Page 132

Roman

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Leo shoves me into Jett’s office as soon as he unlocks the door. “I had one fucking rule. One rule. Keep your dick in your pants in the office.” My blood is boiling with a mix of rage, embarrassment, and shame. I thought I was so careful. How did I fuck up so badly?

“Whoa, dude, chill out,” Guy says, stepping between us. “What the fuck is going on?”

“What do you mean ‘What is going on?’ This is all your fault.” I shove Guy next, and he bumps into Luka, who trips backward over the chair. The rolling chair flies forward and crashes into a metal filing cabinet before smacking Jett in the back of the heel.

We all go still as we turn toward him. We all may be able to hold our own, but when it comes to fighting, Jett Kingsley is completely unhinged. He’s a loose cannon, and his moral compass isn’t calibrated like the rest of us.

Someone passes the small rectangle window, squeegeeing the floor, reminding us that we’re not alone. Jett’s nostrils flare and he sucks in a deep breath, shaking his head like he’s disappointed.

“I still don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” Guy says as Leo helps him to his feet. They both have the fucking nerve to glare at me like I’m the one out of line here.

I pull out my phone and open the video. It’s up to five million views now, and I don’t even want to open the comment section. Guy blinks before snatching the phone from me.

“Fuck me, I guess,” Luka mutters as he climbs up from the ground, picking up the toppled chair.

“Is that not the video you took? The one you threatened to send Leo if I didn’t get you a role as an extra?” I finally ask.

Luka scratches his head and huffs a laugh. “Seriously? That’s what you used your blackmail for?”

Jett glares at him, and he holds up his hands. “I’m just saying… From my professional opinion as a convicted criminal, if you’re going to blackmail someone, I think you should get your money’s worth.”

“I told you I’d send the video to Leo, not leak it to the press,” Guy clarifies, as the video starts over.

“Then how do you explain them having your video?”

Guy shoves his hands in his pockets, his eyes dropping to his feet. “If I had to guess, I’d say that maybe the girl I hooked up with last night, who stole my phone… leaked them.” He looks up and gives me a half shrug.

I see red, the anger and rage I felt this morning all returning in full force. I lunge at him, but Jett grabs me, pinning my arms behind my back so I can’t move. “You fucking idiot. Do you have any idea the mess this has made?”

“Wait? Do you not have a password on your phone?” Luka asks, sounding genuinely confused.

“Of course I do.” Guy shrugs. “She must’ve figured it out or hacked it somehow.”

“What is it?”

“What is what?”

“What’s your password?” Luka asks.

Guy goes quiet, and we all shake our heads.

Luka closes his eyes and nods. “It’s one two three four, isn’t it?”

“Sorry, I’m not paranoid like the rest of you. Jesus, it’s not like I have anything to hide,” Guy says, throwing his hands in the air.

“Just a video that could ruin Kira’s reputation, not to mention bring a whole slew of wannabe investigative journalists and content creators our way,” I say through gritted teeth.

“It’s not like I did it on purpose. How was I supposed to know she’d steal my phone?” As if that makes it any less his fault.

“Okay, so now we know what happened…” Luka says, trying to get the conversation back on track.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Leo shaking his head, and my heart sinks. I know he warned me that something like this could happen. I know he’s just dying to say, I told you so…

“Just fucking say it. I know you want to.”

Leo looks up at me, his jaw hard like he’s still trying to hold back his words.