Page 60 of Game Changer

Chapter24

Buckie

Ican’t ever remember a time in my life when I was so angry at someone that I wanted to throttle them. But that’s exactly what has happened today. I can’t believe that in just over a week my whole life has been turned upside down. And worst of all it has hurt someone I love. I have never felt so awful in my life, and it isn’t even my fault.

Poor Shelly is trying to put out fires left, right and centre. But every time something is batted down some other piece of idle gossip appears. It’s being blown out of proportion by the fact that it’s spread all over social media within minutes of being published.

My phone rings in my pocket. It’s Zara. “Hey sweetheart. I was just thinking about you,” I answer trying to sound as upbeat as possible for her.

“Oh, Buckie thank God,” she sobs into the phone.

“Hey sweetheart, what’s up?”

“I can’t believe this has happened. They’re shutting down my club.”

“Hold on, what? Who is?”

“The council. Apparently, they’ve had reports that my dancers are doing full nudity. And offering lap dances and personal services. They think I’m running a fucking brothel. They’re looking to suspend my alcohol licence pending investigation. There’s been reports of underage drinking in all my pubs too.”

I stop dead in my tracks. This is the last straw. “I’m going to fucking ruin her Zara. This is all Annalise’s fault.”

“Stop Buckie please. I think we need to take a break from each other for a while. I’m sorry. I know I told you I could handle all this, but it turns out I wasn’t as prepared for your lifestyle as I thought I was. I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m about to lose everything I’ve worked my damn arse off for in the blink of an eye. And it’s my association with you that’s done it.”

I feel as though my heart is in a vice, her words tearing a hole right through me. “Zara, please don’t do this. I love you. You know that.”

“Goodbye Buckie,” she sobs and then the line is silent.

I take the phone away from my ear and stare at it as though it’s magically going to do something to make this right. Dropping it onto the sofa I take aim and put my fist right through the white plasterboard wall.

“Fuck.” My voice echoes around the high-ceilinged room. I survey the damage to the wall — and my knuckles — dusting the chalky powder off my hand.

My phone rings on the sofa and Shelly’s name flashes on the screen. Her moniker is like a beacon in the dark and I know if anyone can fix this, she can. Last time I spoke with her, she was coming back to L.A.

“Shelly, thank God.”

“Jesus Christ Buckie. I don’t know what the hell has gone on here, but your name is being dragged through the mud. And Zara’s with it. Have you seen what’s happened today?”

“Zara called me. Do you know about her licence being suspended?”

“No, I didn’t but I’m not surprised. I’ll email you the article that was sent to me this morning. I’ve had a tech friend run a check of you and Zara’s names on the internet for the last couple of days. I feel sorry for what’s happened to Zara, but my main priority right now is you. This is one of these gossip stories that should have died off by now. But it seems to be getting worse with every hour that goes by. How on earth did you end up engaged to Annalise? The last time we saw each other in person you told me you wanted nothing else to do with her.”

I sit down on the sofa, stretching out my now very red knuckles. “I honestly don’t know Shelly. This is one of the reasons I always keep myself to myself. I’ve never flirted with the media or used them to get my name out there. They’re fucking scumbags and now, through no fault of my own, I’ve managed to ruin not only my own career but Zara’s whole life.”

“Okay, we can sort this. I need to figure out how this all started.”

“I don’t think you need to search too far for that. This has Annalise written all over it. I swear she’s gone too far this time.”

“Buckie do not get involved in anything. I’m warning you. It’ll only make things worse. You’re going to need to keep a low profile right now. I’m going to come and see you today to discuss all this and your schedule for the rest of the week. There might be some changes I can make but your contract has you tied to do the PR for this movie.”

“I promise I’ll stay out of it, but I need your help to sort this for Zara. She doesn’t deserve this, Shelly. She’s too good for this shit. I should never have dragged her into my world.”

Shelly lets out a long sigh. “I’ll see what I can do for her. But you know as well as I do the council authorities in the UK take this kind of thing very seriously and unfortunately mud sticks. There’s been a lot of social media chatter about it too. Annalise has managed to somehow get herself a gaggle of diehard fans. They’ve now got wind of the affair story so they’re targeting her too.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I drag my hand down my face. This has got to be the lowest point of my entire life. I can only imagine what Zara is going through right now. I can’t blame her for distancing herself from me. I don’t want her to leave me thinking I had anything to do with this.

“Hang fire. Stay home for now and I’ll be with you in under an hour. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to help.”

“Thanks Shelly.”

We hang up and I check the email she sent me. It’s an article from a Glasgow based tabloid newspaper. The headline kills another part of my soul as do the photos attached. Of course, it’s from the celebrity gossip pages and they’ve done a full page spread on it.

Owen Buchanan’s Mistress in Brothel Scandal

This is worse than I thought and it’s no wonder the council took her licence. This is a damning article. It names all her businesses too, which means every one of them will be associated with this story. I can’t believe someone can be this vindictive to get herself publicity. The theme that seems to be running through all these stories, and every fake revelation that comes out, is that Annalise is an innocent victim. She’s ripped mine and Zara’s lives to shreds to gain popularity. It doesn’t help that the stupid morons in the press lap it up like little dogs.

This is the dark side of this business and the way I’m feeling now, if I never did another movie I wouldn’t care. I wonder how this would have played out if I’d done this to her. Men have lost their whole careers — hell some have even been sent to prison — over things like this. I can’t let her get away with this.

I flick the screen off the article and hover my thumb over the text message icon. I know what I have planned in my head is a bad idea, but I need answers. I’ll just have to deal with Shelly’s wrath after the fact. My head is too fucked up to care right now.

Annalise, I need to talk to you. Are you free?

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