Page 3 of Sweet Virgin

“I'm sorry,” he said, holding out his hand. “I'm Dean, Dean Coswell. I work for the Valcor Press. I was wondering if I could get a quick interview with you?”

Jumping to my feet, I pursed my lips, and started off in the other direction. Reporters were vultures. There was no doubt in my mind about that. The top headlines I'd seen so far had punctured my heart and left me empty.

'Vanished virgin runs from past filled with sex, lies, and deceit.'

'L.A. pimp claims runaway virgin is a prostitute and he has the proof!'

'Alaska Landry, the virgin that never was. A look inside her secret bondage past.'

The lies never stopped, the false accusations just kept coming. I wasn't sure where the stories came from or who was getting paid to keep them alive.

But deep in my gut I knew it was probably my father feeding the hungry lions. At this point, I wouldn't doubt he would do and say anything just to get paid and slander my name.

I wasn't going to say another word to this reporter, he could shove his tiny little notepad right up his ass sideways.

No more reporters!

“If I could just have five minutes of your time—”

“No,” I snapped, picking up my pace and pushing through the sand. I tried not to look at him anymore than was necessary to get my point across.

Go away!

“Ms. Landry, I want to give you the chance to tell your side of the story. This could be your opportunity to get it out there. Tell the world why you decided to take off after such a bold attempt to claim your virginity was real.” Gripping my shoulder, Dean tried to slow me down, pressing his fingers into the dip of my collar bone.

“I have nothing to say to you, leave me alone.” Shrugging him off my arm, I was practically in a slow jog.

Doesn't he get it?

No. They never got it. Not one reporter, newscaster, blog writer, none of them got it. All they cared about was getting their story.

But their story was my life. I was done with all of that. And even now, after all this time, it was still fresh in everyone's head. Where had I gone? Who could find me first?

The show had been canceled and everyone still had questions. They wanted the runaway virgin to pop out of the shadows and expel her hidden agenda.

There weren't any skeletons in my closet, I had nothing to hide. I figured that this sensational craze over the show would eventually just disappear, but it only seemed to heighten the curiosity when I quit and slipped away.

I came to this small town with the hopes that I could escape all the craziness my life had turned into. In my childish imagination, a place like this still had drive-in movie theaters and family-owned businesses.

There was this fictional vision in my brain that maybe cable was a luxury here and no one would recognize me. I was stupid for ever thinking I could get away.

“Miss Landry, DRC reported that you agreed to the show and they're willing to take legal action to get you back. Can you tell me why you ran?”

“I said leave! What don't you understand about that?” I tried to bite my tongue, I really did. “Just screw already!” Throwing my arms in the air, I came inches from shoving him.

“Why won't you talk to me? I'm not going anywhere, I'm not going away until you give me what I want. Isn't that what the show was about, giving some guy a piece of what you know you want to give? I bet you're not even a virgin. All the stories are true, aren't they? You really are a slut.”

That was it, he crossed the line. My arm was pulled back before I even had time to think about it. With one single swing, my fist hit the bridge of his nose. I felt my knuckles crack as his nose crunched under my hand.

“You fucking bitch!” He yelled, cupping his face.

Shit. That'll be plastered across newsstands tomorrow.

“I told you to—”

A long, thick arm slashed across my chest, grabbing the reporter by his bicep, and shoving him back. “The lady asked you to leave her alone.”

Huffing under his breath, Dean wiggled his nose. Wiping the front of his shirt, he eyed the mysterious man who came out of nowhere. “Look buddy, this is none of your business. I'm trying to have a conversation with her, that's not illegal.”

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