Chapter 123
Chapter one hundred twenty-three
Christianna
We take Mama’s advice, using the time to compose myself and hear out Meg’s idea on how to handle this.
My hands still tremble slightly as we step back into the room.
Remy is pacing. Erik’s angry piano carries from down the hall. The security team murmurs in low voices near the door.
Madame waits calmly, watching for our return.
I offer her a tremulous smile and nod.
Gripping Meg’s hand for strength, we move forward.
Conversation halts as eyes turn toward us.
Meg speaks first.
“I had an idea. Well, actually our publicist made a comment that got me thinking. Maybe Christianna should go public with her story. Once light is shined on it, a lot of this loses power.”
Remy starts to protest, but I shake my head.
“I don’t love the idea. It makes me uncomfortable. But Meg is right. It’s never too late to stand up. I’ve sat this out for too long. I won’t be intimidated into silence again.”
I turn to Meg and she understands immediately.
“I’ll get Erik and see if I can reach the publicist.”
“Thank you.”
I move toward the couch, rubbing my hands down the front of my dress. I glance down, dismayed, just realizing I never changed.
“Please excuse me. I need to take this off before it’s ruined beyond repair.”
I head for the stairs. Bass follows at my heels.
Upstairs, I step out of the dress I was so excited to wear only days ago. Now the wrinkles and creases feel symbolic, a reminder of how the night began and how it ended.
I rub my temple at the dull throb tightening around my skull.
In the bathroom, I open the cabinet and scan the headache remedies lined along the shelf.
I grab the one with caffeine, shake three into my palm, and bend to take a quick sip from the faucet to wash them down.
I want to get ahead of the pain building behind my eyes.
In the closet, I pull on an oversized sweater and leggings.
Bass waits at my feet the entire time.
I crouch, wincing slightly, and press a kiss to his nose. “I love you, Bass. You’re the best boy. Don’t tell your brother.”
He gives my hand a soft lick.
Together, we head back downstairs.
I cross to the couch next to Meg. She has her phone propped up with a mid-forties woman on the screen.
“Oh, here she comes,” Meg chimes. “Christianna, this is Alexis, our publicist.”
Alexis appears on screen, glasses pushed up into her hair as she flips through a neatly tabbed stack of papers. “Christianna. I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances. Let’s go over a few quick points.”
“Nice to meet you, too. Please, go ahead.”
I sink into the sofa and feel Remy and Erik take up position behind us.
“Mr. Leroux. Mr. Robichaux.” She gives them a brisk nod.
“First, I’ve signed an NDA with the opera house.
As an employee, you’re covered under it as well.
The NDA does not protect criminal acts. Second, I need complete honesty so I can advise you properly.
Missing key details can create problems later.
It’s easier to account for everything now. Does that make sense?”
I nod.
She continues.
“I have some familiarity from when you brought me in. I know about the dating sites and the smear campaign, which is why we structured tonight’s opening carefully and why Meg was able to stay ahead of the video issue.
I’m reiterating this for one reason: information allows me to build contingencies. ”
“All of that said, can you agree to be honest?” she finishes.
“I think so. Some details are difficult, but yes.”
“Alright. Take me through it in broad strokes. I don’t need fine detail at this point.”
I exchange a glance with Meg and squeeze her arm.
“In the interest of time, and given the number of people here,” Meg says, “I’ll give a brief run-through of what we have so far.” She looks to Coulson, who is working on his phone. “Jump in with anything you’ve uncovered when we get there?”
He nods.
Meg begins outlining my past.
It’s surreal to hear it reduced to bullet points.
Remy moves to the armrest and rests his hand on my shoulder when she reaches the part about Angel. The flinch that runs through me at hearing her spoken of so casually is visceral.
I tilt my head briefly into his touch as Meg finishes and Coulson steps in, outlining the escalating threats.
Alexis says little. She takes notes and occasionally asks a clarifying question.
When it winds down, she inhales slowly.
“Alright. I have a lot to work with. I want to bring in an attorney. Either one from my firm or one of yours, if you prefer. I believe the NDA you signed back then may not be enforceable. I’d like it reviewed. It was drafted to conceal a criminal act.”
“It was to keep Angel’s father from being disclosed.” The word father tastes bitter.
Alexis looks up from her notes. “Angel would not exist without that criminal act. That matters. If the agreement was structured to suppress information related to a crime, we may be able to have it invalidated.”
I glance at Remy, questioning.
“We’ll have our attorney review it,” Remy says smoothly. “I’ll send him your information. Do you need anything else from us tonight?”
“I have one question,” Alexis replies. “Christianna, if I ask you to sit down with WDSU for an interview, would you be willing?”
“Television?” I draw in a slow breath. “What would you want me to say?”
“My initial instinct is: everything. It’s relevant. It reframes the narrative. It may also encourage other women to come forward with their own stories. From an investigative standpoint, this is significant.”
“I need to think about it. May I take the night and speak to Remy and Erik?”
When she nods, I continue. “Would this be just me, or all of us?”
“Until I have your answer, it’s a moot point,” Alexis replies. “When you discuss it tonight, decide whether you want to be seen formally as a unit.”
I nod and glance over my shoulder at Erik, who is glaring at the wall, arms crossed.
The call ends and the room exhales with it. We’re all exhausted. Emotionally. Physically.
Coulson says his team will remain on watch and promises updates in the morning.
Madame gives me an approving pat before drawing me into a brief hug. Then she instructs Coulson to escort her to her car.
When I turn to find Erik, he’s gone.