Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
When I mention the cops, the two gorillas by Gil’s desk stand and step forward. Kyle crosses the office with swift strides, but slows and stops in front of me.
“Your parents don’t even believe you. What makes you think anyone else will?”
He doesn’t give me the chance to respond, which is probably good because I have no comeback for that. My own mother is against me. My own father threatened me. With that thought hanging over my head, and Kyle and his gorillas gone, I look around the office and realize I’m still well and truly alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Sofie
I’m in the privacy of my own home with Stil, my closest friend, nearby. My trusted team members—the lawyer, manager, and publicist who’ve been with me most of my career—sit just a few feet away. I should feel at ease. But how can I when one huge eye—the camera—opens up my home to millions of strangers, belying the illusion of privacy. Maybe my whole life has been an illusion of privacy, and this thing with Kyle will just expose the public as cruel voyeurs who watch and point and ridicule.
Or maybe they’ll believe me. Maybe they’ll sympathize. Maybe they’ll be kinder than I expect them to be.
“You ready?” Karen Sims perches on the edge of my sofa.
“Is that a rhetorical, it’s-too-late-to-turn-back-now kind of question?” I ask. “Or do you mean am-I-ready-right-now-to-do-this kind of question?”
“I think the latter.” Karen laughs a little, something I haven’t seen her do much in the last few days as we prepared for this. “It’s not too late you know. This is a huge step, and it’s a risk, Sofie. No one would think less of you for not doing it.”
That’s a lie. I would think less of myself. Meeting Shaunti made me wonder who else he’s tied up and jacked off on and bitten. Who else has he humiliated and left broken? I got into counseling immediately and put myself back together. That night is a distant memory for me, but what if there’s a woman out there for whom it’s a fresh nightmare she keeps playing over and over in her head? What if she’s afraid to come forward? What if, like Halima said, my hurt can help?
“And someone wants to speak to you.” Karen proffers her phone, a small smile softening her thin lips.
I take the phone and say hello tentatively.
“Hi, Sofie,” Shaunti says from the other end.
“Shaunti, hi.” It’s irrational, but tears spring to my eyes at the sound of her voice.
“I’m room mother today and my son has a game this afternoon. Too much to make it into the city and back in time,” she says in a rush. “But I wanted you to know how much I appreciate this. I really wanted to do it, but when you love someone, sometimes you have to put them first. Above everything. And I just couldn’t expose my husband and son to what Kyle’s team had planned.”
“Shaunti, you don’t have to explain.” I blink furiously, determined not to ruin Stil’s perfect cat eye with tears. “I was just sitting here thinking that if I had spoken up fifteen years ago…”
My voice is so dampened by tears of regret and guilt, I can’t get words out for a second. I clear my throat and try to finish.
“If I had spoken up fifteen years ago, maybe none of that would have happened to you.”
“Don’t take on guilt that is all Kyle’s,” Shaunti says, her voice tightening. “We’re taking him down, Sofie, and you’re the key. I have to go, but just wanted to wish you the best, and to say thank you.”
“That actually means a whole lot to me, Shaunti. Thanks.”
We hang up, and I just hold the phone for a few seconds like it’s still emitting strength from miles away, and I can just absorb the conviction I heard in Shaunti’s voice if I keep holding it.
“You ready?” Karen extends her hand for her phone.
“I’m ready.” I fluff my hair around my shoulders, smoothing the simple green dress Stil and I agonized over. Green has become my signature color because it matches my eyes. It feels ludicrous debating my dress color considering the weight of this broadcast, but Stil and Geena insisted we go with green. Stil and Geena cared about it. I could be wearing plaid burlap for all I care right now.
Stil walks over to add a touch more lipstick, her hand trembling as she applies it. She blinks furiously, tears standing in her eyes.
“Hey.” I grab her hand, pulling her to sit down beside me. “You okay?”
“Am I okay?” She strangles a laugh in her throat. “You walk around for fifteen years with this hanging over your head. You’re about to take on this monster, and you’re asking if I’m okay? Yeah, I’m fine, Sof. Just peachy. How ’bout you?”