Page 101 of Bad Reputation

“Is that near Redondo Beach?”

Cole didn’t need to read the final version of the story—he’d had enough details about the bastard that was Vincent Minna to cover several lifetimes—but it was wild to know that it was out in the world. That everyone else was learning the truth.

Would it make a damn bit of difference?

Cole had talked to Libby both because it was the right thing to do and also because he wanted things to change. He wanted this industry to be better, and so the absolute least he could do was to speak up when things weren’t okay.

Now, making them okay was everybody’s problem.

So would they?

Chapter 24

INT. COLE’S KITCHEN

The next morning, Maggie was working from home. They were sipping coffee while watching the cast ofHear Herroast Vincent Minna. The women were all insisting that they hadneverheard so much as a whisper about his bad behavior.

“I just don’t buy that.” Cole gestured with his mug and narrowly avoided sloshing coffee all over the couch. “I mean, I’m not saying it’s their fault, but everyone knew he was a dog.”

“Should we assume all the men we’ve heard are dogs are actually criminals?”

“I mean, if the orange jumpsuit fits.”

Maggie took another sip of her coffee. “Do you think he’ll go to prison?”

“No.” No matter what Vincent had done, it was hard to imagine someone like him—rich, lawyered up beyond belief—actually facing consequences for his bad behavior.

And wasn’t that the problem? Even once the truth, or parts of it, came out, there never seemed to be any real consequences.

“You still feel good about it?” Maggie asked.Itbeing participating in the story, going public, standing by Tasha. The whole shebang.

Whatever came or didn’t, Cole’s answer would always be the same. “Yup.”

But under Maggie’s words, he could sense the worry. Despite his and Tasha’s best efforts the night before, Maggie was still anxious.

She shouldn’t be. He and Tasha could handle themselves.

And besides, Cole might not want to read the story, but as he listened to the hosts onHear Hergush about how brave they’d all been in coming forward, he began to get a bit of a contact high. It hadn’t taken bravery, but yeah, he had been right. This had been the right thing to do.

But Cole’s rush—was this how Superman felt all the time?—disappeared like the last doughnut at the craft-services table when Brett phoned just before lunch.

“Hey, something’s incoming.” From Brett’s tone, it was clear whatever it was was bad.

“From Vincent? This fast?”

“I can’t tell who’s responsible, but it’s going to require a response. Read the link I’m sending now, and I’m going to set up a call with you, me, Drew, and Quinn ASAP.”

“Okay.”

Cole had received an embarrassing number of these calls. Not lately, but in the past. And normally, he’d known exactly what had hit the fan. Here, he’d been so good. Had worked so hard. Hadn’t fucked up at all.

“Hey, do you want the guacamole?” Maggie was placing their lunch order, and—

Maggie.

This was going to be about Maggie.

Cole dropped onto the couch with a thud. “No,” he said, and she took that as an answer.

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