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My jaw drops as something comes back to me. Donnie said the record company’s initial push to have Keith do the interviews with me was so that they could . . . control the narrative.
Quietly, I murmur the phrase to myself, like a magic incantation that can change the very fabric of the universe. “Control the narrative.”
“What?”
Maybe . . . maybe it can. Getting excited, I reach across the table and grab Maggie’s hand. “We have to control the narrative. Donnie’s power is in that he’s the only one with the information, but what if he wasn’t? Keith could do the morning show racket and tell it himself. Then Donnie won’t get the blackmail money and he won’t be able to publish it and get the exclusive breaking news. It takes away his power and lets Keith control the narrative! Control the narrative! You’re a fucking genius!”
Maggie laughs, cute and self-conscious now. “Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. Just glad this seems to be a yes-time for your sake. So, you’re really not going to tell me the secret?”
“Nope, but I’m gonna need your help getting Keith on TV the day after tomorrow without telling the shows why and keeping the whole appearance Top Secret so Donnie doesn’t find out and try and jump out in front of the whole thing. Can you do that?”
“Yeah, I can make a call or two and make that happen for a top name like Keith,” Maggie says. “I know a few people down at the local station, and if it’s Keith, they can probably get him on the national circuit if we promise them a big enough prize. But shouldn’t his manager do that though?”
“Well, that’s my next problem. I have to get Keith on board with this plan because he’s not going to like it,” I reply, sighing a little. “He’s not going to like it at all. We kinda had a fight about the whole thing. He didn’t really blame me, exactly, but he was mad at himself for dating me because it’s led to this whole drama. He’s got some definite anger toward the media and paparazzi, and I’ve got this huge glaring neon sign on my forehead, blinking ‘REPORTER’ in big capital letters right now, and it’s got his shields up.”
“Well, this isn’t really your fault, exactly, but maybe it is time for you to do something a little different if you’re pursuing something a bit longer term with Keith,” Maggie counsels me. “Not saying you’re not good, Elise. I mean, you’ve taught me a few things in the time we’ve worked together, but a gossip reporter and a country music star don’t exactly sound like a match made in heaven. And we both know you’re too good for this job anyway. Maybe you really could parlay this series into something with one of the legit music industry magazines? Or do some investigative journalism that’s not so, I don’t know . . . gossipy? Not like you can go to an award ceremony after-party on Keith’s arm and be trusted if you’re publishing all the drunk hookups on Monday morning,” she says jokingly, but she’s on target.
I sigh, knowing Maggie’s right, but there are so many variables up in the air. “I know, and I’ll have to figure that out. But right now, I just want to figure out this thing with Keith. Thanks so much . . . Megan.”
I give her a little smile as I use her cover name, glad that our conversation has been private even in this club and trusting that she will help me. Giving the bouncer a nod of thanks as he ushers out a few overindulged guests, I leave, stepping into one of the waiting Ubers.
I’ve got a lot of shit to do, and not a lot of time to do it in. So the only question I have is . . . do I wait until sunrise to talk to Keith about this . . . or wake him up at three in the morning to deal with it?
Chapter 24
Keith
I stare at the walls of my kitchen bleakly, my mind constantly replaying that smug asshole telling me that I’m going to pay him or he’ll expose Carsen to public scrutiny. Like any teenage girl needs that! I’m furious at Donnie, but maybe even more at myself.
I couldn’t sleep at all last night, racked by anger and punishing myself for being a total dumbass. I was so worked up by what Donnie said, and my anger at the situation, that I took it out on Elise. I know that was a really shitty thing to do. She didn’t deserve to have me give her shit, especially since she never intended for this to happen.
But I have to push that to the back burner and figure out what the fuck I’m going to do about Donnie’s threat. The problem is, I’ve drawn a blank as to any course of action.
