Page 60 of Botched

Chapter Thirty-Nine

THEODORE

“Ican’tbelievethis, Theodore,” Nathan runs a hand over his tired looking face as I sit across from him, icing my knuckles because knocking someone’s tooth out sort of hurts. “Assaulting one of your co-workers backstage? This is a new low, even for you.”

“That co-worker violated one of my other co-workers,” I remind him, my gaze narrowed.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right!” Nathan says. “So, what do I do? Do I suspend you? Do I try to stop Austin from filing charges?”

I’m not sure how I expected this conversation to go, but for some reason, I didn’t expect so much anger from Nathan. “If he files charges, Aurora’s going to sue him for revenge porn. Actually, I’m going to make sure she does that anyway. Seems like a real big mess to me.” I’m making it worse, I know I am.

Nathan puts his elbow on his desk, holding his forehead in the palm of his hand. “You do not run this company, Theodore. You might be the champion, but you don’t control as much as you think you do.”

I bite my cheek to try and hide my annoyance, although I’m notsure it works. I don’t think that I run the damn company, but I won’t admit that I did anything wrong. Austin was in the wrong. The fact that I only knocked out a tooth seems like the bare minimum when it comes to what he’s owed.

Deciding to change the subject, I shift in my seat, putting one ankle up on my knee. “What are we doing for Aurora, by the way? It’s going to be a shitstorm tonight.”

The exhaustion looks even clearer in his eyes as he looks back at me. “We keep her off TV for a few weeks, see if it blows over. People are going to be insane tonight. Letting her go out there is throwing her to the wolves. And then we…I don’t know, go from there. See how things shift.”

I don’t like that. I don’t try to hide my irritation this time though. Aurora probably shouldn’t be on TV tonight. She hasn’t been a performer on this level long enough to know how to push all that bullshit aside and slide into character, but keeping her off TV for weeks for something that isn’t her fault? “It sounds like you’re punishing her.”

“I’m not…” Nathan rakes another hand through his dark hair, the greying at his temples looking even more obvious today. “Aurora is not being punished. As you know, she’s not actually a contracted performer for GRW. We have to weigh our pros and cons. She’s talented, but this isn’t the best way for her to start her career. If people can’t move past these photos, then…”

“Don’t you dare fucking finish that sentence,” I hiss.

“Theodore, I don’t care if you're personally involved in all of this, but I have a company to run. I have to look at it from that perspective. I can’t just do things based off your feelings. You think I want to be the bad guy here? I have plans written out for Aurora for the next two pay-per-views, but if we have to cut ties to do what’s best for us and the performers, then it’s on me to make that decision.”

I don’t give a fuck about all that pro-company bullshit. I careabout my girl. I care about her living her dreams and not getting shit for something that was out of her control.

Technically, it was my fault.

I’m the one who got pissy because of Austin; she didn’t. I got him pulled from his match; she didn’t. The start of her problems begins and end with me. It’s my job to fix it.

Gritting my teeth, I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. God, I fucking hate social media, but if this is something that I have to do to save her…I’ll do it ten times over.

Nathan’s eyes are fixed on me, probably because I look like a jackass who’s typing away on his phone after he gave me some heartfelt speech about the greater good.

Once I slide my phone back into my pocket, I turn my gaze up to meet his. “Weird. Looks like you have a real problem on your hands, man. Someone’s leaking private photos of your talent. Might want to get a handle on that before it makes the company look bad.”

I stand up and leave his office, ignoring it as Nathan calls after me, “What did you do, Theo?!” in the most exasperated tone.

Either I fixed the problem, or Aurora and I will be unemployed together.

Chapter Forty

AURORA

“So, on the bright side, you look really hot in those pictures,” Jules says, sitting on the couch next to me. I have my head on her shoulder, and she’s running her fingers through my hair in the most comforting way, her long acrylics occasionally scratching my scalp.

“I don’t know if that helps,” I mutter to her.

“At least it’s not a sex tape,” Clara pipes in. She’s sitting on the wooden table across from us after pushing aside Theo’s favorite energy drinks and his pre-show snacks. “Like you could always go with the ‘nudes are fake’ excuse. Sex tapes are harder to fake.”

“Actually, it’s getting a lot easier with current technology,” Jules corrects her with a roll of her eyes. “My PR training did a whole course about behavior because people can make others believe anything these days. The power of suggestion is amazing, and then you add in the downfalls of modern technology.” The door to the locker room opens, and instead of pausing, she continues. “Someone could probably fake a sex tape of me fuckingSanta Claus.”

“Why are you fucking Santa Claus, Stanton?” Theo asks, leaning back against the doorway.

“Daddy issues. Next question.”

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