With the camera only aimed on our faces, I reached across the chair and linked our fingers. Her palm was sweaty, and there was a tremor in her hand as she squeezed back.
"There are only three people who have access to the footage we're currently filming and our archives. After process of elimination, we've been able to identify that it was Mark Hall, a senior editor on our staff. We don't know why he released those pictures-he's not revealing his reasoning-but he did take responsibility."
I wondered if Daisy had paid him off to ensure he would never give up her name.
Mark couldn't be that much of a fucking moron to think this couldn't be traced back to him, or maybe Daisy's pussy was so good that he didn't care.
Something had certainly gone down.
It pissed me off that I would probably never get the answer to that.
"I assume he's no longer working for your studio," I said.
"We don't tolerate that kind of behavior," Ted replied. "Mark violated several moral codes and company-wide rules, so yes, he was terminated." He folded his hands on the table, almost looking relieved that the hard part was over. "Personally, I'm appalled by his actions. I'm ashamed this happened at our studio, with one of our high-ranking employees, and at a property we provided for Miss Roy to live in."
Mark was a fucking asshole, and he would never work in this industry again.
I would make sure of that.
But now, it was time for the studio to make this right.
"Let's talk about the cameras," I started. "Why were they on when your contract clearly stated they wouldn't be?"
Ted looked at the attorney, who replied, "We can't respond to that."
"They weren't supposed to be on," Shane said. "And we don't know why they were, but I can tell you that this was a terrible mishap, and I assure you, it won't ever happen again."
"Assure me?" I laughed. "What good does that do when the damage has already been done? You're speaking about the future when we haven't even resolved the past."
"You can't honestly believe that firing Mr. Hall and apologizing to my client are enough," I said. "One of your employees released naked photographs of my client and myself. There are long-lasting effects to that damage. Contracts she's going to lose now. A reputation that she's going to have to build again from scratch. So, tell me, gentlemen, what are you going to do for Kendall Roy?"
A few seconds of quietness passed before Ted said, "We're happy to offer the settlement that we have prepared and will be emailing to you the moment this meeting is adjourned. We would like you to review the offer with Miss Roy and have her sign it at her earliest convenience, so this is all behind us." He glanced at the attorney, who nodded at him. "In the meantime, Miss Roy will need to report to filming tomorrow-"
"You can stop yourself right there, Ted. My client is under no obligation to return to filming. It has become very clear to me that Happy Lite isn't a safe environment for her or any of her costars. Let me remind you, you haven't just violated her trust and reputation; you've violated the terms of her contract as well. Whether my client returns to your set, that's still up in the air. We will review the settlement, and I'll let you know if it even comes close to meeting her expectations. I'll also let you know her anticipated return date-if that's what she decides."
There was silence.
Because every motherfucker around that table knew I was right.
"Do you have anything else to say?" I inquired. "Any other apologies you'd like to offer while we're still on the line?"
Shane took a couple of minutes to say a few words to Kendall, but I didn't listen-none of what he was saying was important.
What I thought about were ways I could milk the settlement because money wasn't what Kendall was after. She needed to be coddled, for the world to know this wasn't her fault and she was not the girl the Celebrity Alert had portrayed her as.
"Dominick," Ted said once Shane finished, "we'll be anticipating your correspondence. Thank you both for taking the time to speak with us."
Kendall thanked him, and I disconnected the call.
"How do you feel?" I asked as I turned to her.
She shrugged, shaking her head. "I honestly don't know. They took responsibility-that's all I can really ask for, I guess."
"No, baby, you can ask for a hell of a lot more than that."
"But they've already done more than my sister has."
Her tone fucking broke me, and I lifted her out of her chair and set her on my lap. I put my hand on the back of her head, staring into those gorgeous, big light-blue eyes. "Talk to me."
"I'm just angry." She paused. "And I'm so upset. I'll never understand her motives or how someone could hurt me the way Mark did." Her voice softened. "I just need some time to get over this."
I brushed my hand across her cheek. "They're going to send over the settlement. We'll review it today, we'll sleep on it, and I'll respond tomorrow. Does that sound all right?"
She nodded, slowly falling against my chest.
As I rubbed her back, holding her as close as I could get her, an idea began to brew.
I couldn't make this completely disappear, but my plan could take away some of her pain.
THIRTY-FIVE
KENDALL
S
ince we'd arrived in Bimini, nights were the hardest. Dominick would be asleep next to me, the French doors wide open, the sheer white curtains beside them flowing high in the air like wings, the sounds of the ocean filling the room. It was the optimal scenery for rest.
But I couldn't.
There was far too much on my mind.
Too many unanswered thoughts.
Too much anxiety about my future.
Was it possible for life to resume the way it had been before? Could I return to shooting, putting myself back in the spotlight when the world had seen so much of my body?
Was that even what I wanted?
The taste of fame wasn't what I'd expected. Aside from money, it had brought nothing good. I didn't like the expectations, the lack of privacy. Things I hadn't even realized were important to me now that they were gone.