Page 78 of The Billionaire’s Fake Fiancée
"I can't believe that bastard released the video." I can't seem to stop swearing.
Then a thought strikes me, "How many people have already seen it?"
He holds out his hand and I hand over the phone to him.
"50,000 views and counting," He replies. "50,001. 50,020. 50,050."
He looks up, face pale.
It's rising exponentially.
"It was uploaded 10 minutes ago," Eric adds in response to my unspoken question.
"How did you find out?"
"Email," he says evenly.
Walking to my table, I place my handbag next to me. Hunkering down behind the computer screen, I scroll down my email inbox till I come to one from a name I don't recognize. A Larry Smith, and the subject simply says:
TED: This video will change your life.
Clever.
TED—Technology, Entertainment, Design—an organization known for inspirational videos. Exactly the kind of video everyone in Silicon Valley would open.
I am sure the email has gone out to everyone I know. Everyone in my address book.
"He hacked me," I say, voice bitter.
"Can he do that?" Eric frowns.
"No other explanation. The irony is that he's a lawyer. He knows how to cover himself. I’m sure he's hidden his tracks and I'll never be able to trace it to him. But he's the only one who has this video. Besides, he threatened me."
"He threatened you?" Eric walks up to me, leans his hip against the desk. "At the wedding? Did he know you were going to be there?"
"No, he came to attend Natalie's wedding. But when he saw me, found I was with Jace, he saw his chance. He was in debt, wanted money. I refused to pay."
I'm talking aloud more for my own benefit, so I can rationalize what happened here.
"I'd no idea he'd filmed it," I say.
We both look to the email with the frozen image of me on screen. I slam the laptop shut, then bury my head in my hands.
"It's not a big deal," I mutter.
I don't sound convincing, even to myself.
I've seen worse, of course. Sex videos are common; you'd never give it a second thought. Except when you're featured in one of them.
My phone pings a reminder. I need to leave now to arrive in time for the conference I was headed to.
I must go, and yet my body refuses to cooperate. I clench my fists, as my heart begins to beat at the thought of leaving this room. Everyone I know must have received this video. They'll know it was me. Worse, strangers will have seen it to. And now, I must face them.
"Want me to come with you?" Eric asks.
When I hesitate, he adds, "Moral support. That's all."
The breath whooshes out of me.
