that fucker!”
“Get in line.”
He held her again, wrapping his arms tight around her.
“You should have told me this right off.”
“Why? There’s nothing you could have done. Jay had the clips of me naked, drunk and supposedly high. If he releases them, I could be charged. My reputation would take even more of a hit than it has, and I would never be able to look my mother in the eye again.”
“Okay, sure this changes the playing field, but only slightly,” Newman conceded. “Plus, he would have to be able to prove it, as it’s still his word against yours.”
“Except I look drunk or high. The evidence is damning, Newman.”
“Why are you so willing to let him take away everything you’ve worked for?”
“I had no choice.” She shrugged out of his arms. “I wasn’t popular, I told you. He was. The fight to clear my name would be a hard one.”
“So you gave up before trying. I thought you were tougher than that.”
That pissed her off enough to have her eyes firing to life as she gave him a heated look.
“Not everyone is popular, Mr. Nice Guy.”
