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I find that highly unlikely. I crossed my arms, waiting.
“Do you remember that party at Ayumi’s house?” I nodded. Vaguely anyway. It was the first and only time I ever got drunk and I ended up having to sleep it off in her room while everyone else partied.
“See, I went to check on you and you were… in a state of undress. So I took some pictures. You know, as a keepsake.”
Bile rose up in my throat as I looked at him in horror. “You’re lying.”
He gave me a smug look. “Take a look for yourself.”
Sure enough, there were several photos of me sleeping in my underwear on his phone. I had no memory of getting undressed. Tears burned my eyes.
“Why would you do that?”
He gave a lazy shrug. “Figured I might need them. Now, I’m willing to delete them so long as you do what I say. What’s it going to be, Lizzy? Because once I post these pictures, your career will probably be over. Who wants to hire a programmer who posts pictures of themselves looking like a whore on the internet?”
I was starting to hyperventilate, frozen where I stood. He grinned at me like it was all some big joke, like he hadn’t taken pictures of me without my consent and he wasn’t blackmailing me to win him money. Tears slipped over my cheeks and he rolled his eyes.
“Don’t be such a baby about it. The competition is at three. Meet me outside the gaming hall or I’m going to post these pictures. We clear?”
I could only nod. I had no other choice. He was right. Once pictures like that ended up online, it was impossible to get rid of them completely. And in my field, I’d be a laughing stock. It was hard enough to be a woman in a male dominated field without adding racy pictures like that.
Kyle walked away, smirking. The noise of the convention was muffled by the static in my ears, my chest tight as I tried to take in a breath. Tears continued to spill over my cheeks and I clenched my hands. I felt dizzy, almost like I was going to pass out.
“Elizabeth?”
I jerked my head up. James stood in front of me, concern etched into his face. He reached for me and I took a step back. Now, more than ever, I didn’t have it in me to deal with him. Instead, I spun and fled.
* * *
I didn’t bother lookingfor Charlotte and Nikki anymore. I ran like the hounds of hell were after me. Which maybe they were. James was following me, shouting after me. I barely had enough time to whip out my room key and open the door before he appeared in the hallway behind me. I darted into the room, slamming the door shut. I barely heard him pounding on the door. My stomach turned over and I ran to the bathroom, dry heaving.
“Elizabeth, please! What’s wrong? Talk to me!”
I sobbed, falling to my knees in front of the toilet. Never in a million years did I think something like this would happen. I was careful during that trip, James’s voice a constant and very annoying presence. I never went out alone, always in a group. I only hung out with people I knew and was comfortable with. That night drinking was the only time I really let loose. And why shouldn’t I have, it was my birthday. I never thought Kyle would do something so cruel and disgusting. I gagged again.
James had stopped knocking at one point. When my stomach finally stopped trying to empty itself, I managed to drag myself back into the room, pulling off the stupid wig and grabbing a hoodie from my bag. I couldn’t stop shaking.
A light knock made me freeze.
“Elizabeth? It’s Jo. Is everything okay?” I sat frozen on the edge of the bed nearest to the bathroom, unable to move. If I didn’t get ahold of myself, I’d never make it to the stupid tournament. Would Kyle post the pictures if I didn’t win?
“Elizabeth, I got the manager to give me a key. I’m coming in, okay?”
I didn’t bother to stop her. I was too numb to move outside of the constant trembling. The hoodie wasn’t helping like I thought it was.
She opened the door slowly, poking her head inside. “Elizabeth?”
I couldn’t help it, I burst into a fresh set of tears, curling in on myself. I felt violated and gross. It’s been a year and a half since Japan. He’s had those pictures for a year and a half. What was he doing with them all this time?
Jo wrapped herself around my shoulders, sitting beside me. Gabi took the other side, taking my hand in between her own.
“Elizabeth, what happened? Is it James?”
I shook my head slowly. That didn’t matter anymore. Nothing did. I felt tingling in my fingertips. I might pass out and then I could be late to meet Kyle and he’d post the pictures. I gasped, trying to draw in a breath.
“She’s having a panic attack. She needs a bag or something to breathe into.”
“Shut up, Jaime.”
