Page 164 of Twisted Truth

I can’t feel like this ever again.

ELLA

If Asher could seemy texts now, he’d think I’m crazy. He’d think I’m a hypocrite. But I’m not. ButI amplaying a dangerous game of chicken with Kyle, and I hope to hell it works.

I got an interesting email from RTZ about a story that’s due to break tomorrow. I read the story, and funny enough, it read like fiction, because everything in it is completely made up.

It’s the truth.

I never even met Asher until after we broke up.

That’s a lie.

It’s not. But you know what? It doesn’t even matter. Because even if the public believes I cheated on you with Asher, which I didn’t, they’ll look past it pretty quickly when I tell them my side of the story and what you did to me.

You left me and cheated on me, it doesn’t get much worse than that.

What about theft? Is that worse? I have screen shots of all of my bank and credit card accounts, and how you stole thousands of dollars from me.

You can’t prove it was me.

I sure can. I have the bank’s CEO’s number. I just have to call him up. He’s afraid of Asher, so I’m sure he’ll provide me with any documentation I need. But that’s not all I have. I have the lovely videos of you burning my things. How do you think people will look at that?

They’ll say you deserve it for being a cheating whore.

And the pictures I have of the bruises you left on me? How about when I tell people you threw me into a wall because I broke up with you? You didn’t assault me for cheating, you assaulted me because you’re a small, insecure little man who couldn’t handle rejection. I haven’t called the NYPD about my case in a few weeks because I’ve been busy. But I can remedy that, and I can pressure them to hurry things along with the assault charges. I have all the proof. And I can arrange for the media to be outside your apartment when you’re arrested for domestic violence. How does that sound?

YOU BITCH

No, you’re the little bitch. I was content to let this all go. I moved on with my life but you clearly couldn’t do the same, and now you’ve fucked yourself over. If this story goes live, I’ll go public with the theft and assault. Not only will the public turn on you, but you’ll find yourself in jail. And if you think your court-appointed public attorney is any match for Asher Langford’s legal team, you’re even more deluded than I thought. They’ll bury you in court and make sure you serve the maximum time for every charge brought against you. You could have just walked away, Kyle, but you chose to fuck around and now you’re about to find out how stupid that was. Asher Langford is one of the richest and most powerful men on the planet. He will destroy everything you have and he can do it without even trying. But I could convince him not to if you pull your head out of your ass and call the story off.

It takes almostan hour to get a response.

I called RTZ, they’re refusing to retract the story you stupid cunt.

Dammit.Okay, fine. I’ll go straight to the source. I call RTZ and sit on hold, waiting to speak with their editor in chief. This game of chicken is getting riskier by the minute, but it’s my only option.

“Ms. Hale,”the man says, finally answering. “What can I do for you?”

“The Langford Holdings PR team for Asher Langford received an interesting email this morning. It was a leaked copy of the article you all plan to publish tomorrow.”

The man is silent for a moment. “And what do you want from me?” His voice is aggravated, he clearly wasn’t aware that the story had been leaked to us.

“I want you to know that the Langford Holdings legal team is already putting together a case for slander and defamation.”

He laughs. “That’s what they always say.”

“Yes, but this time there will be legal charges mixed within the suit as well. You see, Kyle, the little star of your article, failed to inform you of some very problematic points in his story. Not only is his version of events completely false, he is currently under investigation from the NYPD for theft and assault. So, if your publication wants to be the type of publication who props up men for assaulting and stealing from their girlfriends, you go right ahead. In a postMe Too Movementworld, we’ll see how the public reacts.”

“Wait, are you saying he assaulted you?”

“Yes. And I have proof. Pictures, videos. I also have proof that he stole thousands of dollars from me.”

“If you’re willing to go with that story, I could probably make a deal.”

“Oh, no. I don’t want to go public with this very private matter. I can if I need to, though. And if I do, I’ll make sure to drag RTZ through the mud as hard as I can. I’ll make sure you’re known as the media outlet who hails DV abusers and thieves; who puts them on a pedestal and gives them a platform. I have theWashington Poston standby to publish my side of the story. Who will the people take more seriously? RTZ the trash celebrity gossip site, or the heraldedWashington Post?”

“How do I know you’re not lying without proof?”