Chapter 27 #2
Mav passed it to her, because even though he hated being online, he wanted to support Nina there too. Hating being online didn’t mean that he was ignorant of the fact that most of the world operated there now, and he wanted to be there for her in every way possible.
Sierra was quiet for a few minutes as she worked. And when she spoke, she said, ‘Okay, I’ve downloaded the app, and I used your work email and laptop password so that it’s easy to remember.’
‘How do you know my laptop password?’ he asked.
‘HuntRanch123. Seriously? You’re about as mysterious as white bread.’
He smiled despite himself.
‘What do you want your handle to be?’
‘My handle?’
‘Your public username.’
‘Maverick Hunt,’ he replied.
‘Maverick Hunt will appear below your handle anyway.’
‘So, what’s the point in the handle?’
Sierra hesitated perceptibly. ‘I have no idea. Just run with it.’
‘What’s yours?’
‘Corporate_Cowgirl.’
‘Huh. Okay … Make mine … NK_Fanboy.’
Sierra laughed. ‘Really? What if the media get ahold of that?’
‘Yeah, I wanna make her smile, even when I’m not there. And fuck the media. Let them come. The more there are here, the less there are hounding Nina in LA.’
‘Aw, Mav,’ she sniffled mockingly. Her fingers flew across his phone as she continued the set-up. ‘Okay. What do you want as your profile picture?’
‘There’s one of Barbie saved on my phone. She doesn’t want us public, and I can respect that. But she’ll know that it’s me, know that I’m here for her even if I have to keep my distance …’
She scoured his messages. ‘Got it. That’ll also be your first post.’
‘Does it have to be?’
‘No, you can opt not to have it display on your grid.’
‘Nina’s making a public statement on Instagram today. I want that to be my first post.’
‘Let me follow her.’ Sierra concentrated for a moment, but when her eyes clouded, he knew that Nina and Linda had already posted the public comment.
‘Read it to me,’ he demanded hoarsely.
‘Mav …’
‘I can handle it.’
‘The post just says “Public Statement” but there’s a link in her bio to the full statement.’ Sierra took a deep breath and began.
To my colleagues, fans, and fellow victims,
As many of you know, false assault allegations have been made against me by Alexander Cane, the producer on my new movie: Shadowlands. While I’m not usually one to post about my personal life, I’ve recently (with the help of many friends) found the courage to speak up.
On June 2nd, Alexander Cane broke into my home in the Hollywood Hills. He physically and sexually assaulted me and then fled the scene once he realized I had been on the phone with @PhotoQueen immediately prior to, and during, the assault.
I was taken to the hospital with a severe concussion and two fractured ribs.
During my hospital stay, Alexander came to see me.
He apologized and told me he had a substance abuse problem, and that he was seeking help for it.
He then advised me to remain quiet regarding what he repeatedly called a ‘misunderstanding’ if I wanted to win an Academy Award for my role in Shadowlands.
I ran.
I’m ashamed to admit it now. But I was scared. I still am. For my personal safety, of course. But also, I’m afraid of losing everything that I have worked so hard for.
Though it shames me to admit it, I also didn’t want anyone to know what had happened to me. It’s hard enough to stop seeing yourself as a victim, as weak, helpless … But it’s impossible to stop other people from seeing you differently once the world knows …
So, I lied.
I told the police that I hadn’t seen my attacker, and I went to recuperate at the beautiful @HuntRanchResort, where slowly, I began to feel safe again.
… Until Alexander Cane tracked me down there two weeks into my month-long stay.
He arrived at Hunt Ranch after a photo was leaked online, revealing my location. He threatened me. And it was only after I told him that I was filing a police report that Alexander decided to file his own assault allegations. Fake ones.
I thought that nothing would be worse than the trauma of that initial assault. But I was wrong. It is far more painful to be accused of the very crime that happened to me – and by none other than my perpetrator.
However, I am committed to seeking justice. My legal team and I are working to clear my name and reveal the truth.
I appreciate the love and support from my fans and community during this difficult time.
To my Shadowlands colleagues … ‘Sorry’ doesn’t come close. I’m absolutely devastated. We all worked so hard …
I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I do know that I’m refusing to settle. Because if I walk away, I absolutely believe that one day soon another woman will be living the hell I’m currently living. And I refuse to let that happen.
Still, I ask that you please respect my privacy as I navigate this difficult process from here in LA. I am sad and tired, but I am also resolute and strong. I have to believe that the truth will prevail.
Thank you for standing by me.
With love,
Nina
Mav’s heart ached. ‘Fuck, I should be there,’ he said.
Because he could imagine Nina as she sat down and struggled to put her pain into words.
He could imagine her braving the after-effects, and even though it comforted him to know that she had Markus, he wanted to be the one to hold her, to comfort her.
Because it hurt him every time she hurt.
‘Most of these comments are supportive,’ Sierra pointed out. She smiled. ‘Markus’s comment is pinned. It says, “@KingCane, I hope you currently feel the fear I felt listening to you assault my girl over the phone.”’
‘Did he post anything – Alexander Cane?’
Sierra clicked through to @KingCane’s profile. ‘He’s made his account private. That’s good.’
‘It is?’
‘Fuck yeah. It means he’s being torn a new asshole by her fanbase.’
‘Good.’ Mav nodded.
‘Okay, so I’m going to use an app to share Nina’s post. And I’m going to copy and paste that link into your bio.’
‘Thanks.’
Sierra paused. She cackled like a hyena.
‘What?’ Mav asked.
‘Nina followed you back.’
It was the stupidest thing in the world for him to feel a little more connected with her because of it – but he did. So he’d be grateful. ‘Okay.’
‘No … You don’t get it. She only follows forty-five people.
And she has three million followers, which means …
’ She angled the phone for him to see the screen, pulled down the page to refresh it.
The ‘Followers’ number jumped up by two thousand people immediately.
She did it again. This time, it jumped by five thousand.
‘You’ll be Instafamous by the end of the day, Mav,’ she prophesied, and passed him back his phone. ‘Make sure you post Markus’s professional photos on there. It’ll give Hunt Ranch bookings a huge boost.’
‘Maybe a few that don’t feature us,’ he said, but only because he knew Sierra worked hard on the ranch’s marketing and advertising. ‘But I didn’t do this for us. I did it for her. So she knows …’
Sierra looked at him for a long moment. ‘You know, I don’t think I’ve ever said this to you before, but I’m really proud of the person you are, Mav. And Mom and Dad would be, too.’
‘Yeah.’ But he pulled her in for a hug, knowing that she had her own demons to battle. ‘Of both of us.’
It was stupid and reckless of her to follow Mav back online – Nina absolutely knew that.
But she had promised herself that she wouldn’t text or call him, knowing that if she did, she would cave and ask him to come back.
So following him back felt like a silent plea: Thank you, wait for me, and I love you rolled into one.
She actually laughed when she saw that his handle was ‘NK_Fanboy,’ and when he didn’t post anything, but only shared her public statement as his first post, Nina felt the warmth and certainty of his love spread through her.