It might be hard to smile, but it’s surprisingly easy to take comfort in my husband.
Julia smiles, but it only makes her look more intimidating. “Shall we begin?”
I look at Luka and he nods, so I do, too. Even though we went over the list of questions we might expect, I can’t help worrying that we’re not as prepared as we possibly can be. We were also warned that Julia might stray from the list as the interview progressed, so I can’t help tensing up with nerves. I’m not sure I want to know what “straying” might entail for a reporter this serious, but I know I have to stay focused for Luka’s sake.
Julia starts her introduction after the camera rolls, recapping who we are and what the trafficking scandal was all about, then briefly references the paper she’s holding in her lap.
“I understand that your father’s trial is creating quite a difficult time for your family, and I appreciate you speaking with me today, both of you. Can you tell me, Luka, did you do anything to prepare yourself for the trial?”
He’s poised and confident as he flows into his response, which I know he’s practiced.
“My siblings and I agreed that we should support each other in every sense, but otherwise try to carry on inasmuch as it’s possible—just business as usual. Because we all knew this day was coming, and that it would destroy us if we let it. Honestly, there’s really no way to fully mentally prepare for something like this.”
I add, “We’re just trying to get through it together. One day at a time.”
Julia nods. “Understandable. No matter the crime, I’m sure it’s challenging to watch a parent go on trial. Regardless of whether the charges are accurate or not…”
There’s a pause as if she’s waiting for Luka to fill the space. He doesn’t.
She clears her throat and moves on. “What was your father like when you were growing up? Looking back, was there any indication that he’d be capable of something like this?”
I squeeze Luka’s hand and let out a slow breath. She certainly didn’t wait to get to the dirty details. But Luka doesn’t miss a beat.
“He was always a strict, hard man. Total workaholic, especially after my mother passed. When he was around enough to interact with us kids, he demanded perfection. Showed little emotion. I mean, I guess you could argue that the signs were there. Can I recognize them now, looking back? Not really, to be honest. My siblings and I mostly stayed out of his way. We had a lot of nannies and babysitters, and with his work schedule and our schooling it wasn’t that hard. It’s easy to get away with things when the people closest to you aren’t paying attention.”
I cringe inside. There might have been a jab at me in that statement, but I let it slide. This isn’t about me. Luka’s admission about his father cuts deep. He hasn’t spoken a lot about his dad before, and I never pushed. I figured when the time was right, he’d tell me what he was comfortable having me know. I feel bad that it’s only coming out now, in a TV interview.
“That’s very telling,” Julia says gently. My heart feels heavy for him and I realize he’s squeezing my hand back. “So the implication is that it would be easy for him to keep secrets?”
“Absolutely,” Luka says. “My father was a very powerful man, a very connected man. It was easy for him to do what he wanted without any interference.”
I shoot Luka a sympathetic look, and it’s not just for the cameras. I can’t imagine what it was like growing up in the same house as Konstantin.
“How do you think the agency will pull through all of this?” Julia presses. “You’ve been making big strides in rebranding, creating your own image and even renaming the company after your mother, is that right?”
“Yes. Danica Rose. We hope to move forward and create a legacy she’d be proud of.”
“That’s wonderful,” Julia says with a warm smile. “How is it working out so far?”
“So far, it’s been great.” Luka glances over at me. “We’re showing whoweare as an agency. An agency that’s free of my father’s actions and influence. What he did is in no way representative of the Zoric family, or our business. We work hard, we’re committed to doing the right thing, and we truly want our models to feel supported and to succeed. My family and DRM’s employees in no way condone what Konstantin Zoric did. We want no part of him. In fact, our younger sister even founded a non-profit to benefit some of the women he hurt, and we are very proud of the work she’s doing.”
Julia’s nodding, and she looks down at her notes again before turning to me.
“Brooklyn, what has all of this been like for you—not just signing on with the agency, but with respect to your marriage into the family—in the midst of all the fallout?”
I have the urge to shift in my seat, but I stay still and lift my chin.
“The media response has been a little overwhelming, but I never doubted Luka’s sincerity when he told me that neither he nor his family had anything to do with his father’s illicit activities. I trusted my heart, both when I signed on with DRM and then later, when Luka proposed. My heart hasn’t let me down. I know I’ve made the right choices.”
That was sugary sweet, but I meant it.
She smiles, and I can’t tell if it’s because she believes me or she’s trying not to throw up.
“And how has your marriage helped you through this, Luka?” she asks next.
My hairline tingles at what he might say. He needs to make us look good, and he will—but nothing that he says will be truthful. Not after what I did to him. Still, there’s a softness in his expression when he catches my gaze that I can’t fully discount.
“All the lies and secrets of my father have taught me the importance of having open and honest relationships in your life, and I just thank God for my wife, for teaching me how,” he tells Julia, glancing over at me again.
