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“How bad is it?”
“Bad, according to Drew.”
A slew of notifications began appearing on my locked screen. Several texts from Journee. Texts I would ignore. I hadn’t talked to her in a little over a month but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have something to say about my current predicament. We were abstract but also friends. She would want answers that I couldn’t give. It wouldn’t stop her from asking though.
“You believe that stuff about her?”
My eyes lifted to my brother.
“You read the articles?” I felt betrayed by Cadence for not being upfront about her past but that didn’t stop the protectiveness that flared in my chest.
“Some of them. There’s some pretty incriminating stuff out there about her but it’s not like media outlets don’t twist shit to make it worse than it really is. It’s all about the story. You know how that goes.”
Yeah, I did. My name had been attached to enough incriminating things that only held a fraction of truth.
“I like her, Sol.” My eyes were on my phone, but I could feel those dark eyes of his burning a hole through me. When I looked up his gaze narrowed on me and then flicked to my phone like he could read my mind. I was about to go down that road.
“You don’t know her. Fuck, neither do I?”
“Maybe not her entire story but you know her, Sol. You’re different with her.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know, just different. All I’m saying is she seems cool. If you like her then what difference does any of that stuff make? We all have pasts. Everyone deserves a real chance at starting over, being someone different. Maybe that’s what she’s doing. Consider the possibility that what’s out there about her is who she used to be. Just saying it might help to keep that in mind.”
He was defending Cadence but for some reason, I felt that his intent was deeper than just her or what I was about to learn about Cadence’s past.
“You’re right. Past should be the past. Everybody deserves that, Liq.”
Even you…
My eyes met his and he shrugged and walked out my room. I wasn’t sure if what I was trying to communicate resonated with him but my mind was currently too distracted for me to worry about it at the moment. I needed to know.
The first article I pulled up already had me feeling angry. I scanned through it but the woman they spoke about, the things she was being accused of didn’t align with the woman I knew.
There were photos attached of a face I recognized, but her clothes were different. Far more skin exposed than what I was used to seeing. The look in her eyes was different—inebriated or high. Her eyes were flat, expression was void of emotions, but the face couldn’t be denied.
What we know: Up and coming artist Honor Monroe had reportedly gone on record accusing several A-List artists of sexual assault.
What she alleges: The night was a blur, Honor insisted that she was drugged and several artists spent time with her at the Global Records Grammy party.
She was unable to give full details of the evening. Insisting that she’d never agreed to any sexual acts with the accused but she can say for certain that sexual acts happened with several men that evening.
What they say: The accused went on record today with their attorneys during a six-hour closed meeting at their label, where they all provided details of Honor Monroe being the life of the party the evening in question.
Drinking nonstop and openly flirting and openly social. The accused are not denying that sexual acts occurred individually with Monroe and in a group but hold firm on the entire evening being consensual.
What comes next: Absolutely nothing. It appears that a month after bringing charges, Honor Monroe recanted. She didn’t show for the follow-up deposition and the label hasn’t been able to get ahold of Monroe. No one has been able to locate her. It’s like she vanished into thin air.
As stated, the deposition was private however I have my resources. I don’t know about you guys but I’ve heard the witness statements, watched the videos, and seen the photos.
I would never discredit a woman who presents claims that she was assaulted but I will say that Monroe’s accusations and the evidence presented don’t align. I guess time will tell. But for now, what we know is that Honor Monroe has chosen silence which speaks volumes.
My fingers hovered over the first video clip that showed Cadence in a provocative dress, holding a champagne flute to painted lips.
When it ended I swiped out of the article when the next one began to automatically play. I’d had enough. The visual pissed me off but I also understood things not being as they appeared.
I was currently dealing with the same thing in my life. A small clip of me swiping on Sheets made it look like I attacked him unprovoked when that wasn’t what happened. He hit me first, I simply got the best of him and I was the only one on camera appearing as the aggressor.
