Page 42 of The Game

Adam laughs. “Well, that might be a problem. I’m not sure Fabian does any legal stuff at all.”

16

ADAM

Seeing my face in print no longer produces the strange gut drop it did after that first event I attended with Anna, and we both look so comically surprised in the photos of Arty Maroz’s assault. Another paper has my face contorted into an angry snarl. It’s badass, something I could use in competitions, andbadassis a word I’ve never used to describe myself. But God, is this what people are going to find when they do a search on my name? Prospective employers?Fuck.

After I leave Anna’s, I head to the office. There’s still a ton of work to do on the kits: Susie is launching them on the website at the end of the week. As I take in the wonderful weekend quiet and the shadowy desks in the half-dark, my phone rings just as I turn on the lights.

Carly.The PR Janus bullied me into using two days ago. He said he’d talked to Anna, and I “absolutely needed” someone for my personal stuff, or it would “rapidly spiral out of control.” I huff out a breath. When I told him I couldn’t afford it, he swore at me and said he was going to add it to the Janus Industries contract.

“Hey, Adam, I saw the videos and photos from the event last night and I’m calling to discuss tactics,” Carly chirps in my ear.

“Sounds sensible.”

“I’ve spoken to Anna Talanova’s PR team …”

Already? On a Saturday? Wow. How much are they charging? “Okkkaayy …”

“And they want to play the angle of harassment … I understand Anna’s lawyer is trying to tie down a temporary order of protection for her today. I don’t think this is the first time this has happened to her.”

Oh really? She didn’t mention that. My mind plays back her slight hesitation last night and something hot and sharp bubbles in my chest. “Jesus.”

“Exactly.”

“We were thinking that we’d push the line of you wanting to do your best by her, etc. Low key.”

“That sounds sensible.” I blow out a long breath. “The whole thing makes me mad if I’m honest. What women have to put up with. All the bullshit Arty Maroz is dumping on Anna, and all she can do is collect his texts and go after him through some long slow legal process? It sucks.”

There’s a short pause on the other end of the line. “Would you like to make a more political statement?”

A what? “What kind of political statement?”

“I’m not sure exactly, but along the lines of the idea that he’s a predator—a feminist support approach. We’d have to draft up something. I can’t guarantee that anyone will be interested, but if you make a statement, some of the press might want to talk to you, and that changes the angle from him to you.”

Wow, what a cat-and-mouse game this is. Do I want more media interest? I’m starting to wonder whether it’s worth it. But Carly barrels on:

“This is how it works, Adam. You come to the attention of journalists for whatever reason, and you have to make the most of it when it happens.”

“Not sure this is happening for legitimate reasons or that I want to take advantage of it.”

“But that’s where I come in. My job is to build your profile and get the right type of coverage. Trust me, Adam, in situations like this, Arty Maroz’s PRcompany may step in and spin some tale about you to justify his behavior—why he assaulted you or even Anna. The truth is, he’s more likely go for you because attacking a woman doesn’t look smart. They could easily make some awful stuff up. I’ve seen it happen.”

I bury my head in my hands. This has really spiraled. Like some messy, threatening thing that Janus or Fabian might get sucked into. I need some advice. Fabian never touches the media, but I could talk to Janus.

“Plus, you can push things like pictures of that fight down with something more positive,” she adds.

I guess there’s no harm in getting Carly to write something as a starting point.

“If you could draft something, that would be amazing.”

“Excellent. I’ll do that now. It’ll need to go out today, Adam.”

“I can do that.”

“Great. Good to catch up with you.” And she hangs up.

I immediately phone Janus.

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