"You know that the news of you breaking up with Jude last year has caused too much damage," Oscar says.
"That's because they didn't know that he cheated," I snap, defending myself.
It's not my fault that I broke up with my ex-boyfriend, Jude Scott, who is currently the world's most loved superstar.
He won three Grammys last year, and I guess that he'll win again this year, with all those heartbreaking songs that he created for me.
He's been saying that in most of his interviews, causing me to be the world's most hated person.
"Unfortunately, the world doesn't know that he's the bad guy here, that he betrayed me and chose that back-up dancer." I scoff, hating that I have to talk about him again, hating myself that I haven't been able to completely move on.
Oscar looks at me with sympathy. "Yes. Unfortunately, Cassie, the world thinks that you cheated on him instead. It's easy for them to think so when they saw you kissing that actor, Brian Russel, only a few days after your breakup news was announced."
I feel my blood boil, anger consuming me.
"He kissed me without my consent," I shout. "Look, I told you and the media that I went to his hotel because I was working on the soundtrack of the movie he's starring in. He just listened to my song and shared his opinion about the character that I'm talking about in my song. I never expected that he would kiss me when he sent me off. I'm not responsible for his divorce." I'm breathless at the end of my sentence.
Peter's mouth hangs open, while Oscar shakes his head again. "Unfortunately, Cassie, the world thinks that you cheated on Jude with a married Brian. In their eyes, you broke their favorite superstar's heart, and are a homewrecker."
"It's not my fault," I shout again.
"Then what about that K-pop star?" Morgan interrupts. "I sent you to South Korea to do a cover photoshoot for their local magazine, not to hook up with one of theirgolden maknaes."
"I did not hook up with him." I grit my teeth. "He's a great musician and songwriter. We just happened to be at the same event, and we stayed the night working on my songs. But thosesasaeng fansapparently snapped a picture of us getting into his car. "
"Well, did you know that most of the K-pop stars are under a contract that they can't have a girlfriend for a specific period of time?" Oscar asks me. "He's still under that contract. The news affected him more than it affected you. He received a lot of hate from his fans, even worse than you did."
I gulp. I can't help but feel guilty for this particular guy. Unlike Jude and Brian who are clearly assholes, he was genuinely interested in working with me. I still keep in touch with him, though, both of us asking each other about how we've been doing lately, talking about how miserable life has been.
"And last but not least, about that Spanish football player," Oscar says. "Did you sleep with him?"
I take a deep breath. "Yes, I did."
Sleeping with Alejandro might not be as controversial as breaking Jude's heart, ruining Brian's marriage, or dating a K-pop star, but I can't help but admit that I really did it this time.
Top that with all the previous misunderstandings, I've just successfully made everything worse.
"Goddammit," Oscar curses under his breath.
"Cassie, I've never taught you how to be a slut." Morgan's harsh comment slices my heart.
"She's not a slut," Paul and Mike say in unison.
Morgan, however, just shakes her head slightly, looking at me like she's humiliated by the fact that I'm her stepdaughter.
I shift my attention back to Oscar. He stares at me—he’s never looked so serious. Oscar has never given me that look. That makes my stomach drop.
I know that something really big is about to happen.
"Is it that bad?" I echo, holding my breath as I wait for his answer.
"Darlin', you've heard nothing," he says, his voice calm but strangely causing me to shudder. "It's time for you to make a life-changing decision."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Show her, Peter," Oscar says, and Peter does as he’s told, pressing a button on his laptop that makes the projector screen flash.
There, I see many links to the news about me. The more Peter scrolls down the page, the more I see the headlines. And all of them are horrible.
