Page 79 of Love: Take Two

I look up to find Mom watching me, and quickly blink away the moisture in my eyes. I've missed her too. Wanted her here with me while all this was going on, even if it was just to hold her as I fell asleep.

Knowing she feels the same way, that she's tired of pretending there's not something between us, loosens the knots in my chest. This is right.Sheis right. And when things resolve with Yong-rae, as I pray they will, I'm going to tell her so.

"Alright!" Dr. Liebman says as he bursts into the room with a big smile on his face. "Who's ready to go home?!"

Chapter forty

Noah

CAUGHT IN THE ACT!

BREAKING

Disturbing video shows nightclub owner spiking Tabitha Styles's drinkbefore bar brawl

Video circulating online appears to show Ken Jericho, owner of Tipsy's in the East Village, spiking a drink from behind the bar. Moments later, a patron viewers claim is Yong-rae Kim, up-and-coming leading man, knocks it over. The patron apologizes, then proceeds to leave the bar with a woman resembling starlet Tabitha Styles. The camera angle then shifts to show the man behind the bar grabbing the patron, who swings in retaliation.

Though the video has not yet been verified by law enforcement, stills match pictures The Post published just two weeks ago, when Jericho filed assault and battery charges against Kim. The video was posted by Jack Marlon, Queens native and assistant manager of "Tipsy's", who speaks directly to the camera before playing the footage.

My girl and I just got back from vacation two days ago. She's a huge Tabitha Styles fan. She showed me her Insta post, and then the article about Tipsy's; that's where we met.

Ken didn't come around much, but whenever he was there, I got a bad vibe. Like, he would stand too close to thefemale bartenders, or he'd make a creepy joke. I just got a weird feeling, you know?

So I checked the security footage—I have a backup password because I'm assistant manager—andboom!, there he was slipping something into a drink. My boy Yong-rae hit 'em with the two-piece on his way out!

When The Post reached out to Marlon for comment, he doubled down, saying, "I never liked that guy. Always gave me a bad feeling. I hope he gets what he deserves."

Styles's rep previously released a statement in support of Kim, her costar on the upcoming blockbuster "Forced Proximity" and apparent real-life love interest. Kim's attorney declined to comment on the active investigation, as did detectives assigned to the case.

Ken Jericho could not be reached for comment.

"Holy shit!" Jim says, slamming down today's edition of The Post before collapsing into his desk chair. After relocating a stack of papers to the table in the corner, I take the chair across from him. I could never function in all this mess.

"That Jack Marlon just saved your client's ass, Park!" he barks with a laugh.

I don't see what's funny; Yong-rae's been through hell these past weeks, what with reporters calling him a thug and the studio threatening to sue him and reshoot everything. I suspect it was only Tabitha's public statement of support that made them hold off long enough for the truth to come out.

No one cared that Yong-rae swore he was innocent, or that it looked suspicious as hell when the security footage went missing, or that Ken Jericho looked like more and more of a scumbag with every interview he gave. Pinnacle only cared about the bottom line, which was being jeopardized by criminal charges against their golden goose.

"It certainly looks that way," I reply, forcing a smile. Jim's answering grin is more like a sneer.

"Now that Yong-rae looks like a knight coming to the aid of his fair maiden, it's full steam ahead on production," Brent says from his seat in the chair beside me. "They want to make up for the weeks off and wrap principal photography as scheduled in April."

I open my mouth to ask how the hell Brent knows Pinnacle's plans when Yong-rae ismyclient and I've yet to receive a call, but he waves me off.

"Don't give me that look, Park. I golf with their SVP, and your boy's mess has been all over the news."

My boy?I clench my jaw and swallow down my anger. There's no point in calling either Jim or Brent out on theirthinly veiled racism, not when it's practically the backbone of this industry.

"I'll call Rory about logistics," I say instead.

"That's right, I forgot," says Jim, giving Brent a knowing smile that makes him chuckle. "Your new sister-in-law is the leader of this three-ring circus."

I can let their snide comments roll off my back—they're the worst part of the job, but they don't outweigh the joy of changing my clients' lives—but I will not accept disrespect towards my family, especially not when everyone in the cast and crew has had nothing but praise for how Rory has run this production.

"That is uncalled for, Jim."

I stand and button my jacket.