Page 87 of His Curvy Distraction

I shook my head as I reached for the paper she offered.

Goldie was silent as I read through the latest edition of Omar Knight sucks.

It was more of the same with new quotes from the supposed former employee and more fake evidence that I was playing favorites and supporting my girlfriend’s initiatives only.

“You know this isn’t true, right?”

Goldie nodded. “Of course. Everyone in my office does, too. I’ve been drug through the mud before, but mostly it was within this building and not in public. Mayor Levine made sure everyone he spoke to believed I was incapable of doing my job. But he never went so far as to get an article published saying so.”

“No, he was just going to cut you off at the knees and replace you with a man who would do as he said,” I replied. Mayor Levine was a piece of work. And a piece of shit. He couldn’t see the value Goldie brought to the tourism department, or the value of most women who worked for him. He was a tyrant, and not a day went by that I wasn’t happy he was gone.

“Exactly. So who did you piss off?”

I chuckled. “I wish I knew.”

“You have no idea?” She seemed surprised by that.

I shook my head. “Not a clue. The woman in the picture?—”

“Natalie.”

“How did you?—?”

“We all know. Maybe not the people who are writing these articles, but Natalie is a friend. She admitted it. But she wouldn’t do this. She didn’t do this. You know that, right?”

I hadn’t considered Natalie until Goldie said that, but I shook my head even as the thought entered. “She wouldn’t. I know that. She wasn’t always a fan of mine, but she would never do something like this.”

“You didn’t think she was a fan? Did you see the way she went off on the reporter a few weeks ago? Before you started dating?”

“Yeah, I saw it. And she made it clear she didn’t like me.”

“That’s all in the past, though. Natalie is young and a little scared, and she doesn’t think she’s good enough for you.”

“She told me the same, but I don’t understand that.”

“People are not always logical. Like whoever is behind these articles. Who is the former employee? Do you know that?”

I shook my head. “No. I fired one person since I’ve worked in this building. He was using the town computers for personal use and getting to websites that were supposed to be inaccessible.”

“Oh. Well, that’s interesting. And could be your person.”

“It’s been years, and he left the area.”

“It doesn’t matter. These reporters will dig up all kinds of things. Someone also could be following you. See where you go, who you spend time with, checking to see if you’re hiding anything.”

She was right. And it was likely how they knew Natalie and I were dating. Calling her out and saying I was only supporting her project was pulling her into the middle of all of this. “Natalie doesn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud on this.”

“I agree. Which is why I think you might need to sit down with a reporter and get your side of things out there.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“I do. Not the one who’s been publishing these articles, but someone who’s going to actually listen to you.”

“I don’t think I know anyone.”

“A friend of a friend is a new reporter. Worked for the paper years ago, then quit when she had her daughter. She just got divorced and is back working there.”

“And you think she’d actually listen to me?”

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