Page 67 of Monsters

Without saying a word, I turned the laptop around as he took a seat on the other side of the desk. He read in silence, his frown deepening, his mouth agape.

“Jesus H Christ!” Charlie looked up in disbelief. “What the hell does he get up to in his private time? He's kinkier than me.”

“I can’t even fully comprehend what I’ve just read.”

“Foul play? Who has he pissed off?”

One face came to mind. I shivered at the thought.

Had Mason been watching last night?

Was he angered by the way David treated me?

This was a particularly violent and deviant crime. It practically had Mason Carter’s name written all over it.

“Someone clearly had a point to prove,” Charlie said, sitting back in his chair. “And they certainly proved it.”

I decided to keep David’s assault and blackmail attempt from the night before to myself.

“This is going to look really bad for the gallery when word spreads David was involved,” I said, preparing for the worst.

“What’s our damage control?”

“We don’t have one. This isn’t something anyone could ever prepare for. We just need to reassure our clients and investors that the gallery is running as per normal. Keep social media to the standard posts and don’t address anything provocative.”

“So, we plead ignorance?”

‘Yes. This is David’s mess. When he returns, he can clean it up.”

Charlie gave a questionable smile. “I sense a bit of coldness?”

“I have my reasons, and no I won’t divulge—”

“Oh, come on, you can’t—” We were interrupted by my cell vibrating on the desk.

“It’s Rufus,” I said, ready to accept the call although filled with some dread. “He’s probably heard by now. I’ve got to take this. Can you check the Facebook and Instagram accounts, and make sure everything is kosher?”

“On it.”

When Charlie left the office, I swiped to accept the call. “Rufus! Good morning.”

“Gemma, is David there?”

“No, he’s… he’s in a meeting right now.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

“I can get him to call you back when he’s free. Or I can help you.”

“You can help by not lying to me, Gemma. The Downtown Herald has released David’s name in their online article.”

As quietly as I could, I typed in the Google search bar, and sure enough the article popped up. Not only had they mentioned David’s name in full but also the gallery name. This was not only bad for David but awful for me. My name and reputation were on the line and would be brought into question with future curating jobs.

“I don’t know what to say, Rufus. I’ve literally walked into my office, and this has been sprung on me. I know it comes as a shock, but please trust me when I say it’s not going to affect your exhibition.”

“Again, although I know you are only saying what you have to, you’re lying to me. This is not ideal, Gemma, and if I’d known the gallery I was considering investing in was being brought into disrepute by its owner, I would never have initiated contact in the first place. The Maximus Kline vandalism and this? I’m out.”

“Rufus, please, give it some thought. Let’s see how the week plays out, and then—”

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