AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nothing,” I spit at him, my fury simmering. Over the past week, as the daily release of increasingly repugnant articles continued, I had set aside several hours to contemplate whether I had ever crossed paths with Georgina. However, I repeatedly came up empty-handed. It was nearly impossible that I had ever moved in the same circles as a twenty-something journalist. I had instructed a few employees to thoroughly search through the archives of the magazine where she worked, but they too had found nothing. Prior to this week, Georgina had not written so much as a single word about me.
The only thing Icouldhave done to upset her was what had gone down at that wedding. And, even though I seemed to have wholly overestimated how much control her desire for me had over her, I couldnothave imagined how badly she wanted me. The fact that she’d been able to exert some superhuman power in controlling her desire was irrelevant.
And yet, she’d taken to consistently writing garbage about me. I’d have labeled it a fluke if she'd stopped at one article. But there werefivearticles now, offering criticism about my career, my personal opinions, and even speeches I’d given on behalf of my brother.
She has it out for me. And I have no idea why.
“It doesn’t matter whyshe’s doing any of this,” says Pam, an African American woman we’d hired as the media consultant. “All that matters is that Mr. Stawarski is dropping in the polls, and more people flock to theEnchantésite daily. Ms. Harris is an expert at insulting you while making it out to be an entertaining joke, so she keeps readers interested and hooked.”
Insults mixed as entertainment,I think darkly. I know a thing or two about that. Hell, could I even blame people for enjoying her pieces? I’d been entertained by her myself only a week ago. It would have never occurred to me how much damage that little spitfire could cause.
“We have to do something,” Tony, the social media director, says. “Maybe we should get the Stawarski newspapers to print something about Brandon. We need a counterattack.”
“We getournewspaper to print good things about him?” Alex says. “She’s going to eat us alive. She’s already stated how much of a hypocrite Bran is for being in charge of a media company while supporting a political candidate.”
My fingers ball into fists. They’re right. But it doesn’t make me any less angry.
“Then we’re going to have to do some good deeds,” Pam says. “She keeps talking about how little you are doing about the homeless situation. If you counter her with clear ideas, that might shut her up.”
“Nothingwill shut her up,” Theo says. “Did you read the article on Wednesday, where she combed through every single one of my ideas and managed to contort the worst possible images out of them all? Everything we do now is fodder for her. If we go on trying to do things to impress her, she’ll get even more voracious.”
I give another stiff nod. Theo is right. I’d interacted with Georgina long enough to know that none of these ideas would cause her to back down.
“So, what do we do?” Alex says, anxiety in his voice. “It was fun at first, but she’s causing real repercussions for the election. What’s happening in the polls is clear evidence, and she’s going to keep shooting out these articles.”
Theo exchanges a glance with me before he turns back to Alex. “Nothing,” he says. “Enchantéis a women’s magazine that focuses on fashion. Very soon, Georgina will get sick of dipping her foot into waters too deep for her. Their regular subscribers will stop reading if they don’t get back to writing articles they’re supposed to write.”
“I don’t think so,” Pam says. “Their viewership is increasing at an insane rate. She will have to keep writing these articles if they go on like this.”
“That’swhy I’m proposing the counterattack,” Tony says. “We don’t need to even talk about Brandon’s good deeds. We only need to publish a piece wondering why the only candidate they seem to be talking about is Mr. Stawarski.”
Alex shakes his head. “Freedom of the press,” he says. “It’s silly to ask them to divert attention to another candidate. It shows weakness.”
Theo lets out a long, exaggerated sigh. “We can go round and round in circles all day, but I believe only one thing will work. That is if we’re not going to ignore her.”
I raise my brows. “What?”
“We buyEnchanté.”
There is an audible gasp. I am amused for the first time all week.
“That’sa nice idea,” I tell him. Just imagining the look on her face when she learns the Stawarski Media Corporation is acquiring her precious little magazine gives me more pleasure than I could have ever had bedding her.
“No, it’s not,” Pam screeches, and we both turn to look at her. “Yeah,maybeyou’ll shut her up, and then what? The entire media industry will break into a frenzy because you acquired the only magazine brave enough to criticize your campaign. You’re risking losing the election.”
Theo shrugs as though that’s a risk he’s willing to take.
“Also, she’s going to become an icon,” Pam adds. “Magazines are going tobegher to work for them. And then, she will resume writing horrible articles about you both at places you can’t buy.”
A dark weight settles in my chest. She’s right. And I know it.
For the second time since the campaign began, I care more about Georgina than my brother’s success. This time, though, all I can think about is stepping into Georgina’s tiny office at her backward magazine and telling her I’ve acquired it.
“You keep shooting down all our suggestions,” Theo says, a layer of ice in his tone. “What doyouthink we should do, Pam?”
Pam lets out an aggravated sigh. “Well, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but…”
“I didn’t scorn her,” I snap, anger shooting out of me for the umpteenth time. “I don’t evenknowthis woman.”
