Page 85 of Cosplay & Consequences

He let out a small hiss and paused before replying. “Hey, listen, I didn’t leak that story.”

“Bullshit,” I snarled back. “Studio insiders? That’s you, Reuben. You’re so inside, your own head is up your ass.”

“You got no proof of that, kid. Listen, hopefully this thing will blow over, but if it doesn’t… We’ll be canceling the contract. Probably the series as well. If you could maybe release a⁠—”

“Fuck you, Reuben and fuck MaxFlick.” I hung up on him and turned to Paige.

“Hey Marv, listen, do you have anyone in your office who knows anything about literary contracts?” Paige had her hand up to me, concentrating on her call.

I felt a hand on my arm. I turned, and Faye looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “I didn’t tell anyone,” she whimpered.

I pulled her into a hug, and her arms wrapped around me. “I know you didn’t.”

“Is she mad at me?” Faye asked.

“No, she’s not,” I assured her. “She’s just upset. You didn’t even tell me about her being JKC’s granddaughter. I know you didn’t do anything wrong, and she will know that, okay? Go get dressed.”

Faye wandered back to her room, wearing a forlorn expression. I took a breath, trying to focus on what to do next, but my mind was a mess.

“I talked to Marv,” Paige said, getting off the phone. “He’s going to look into the JKC’s publishing contract. It’s not going to be cheap.”

“I don’t give a shit about money right now,” I growled. “How did they do this? That picture was on your phone.”

“I didn’t do it!” Paige protested.

I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Sorry. I know you didn’t. But it was on your phone and tablet. How did they get that picture?”

Paige’s face went pale. She turned away, covering her face with her hands.

“What?”

She paced the room circling around the couch. “I sent all the fan pictures to Britta. She was going to share them on your social media account. I must have forgotten to take her pictures out. Oh, man, I fucked it all up!”

Somehow hearing Britta’s name again centered me. I had someone to focus my anger on.

“Oh, Danny, fuck that bitch. I can’t believe I did something so-”

I gently put my hands on Paige’s shoulders. “Hey. Hey. It’s not anyone’s fault. I know you didn’t do this. You gave the pictures away. That’s all. I told her no, and she didn’t listen. We know she was in that room when Faye was talking about the books from Jess. She’s the one who told the studio. We’re not blaming ourselves here. We know who to blame.”

Paige’s brow furrowed as she scowled. “I’m going to kick her ass,” she declared, heading for the door.

I grabbed her arm, holding her back. “Later.”

Paige glared at me. “She screwed us over! Look what she did to Jess!”

“Right now, I need you on damage control,” I begged. “And by that, I mean Jess. I could give a shit about the role right now.”

Her eyes widened. “Danny! You can’t--”

I shook my head. “You have a job at the end of all this. Faye will be covered. I’ll be fine. I’ll take bit roles and work at the garage if I have to, I don’t care. But Jess first. Okay?”

Her jaw clenched, and I knew I had my sister on track. “I’m going to fix this,” she declared. Somehow, she made it sound more like a threat than a promise.

“That’s the sister I know and love,” I joked.

She took a deep breath. Then she punched me in the arm. Hard.

“What the fuck are you doing just standing here?!” she shouted at me and shoved me towards the door. “Go find her for Christ’s sake!”