“Would you like to briefly introduce yourself to our audience?” William asked with a greedy keenness.
“I’m Randell Barker. Forty and single.”
William chuckled. “I’m sure the ladies will appreciate that bit of information, but you’re not here to make new friends, are you?”
“No, I’m here to talk about Kaitlynn Hamilton. The young woman who’s been seen a lot with Henry Darlington recently. There are a few things about Kate that I think people should know.”
I couldn’t take any more. I stopped the video and took a deep breath. My lungs felt tight, as if something were sitting on my chest. This couldn’t be happening. How the hell had Randell made it into William Hunt’s studio?
The answer was as obvious as it was simple: money. Henry and I hadn’t given him any, so now he was trying to profit off me in another way—by talking to the press. Bastard. I wanted nothing more than to throw my phone against the wall, but the interview was still out there, whether I watched it or not. It was better to know exactly what I was up against.
I pressed play again.
“Kaitlynn Hamilton. Finally! A name to the face!” said William, and photos of me and Henry appeared on the screen behind the two men—and not just those from McDonald’s and themasked ball. There were new ones. One showed me at the pub with Grace and Rose, and the other had been taken outside Better Days. With my damp hair, sodden clothes, and mud-streaked jeans, I looked terrible—completely dishevelled and unkempt. “So,” William began, “who is this Kate who has managed to wrap Henry Darlington around her little finger?”
“Above all else, she’s a dirty whore,” Randell said.
His last word had been bleeped out, but I had no trouble filling in the gap. My entire body was gripped by an icy chill. I desperately wanted to stop the video again, but I forced myself to be strong and listen to what else Randell had to say about me.
William gave an exaggerated laugh, as if the answer had taken him by surprise. “What?”
Randell grinned arrogantly, revelling in the attention. “You heard me right, William. Kate is a*****. She*****men for money. At least, that’s what she did before Henry became her sugar daddy.”
“Unbelievable,” William said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He was clearly thrilled to have landed such a sensational interview.
Randell nodded. “You’re right, it’s unbelievable. And that’s just the beginning. Kate’s mother and I were together for a while. She didn’t have enough money to support herself and Kate, so I stepped in and let them both live with me. Becca died of an overdose a year ago. I kept trying to help her get sober, but she wasn’t interested.”
A burning rage coursed through me. Randell wasn’t just an asshole; he was a liar!
“Is Kate an addict too?” William probed.
Randell sighed, as if my well-being actually mattered to him. “I don’t know, to be honest. I haven’t spoken to her for a long time, but it’s entirely possible. After her mother’s death, she totally lostit. She moved out, even though she had no money and no job. She spent the last year living on the streets. I already told you how she got by.” Randell made an obscene gesture to clarify.
“Wow.” William exhaled heavily. “You just made some pretty shocking claims. So Henry Darlington is involved with a homeless prostitute who’s after his money. Imagine that. How do you think they met?”
Randell raised his eyebrows. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Right, right,” William replied, his tone heavy with feigned regret. “What else should people know about Kate?”
Randell pretended to think for a moment. He probably had a list in his trouser pocket, itemising the terrible things he wanted to say about me. “Kate dropped out of school when she was sixteen and started stealing. She was arrested multiple times, but nothing ever came of it. But apparently, theft eventually stopped being lucrative enough for her.”
“So Kate isn’t just a hooker—she’s also a thief?”
“Yes. That girl is nothing but trouble.”
William nodded. “Good to know. Thank you for your insights, Randell.”
Randell smirked smugly. “You’re welcome, William. I thought it was important for people to hear that, so they know what kind of person Kate Hamilton really is—a kleptomaniac*****who should be handled with caution. Hide your money and your men.”
The video stopped.
The interview was over.
I was done for.
49
I just watched the Hunt interview. This shit is wild. The Darlingtons need their own reality TV show. #KeepingUpWithTheDarlingtons
