Page 39 of Forever Finn

“Hang on just a minute,” Reed interrupts. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“The man who’s just single-handedly ruined Finn’s career.” Simon glares at me, and my belly clenches because he’s right.

“No, he didn’t,” Reed says coolly. “The wanker who sold those pictures to the press is responsible for that.”

“How do I know he didn’t set that up?” Simon accuses me.

“I’d never do that to Finn,” I say quietly.

“You just being here in the house he was staying in is already whipping the press out there into more of a frenzy.”

“I think you should leave,” Reed says coolly. “Wyatt is a guest in my house and a friend… you are neither.”

“I’ll be happy too, once you hand over Finn’s passport.” He curls his lip in disgust as if he has no more desire to be here than Reed has to accommodate him. “He said he left it in the nightstand drawer.”

Reed glowers at him for a few moments before stalking up the stairs to the room Finn used. Once he disappears from sight Simon eyes me beadily.

“Now, that I have your attention”—he leans in closer to me, his voice dropping low—“I’ve got just one thing to say to you. Stay the fuck away from Finn. He isn’t gay.”

“What?” I blink slowly, unsure I actually heard those words from his mouth.

“He isn’t gay, he was just confused and upset after leaving L.A., and you took advantage of that and coerced him into all that perverted mess.”

“What the fuck?” I breathe in absolute disbelief at the vile things spilling from his mouth.

“Sky is flying in tonight, they are going to present a united front at a press conference, denouncing those filthy pictures and showing how in love they are.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not going to work, people aren’t stupid. There’s no way you can talk your way out of those pictures,” I reply, a sick feeling churning in my stomach at the thought of Finn returning to the lie that was slowly suffocating him.

“I’ve been doing this a hell of a long time,” he sneers. “It’s all about the spin. The pictures were taken at enough of a distance for us to contend that they were photoshopped.”

“No one will believe that.”

“Enough of them will. After all, Sky and Finn are one of Hollywood’s golden couples. People want to believe in the fairy tale.” Simon leans in even further, his eyes flashing dangerously. “I’d be very careful if I were you. If you open your mouth, talk to the press or in any way try to interfere, I’ll make sure the media knows who doctored those photos and sold them.”

I feel sick at what he’s implying.

“Those photos are real, you and I both know that, just as I’m sure you know I wasn’t the one who was responsible for them.”

“It doesn’t matter what’s true only what they want to believe.” He smirks. “Do you really think they want to believe their squeaky-clean box-office star action hero with the gorgeous long-term girlfriend is a fucking poof? Or would they rather believe Finn is the poor victim of a blackmailing scam orchestrated by some sick perverted fuck with a crush on him, who faked photos and leaked them to the press.”

“You’re disgusting.” I stare at him in loathing, wondering how the hell Finn ever put up with him or if he even knows how truly vile and manipulative this man really is.

“Walk away and keep your mouth shut, or I’ll fucking ruin you,” he whispers harshly as Reed comes thundering down the stairs and thrusts the passport at him.

“Take that and get out,” he says coldly.

“Remember what I said.” Simon smirks at me as he tucks the passport in his breast pocket.

I watch him turn sharply and let himself out the front door while I stand staring after him mutely in complete shock.

16

“Finn, honey, are you going to lie there until the end of time?” Sky brushes her hand over my leg comfortingly.

“Yes,” I say miserably as I pull the covers over my head.

“Finn,” she sighs, pulling the sheets down.