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I blow out a sigh. “The rumors are all true. All of them. But they barely scratch the surface of what I’ve been hiding.” I shake my head and drop my face into my palms. “What’s even worse is, I’ve been hiding this part of myself from my family. My friends. My community. And I think it’s time I finally come clean.” I draw in a deep breath and look straight into the camera. “I am a male stripper and escort.”

I pause, letting my confession sink in as I fix my expression into a look of shame and embarrassment. “If that wasn’t bad enough, I entered into a sexual relationship with Kira while she was working as my summer assistant…” I hold up my hand and clarify, “Many of you may be quick to judge her for cheating on her marriage, but I assure you, by the time we got together, their marriage was already over. If you don’t believe me, you can look that up for yourselves.”

Another favor I called in last night. Being a rich motherfucker affords me quite a few advantages in life, and I’d be an idiot not to leverage them. I made a couple of calls and had my guys make some adjustments to the legal documents. Which, according to the divorce papers, show Kira and Augustus split ways amicably two years ago. Each taking the respective half of their shared assets. Kira’s attorney was extremely cooperative in the process. And surprisingly so was Augustus.

I guess blackmailing him with the video evidence of his assault—that L.O.K.I. was easily able to hack from the airport security cameras—was all the convincing he needed.

Kira eyes me to keep going, and I clear my throat. “It’s not something I’m proud of, but I used my power over her and put her in a vulnerable position. An impossible situation where she was set up to fail.”

I nod, trying to keep a straight face. “Our relationship was completely inappropriate. We regularly engaged in sexual acts, not only during company time, but on company property. I’m sure we left a trail of DNA all over that office, which is not only unprofessional but wildly unsanitary.”

At that, Kira slaps her hand over her mouth to hold back her laugh, and I almost break.

I close my eyes, as if I’m too ashamed to look the viewer in the eyes and suck in a long breath. “I know all of this may come as a shock, but I assure you it’s true. I seduced Kira Blakely and charmed my way into her pants.” I tilt my head side to side. “Well, skirt mostly. Easier access and all that.”

Kira’s eyes widen as she looks up from the phone and mouths, “One hundred thousand viewers.”

Holy shit, that’s a lot of people tuning into a live video. Looks like my plan to break this news is working.

“Due to the shame I’ve brought not only to myself, but to my family… I’ve decided to step down from my position so I can reflect on my actions and the harm they’ve caused…”

I pause for a beat before delivering the most important part.

“And after much deliberation, I’ve made the very difficult decision to cancel this year’s Phantom Festival. My community deserves better than to pay for the consequences of my selfishness. I will, of course, refund all the vendors and merchants for wasting their time.”

All of it was already in the works, including the Hail Mary, with the Cryptid Chasers reality show that was supposed to be filming during the festival. It took some quick thinking, but I made them an offer and threw in some extra perks that they were all too happy to accept.

It’s taken me a lot to recognize the difference between not being able to handle people being upset with you and making things right. And now that I can see the difference, I won’t be so quick to sacrifice myself for other people’s comfort.

“Thank you for publicly holding me accountable for my actions. I know the scale on which the news broke, and the number of eyes the video reached, only shined a brighter light on my dark secret. Sometimes the witch hunt is necessary when the harm is this impactful.”

I choke down my laugh, masking it with something between a cough and a sob, and rub at my eyes as if just admitting it out loud is getting to me.

“I hope you will give me and my community space to reflect while I heal and learn how my actions have harmed the people around me. Good night.”

Kira ends the video, and we both double over and burst into laughter.

“Oh my God, that was soooo good,” she says through a fit of giggles.

God, I love her laugh. I want to bottle it up and play it as my alarm, so that I can start my day off on the right foot. I make a promise to myself right here, to give her as many reasons to laugh as I can.

We move to the sofa, where I pull her into my side. After everything that’s transpired over the past twenty-four hours, I’m having a hard time being more than an arm’s reach away from her. I don’t know how I’m ever going to let her out of my sight.

“You don’t think it was too much?”

She nuzzles in closer as she shows me her phone. “They’re eating it up already; just look at these comments.”

HuneyPot44: A man admitting to his mistakes?! I think I’m in love.

Andrea-n-Justin: Awe, why do I feel sorry for him? That must’ve been so hard to admit.

WildKat03: Forgiven! Are you booking for bachelorette parties?

PrincessDaisy: Why is HE taking all the blame? @KiraBlakely where’s your apology video??

TitiTea: *Fanning myself* Accountability is so hot.

NotPikin: Bummed about the festival, but he deserves privacy right now.