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“You’re protected under the state of California’s nonconsensual pornography law, aka revenge porn law,” Beckett says. “In other words, you can sue Chance for every penny under his name. The same applies to your cousin. By coming to my office, Mariah handed you everything you need on a silver platter. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Rhys claps and whistles.
With everything that’s unfolded, I forgot he was in the office.
“Take them to the cleaners, Arianne,” he says. “Fuck them up like they intended on fucking you up.”
I respond with a small smile.
I stare at my cousin’s ugly face.
With anger burning my throat, I deliver my verdict through gritted teeth. “I’m going to make you pay, cuz.”
Chapter 48
Beckett
‘GLACH TECH’S CEO CHANCE TABORAS GIVES NEW MEANING TO ‘SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE!’’
‘CHANCE TABORAS AND FIANCÉE MARIAH GOLIGHTLY CONSPIRE IN EVIL BLACKMAIL PLOT.’
‘ARIANNE BUCHANAN VIOLATED IN THE WORST WAY. SHAME ON YOU, CHANCE TABORAS.’
‘GLACH TECH AT RISK OVER SEX VIDEO SCANDAL.’
Unbelievable.
I move my gaze away from my iPad and look up.
Arianne is shaking her head, her eyes still riveted on her iPad.
“I can’t believe the length Chance was willing to go to renege on his promise,” she says. Her anger is still palpable. “I made him an incredibly rich man, and he was willing to steamroll me to avoid paying out what was rightfully mine.” She pauses. “I wasted three years of my life with that asshole.”
It’s been two taxing days since Mariah barged into my office with her lame ass threats and ludicrous demands. Stupid cunt.
The media has been relentless since the scandal broke, the screaming headlines a testament to the frenzy. Yesterday, was a zoo at the office. Even though we beefed-up security, there was no holding back the army of reporters and bloggers or their litany of questions. Since Arianne is at the heart of the scandal, I recommended she hire a top-notch publicist to help her navigate through this nightmare. In the meantime, Joey handled the press with finesse.
Today, we have the luxury of extracting ourselves from all this shit. It’s just Arianne and Beckett. Thank God.
We’ve just finished breakfast and we’re lingering at the kitchen table on a lazy Saturday morning. I’m still in my pyjama bottoms and she’s wearing nothing more than shorts and a soft pink t-shirt, her hair bunched up in a messy bun on the top of her head. She’s as beautiful as ever, but I can tell this ordeal has taken a toll on her.
“I made some calls, and I found you a lawyer with a stellar track record,” I tell her. “He feels this is an open and shut case.”
“Really?”
“The video doesn’t lie. It’s not like I tricked Mariah into confessing. She was too happy to spew her venom. Good thing I held you back and prevented you from striking her.”
She sighs. “I still wish I’d been able to get one blow.”
“Arianne, it would’ve added a layer of complexity you don’t need.”
She nods.
While the police were babysitting Mariah, I slipped out of my office to phone my lawyers to secure a search warrant and an arrest for Chance. Given what Mariah had shared, I was afraid the asswipe would seek revenge by sharing the videos.
“I’m still not sure how I’m going to pay for a top lawyer—”
“I’ll cover your legal fees.”
