Page 63 of Bad Reputation

“How are you really?” Maggie carefully selected another french fry before drowning it in ketchup.

“I’ve had better days.” It was the simplest and most truthful thing he could think to say. “I wanted to thank you, for taking care of Tasha.”

When Vincent had materialized, Cole had mostly been confused, but maybe that was good. He would’ve definitely taken a swing at the asshole if he’d known the full story. For her part, Maggie had almost mauled him. If Vincent hadn’t run, tail between his Armani’d legs, Cole had no doubt she would’ve laid hands on him.

As if unaware of her own intensity, she shrugged. “Of course. That’s my job.”

He was pretty surephysically protecting the talent from predatorswasn’t in her contract.

“I didn’t know. About Vincent and Tasha, I didn’t know.” It was important to Cole that Maggie understand he’d been in the dark.

Maggie’s eyes were soft. “I know. I’m sorry. When she told me, she asked me not to tell anyone else.”

Cole had no idea why Maggie was apologizing. The only person who had done anything wrong here was Vincent—and fuck that guy forever.

“Yeah, I can imagine. She’s not very open.” He was only now realizing how much Tasha had kept under wraps. It made Cole feel like the worst kind of ass that she hadn’t trusted him enough to reveal it. “I’m just glad she shared it with someone. I wish ... I wish I’d seemed safe enough for it to be me.”

“I don’t think you should torture yourself about that. It wasn’t anything about you, but more about Hollywood. I mean, what would you have done?”

“Not worked with him.”

“It’s not that simple. Here’s Tasha, technically working with him.”

“That’s my fault too.” When he said it, he had one of those oh-shit moments. He hadn’t even known he felt guilty about Tasha taking this job until the words had popped out, and then there it was, visible from space.

Tasha was lowering herself, working with someone who had hurt her, because of Cole. No one should have to pay for Cole’s past mistakes aside from him. But that was only one face of his guilt. He was basically a d20 of bad feelings at the moment.

“And I should’ve known about Vincent. About ... probably so many guys I’ve worked with. I should’ve stopped it, somehow.”

Cole knew he had privilege as a man and a white person in Hollywood. Even on the B-list, people made assumptions about his marketability and potential. He had no doubt that most people wouldn’t have gotten the second chances he had.

When he’d taken those chances, though, when he’d been paying his dues, had he looked the other way? Had he heard that someone was difficult to work with and thoughtjerkand notcriminal?

“Wait, let me get this straight,” Maggie said. “You think you single-handedly should’ve ended sexism in Hollywood?”

“No.” Not when she put it like that. “But maybe I should have been more ... aware.”

“Cole, we all could have been more aware. At the end of the day, though, the only person who’s responsible for Vincent’s shittiness is Vincent.”

Sadly, Cole knew Hollywood too well to buy what Maggie was selling. Sure, ultimately, Vincent had planted himself on set to leer at a teenage girl, had tried to manipulate her into his bed, and had tried to make everyone on earth think she’d slept with him. But Tasha’s mother, her costars, her director, the people in the crew, her agent, the other folks at Silverlight: they’d seen it all, and they hadn’t stepped in. The distinction between the monster and its keepers was swiss cheese. Why make it? There was plenty of blame to go around.

“There’s an entire network of people around him, and Maggie, they all knew.”

She sat with that for a moment. “Fair enough. But you weren’t one of them.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s still my fault she had to face him again.”

“I’d guess that’s math she’s had to do every day of her career.” Maggie pressed her palms into the table for emphasis. “Do you trust Tasha?”

“Yes.”

“Then trust she made the right decision. Look, my heart broke for that woman today. I was about as mad as I’ve ever been when he appeared. But Tasha knew it was possible she might see Vincent while filming or promoting the show. She weighed that against liking the part, liking the team.That’swhy she’s playing Effie. Sure, she enjoys working with you, and yes, maybe she did want to support you, too, but Tasha doesn’t strike me as a person who would make a four-month commitment—more, really, once you factor in promo—just to be nice.”

Cole tried to imagine putting the question to Tasha. She’d probably slug him, and she wouldn’t be gentle about it either.

He took a sip of his beer. What Maggie had said hadn’t made the queasiness in his gut go away, but it wasn’t about to consume him anymore. He bumped Maggie’s knee with his. “You’re not going to let me feel guilty, are you?”

“Nope. I’m going to try to talk you out of it.”

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