Page 96 of Darn Knit All

I ground my teeth together, remaining silent.

“I didn’t think so.” He turned the tap off and reached for a paper towel.

“You’re broke.”

Jude slowly crumpled up the towel, tossing it in a nearby trashcan.

“That isn’t relevant.”

“This is blackmail.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Can you prove it?”

“What happens if I do what you ask?” I asked, my lips numb. Impotent rage burned in my gut, my hands shaking from the injustice.

He shrugged. “These images stay between us.”

“And if I don’t?”

He chuckled. “You know what will happen.”

Mai.

Fear hit me like a ton of bricks, clawing at my chest. “I can’t throw the competition. She’s worked too hard for this.”

“Then don’t be surprised when these are published.” He walked away, then paused in the bathroom doorway, glancing back. “I predict you’ll both be ruined.”

With that parting shot, he left, leaving me to death grip the bathroom sink. I lifted my head, staring at the man in the mirror.

“Shit,” I muttered. “What the fuck do I do?”

My reflection didn’t answer.

CHAPTER 14

MAI

Theo

I’m sorry

Mai

For?

Theo

If you don’t know then pretend I never texted

Something was wrong with Theo.

He’d returned from the bathroom pale and drawn, his jaw ticking.

“Everything okay?” I asked quietly as the show runners set up for the next take.

“Fine,” he said tersely, not meeting my eyes.

I frowned but didn’t push, knowing he’d tell me in his own time. I reached over to give his hand a reassuring squeeze, but he pulled away, tucking his hands into his pockets, acting like he hadn’t seen me moving toward him.

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