The Lawyer: Gave Me Sex Love Taste

“We’re on standby,” Jenner said.

I disconnected the call and turned up the music, pounding my fist on the steering wheel, my mood bubbling like I was standing on burning coal.

This was bullshit.

There shouldn’t be naked photos of my girlfriend online, causing her to throw up her coffee at breakfast.

I shouldn’t have to worry about her safety or her unpredictable fucking sister.

Kendall was right; the show had changed so much.

And I was responsible for all of it.

Now, the aftermath was tucked into my bed, sobbing her fucking eyes out.

I had to fix this.

I parked in front of the studio’s entrance and rushed inside the lobby.

I walked past the three receptionists who were sitting behind the desk and said, “I’m Dominick Dalton. You can let Ted know I’m on my way up.”

I stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor, the lift instantly rising. Once it opened, I headed for his office, passing another receptionist on the way.

“Excuse me, Mr. Dalton-”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I held up my hand. “If he’s in a meeting, tell him to end it.”

I continued past her toward the end of the hall, clenching his doorknob and pushing it open. Ted was behind his desk, the CFO also in the room, the COO in another chair, and a fourth guy, who I assumed was their legal counsel.

“Dominick,” Ted said as I entered, a man I’d had drinks with many times at social events around town, “we’ve been expecting you.” He pointed at the only empty chair. “Take a seat.”

I planted my ass down and crossed my legs. “I want answers. Now.”

“We’ve spoken to Shane Eldridge-the head of production, as you know-and he’s working with the production staff to see what he can find out,” Ted said, folding his hands on top of his desk. “The alert was released only two hours ago. You know there are protocols in place and proper procedures that we have to follow. We need more time.”

“Here’s what I know …” I glanced at each of their faces. Their lawyer had coached them to stay aloof, revealing nothing that could hold them accountable. “The leak had to come from your studio. Whether it was from the executive side or from someone in the editing room or the production team, it doesn’t matter. Their intention and their actions hurt my client.”

“We’re not in the business to hurt anyone, Dominick. I assure you, we want answers as quickly as you do.”

Ted was filling me with meaningless corporate jargon. Words I would have told my client to say if one of them were sitting on the other side of this desk.

“We both know you’re in the business to make money,” I barked. “Whoever sold those photos hit a large payday-not to mention, the media attention the show has gained as a result.” I gripped my armrests before I pounded my fists on his goddamn desk. “Kendall Roy has been violated. She put her trust in your studio, and you’ve destroyed that trust. She won’t be stepping foot on any of your sets or in front of any of your cameras until I’m satisfied with the answers you’ve provided.”

“She’s under contractual obligations-”

I cut off the attorney with, “We both know I can tear up that motherfucking contract.”

“Dominick,” the CFO started, “I need to remind you, Kendall was warned that whatever occurred in that apartment, including each of the rooms inside, would be on camera. That footage is accessible and legally allowed to be shared.”

The anger in my chest was fucking erupting.

“Photos of her ass, of her on her goddamn knees, are not in the realm of appropriate, and apparently, I need to remind you of that.”

“But still … permitted,” he continued.

That footage wouldn’t have made it past the editing room. If it did, possibly airing a ruffling under the covers or a seductive pose prior to any physical engagement, her body would have been blurred. Pornographic material in any capacity was not authorized to be aired.

He knew that.

They all fucking knew that.

I pushed myself to the end of my chair. “Let’s cut the bullshit right now. Even if the photos weren’t timestamped, I know the date those still shots were taken. I know because it’s me who’s in them.”

All four men glanced at each other, their expressions unchanged.

“The date it took place was prior to the start of filming, a date when you were not supposed to be recording any material in that apartment.” I stared into Ted’s wrinkled fucking face. “I need answers. I need names. And I need to know how you plan to make this right.”

“We’re working as hard as we can, Dominick. You have my word.”

I could wipe my ass with Ted’s word.

In this building, he represented the studio-our social interactions counted for nothing.

I stood. “You have forty-eight hours.”

As I began walking to the door, Ted exclaimed, “Forty-eight hours isn’t nearly enough time-”

“Not a second more,” I said, and I shut the door behind me.

THIRTY-ONE

KENDALL

I

waited until the call connected and whispered, “Mom,” into the phone. I envisioned her seeing my name appear on the caller ID, taking a seat at the kitchen table, where she took all her phone calls. Her short light-pink-painted nails drawing circles over the worn tabletop. “Oh, Mom.”

“Honey …”

“Things are such a mess right now.”

I hadn’t planned on what I was going to say to my parents. I didn’t know how to even address the photographs. But I’d had several missed calls from them, and I knew I couldn’t avoid this conversation any longer.

“Are you all right, Kendall? I need to know that first.”

“Yes …” I took a breath. “No.” I wiped my eyes, glancing around Dominick’s bedroom, pulling the comforter up to my chin. “I mean, I’m safe. I’m at Dominick’s house, and he’s at the studio right now, trying to get answers. But, Mom, I hurt.” My chest tightened to the point where it felt like it was going to crack. “I hurt in a way I can’t even describe. And I’m angry, and I feel violated. I can’t believe this happened to me-that the whole world is seeing those photos … I just want to disappear.”