Page 68 of Courting Trouble
Cassie found Petra in her office. She had been trying to take the high road in their last conversation, to keep her dignity. She didn’t care about that anymore.
‘So, this is how you play it, then?’ Cassie said, bursting in.
Petra looked up from a laptop, eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘Play what, exactly?’
Cassie placed her palms on the desk and leaned in. ‘You know exactly what I mean. Thevideo.’
Cassie didn’t see Petra lean back exactly, but there was a subtle creaking of her leather chair that indicated a retreat. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘It’s incredible how stupid you think other people are. The footage you leaked came from the security cameras here. Anyone can see that.’
Petra’s smile widened. ‘We’ve been hacked? Heavens! No!’
Cassie shook her head, furious. ‘What the hell iswrongwith you?!’
Petra’s smile didn’t falter. In fact, it widened, sharp and calculating. ‘Oh, Cassie,’ she said softly, leaning back just enough to study her, ‘I’m glad to see this. This is what I always loved in you. That anger. It’s what would have made you a star if not for that injury.’
Cassie’s fists clenched on the desk, heat rising in her chest. ‘You think this is a game?’
Petra stood, walking from behind the desk and right up to Cassie, who straightened, alarmed.
‘Yes. I released the video. Why don’t you punish me?’ Petra asked.
Cassie froze for a heartbeat, and Petra’s smirk deepened. ‘You’d love it, wouldn’t you? You want to grab me by the throat, don’t you? Push me back on this desk…’
Cassie felt revulsion. ‘You make me sick,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘And I’m not letting you anywhere near that part of me again.’
Petra’s laugh was teasing, pleased. ‘You’re only making it better. The more you hold back…’ She shivered. ‘No one ever fought me like you did.’
Cassie nearly did it. Almost slapped her. She might have if she hadn’t known what Petra would get out of it.
But Cassie couldhurther. In a way she wouldn’t enjoy quite so much.
‘This place is still owned by Roberto Gallo, right?’
Petra’s smile faltered. ‘What?’
Cassie’s hand slid into her pocket and found her phone. She Googled Gallo Global and found the PR department number, as Petra watched her with silent apprehension.
‘Hello, this is Gallo Global, PR department, speaking. How may I direct your call?’ asked a woman chirpily.
‘This is Cassie Thorne. I need to report a serious breach at the Larchfield Programme. Its director, Petra Androvich, has leaked footage from the camp, private footage of a player. It’s online. Google Delilah Day, and I’m sure you’ll find it.’
The person at the other end gave Cassie a slightly flustered response, but Cassie didn’t need to get too deep into it. ‘I suggest you act fast. Robert Gallo will not be best pleased.’
She ended the call and put her phone away as she looked Petra directly in the eye. Petra’s smirk was no more. She slumped slightly, trying—and failing—to mask her fear. The knowledge that a fuck ton of chickens were coming home to roost was landing hard.
Cassie straightened, chest still pounding, and turned on her heel. Each step out of the office was steady, deliberate, and full of quiet triumph. Petra, once untouchable, had just discovered how powerless she truly was.
Sixty-Nine
Delilah lay curled up on the narrow bed in the bottom bunk. She was facing the wall, dazed. Once again, she was pretty sure she was screwed. She’d come through similar situations of late. But she’d been lucky too many times. Surely this was it. The end of hope.
A soft knock at the door made her jump. Then Cassie’s voice filtered in. ‘Delilah?’
‘Come in.’ She wiped her eyes hastily but didn’t turn as Cassie entered. ‘Sorry, I’m a mess.’
‘When did that ever bother me?’ Cassie said.
