Page 26
Story: Is It Casual Now?
“Of course, she’s gotten under my skin. She writes trash that makes my life harder. And then just conveniently finds mein a bar and picks me up? And then her twin sister is teaching Harley?”
“It’s a load of coincidences, I get that. But you aren’t exactly known for your one-night stands.”
“So?” Siena’s defenses rose up, and she grasped for them.
“Well, there was obviously something about her that pulled you to her. Beyond the history in work lives that you didn’t even know you shared at that time.”
“Tequila! You said it.” Siena crossed her arms and glared at the wine on the table. Tequila would be nice right about now.
“Be truthful—and serious—right now. You need to hear it from yourself more than I do.”
Siena winced. She hated and loved when Tori called her out like that. “Fine. She’s beautiful and charming. No doubt it’s how she gets information she shouldn’t have access to and why she’s so damn good at her job.”
“Oh, now it’s information?” Tori picked up her wine glass and brought it to her lips. It didn’t fool Siena, who still saw the smile around the rim of the glass.
“What do you mean?”
“First you called it trash, now it’s information.” Tori waved her hand out in front of her, as if that would be enough of an explanation to get them to where they were going.
Siena groaned. Trust Tori to pick up on that.
“Fine. I haven’t found a lot of what she writes to be complete bullshit. And the stuff that is bullshit is always framed as questions or things she’s wondering. But she’s fucking with people’s lives. They have a right to their privacy—celebrity or not.”
“I know.” Tori nodded in agreement. “So despite the history and her sister teaching Harley, which by the way—I love Ms. K. She’s wonderful. And no wonder Jamie is getting under your skin if they really are identical.”
“Only in looks,” Siena added, far too quickly. She gulped at her drink as though that would stop Tori from noticing.
“Yes.” Tori chuckled. Of course, she noticed. “So despite these things. Why wouldn’t you go to the meeting tomorrow? Wouldn’t it be better to have someone like that on your side instead of always fighting against them?”
“Not sure she has a side to get on, at least not one I could trust.” Siena tossed up the idea.
“Trust is just another brand of bravery.”
“Why did I come here again?” Siena smiled so Tori knew she was joking—or at least half joking.
“Just think about it, Siena. Having someone in the press on your side might come in handy in the long run. Especially if you’re telling me you haven’t read anything that was entirely bullshit.”
“No.” She hated this truth. It would be so much easier if Jamie had spouted unfounded shit. “I haven’t found any outright lies, but she uses her platform to plant the seeds.”
“Okay, sure.” Tori nodded. “But what if you gave her the right seeds to plant?”
“What?”
“Surely there’s something you could offer her?” Tori raised her eyebrows not subtly leading Siena down the path she obviously assumed made sense.
“No.” Siena shook her head. It might make sense on the outside, but there were so many more dynamics than people realized. “Giving her access to me is one thing. I’m not giving her access to Bunny and Piper.”
“Wouldn’t it be a positive thing to have the person who’s written so much bad speculation be the one to actually write a story of truth?”
“You’re assuming she can be trusted.”
“And you’re assuming she can’t.”
Siena chuckled and shook her head as she looked down into the depths of her half-gone drink.
“What’s so amusing?” Tori asked, her lips in a soft smile though confusion filled her eyes.
“Just thinking no matter how much things change, I’m glad that some things remain the same.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26 (Reading here)
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125