Chapter 27
Rafi
I needed Stetson's permission to do this though I shouldn't have been surprised when he wholeheartedly agreed. He's a badass friend. But also, he deserves a chance to speak up for himself, too.
I wanted to do this days ago so I could go get Emma back, but it took some time to put everything into place, and I gave her the space she needed. But I wasn't waiting any longer.
I had my suspicions, but when Jim called me back to confirm that it was Tina who had snuck out of our hotel room, wearing a hotel staff uniform at one in the morning, I was enraged. I knew it. That was the hardest part, I knew she was batshit, and I didn't protect Emma. I fucking knew she was a problem, and I thought I saw her that night at the fight, but with everything going on, I had forgotten all about it.
I didn't protect Emma, and I'll never forgive myself for what the 'adorning fans' are putting her through. I've never felt so helpless and pissed off in my entire life. I haven't slept in a week, I haven't trained. Coach is losing it, but aside from sparring with Stetson and using the punching bag, nothing releases the anger, the energy I have bubbling up.
I look like shit, I feel like shit. But it's nothing compared to how I feel when I think about Emma, what I've put her through.
I was so relieved she texted me, even if she barely said anything. Alice was right, she's been through something traumatic. And as much as I wish she'd let me be there for her, I can at least be out here, fixing it. She's with her family, and that's something.
I'm going to make everyone who's fucked with her pay. Including her piece of shit boss, who fired her and evicted her when she was at her lowest. Fuck that guy. I already called the state health inspector, and when his business is ready to cause him some major fucking headaches, even if they don’t amount to anything, he’ll be out of the country, unable to deal with the problem. Then I'm making a lowball offer on his place and gifting the whole thing to Emma.
She's happy there, she loves her apartment. We can fix it up and make it a place for both of us. And we can turn the downstairs into a kitchen or something, or she can keep the coffee shop open herself, and run her blog at her leisure. Whatever she wants. Or we can sell it all if she wants that too. But I want to offer her the world on a platter.
"You ready?" Stetson asks, and I nod.
"You sure you're okay with this?" I ask him.
"Yeah. Let's just get it done. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can post it and start to fix my shit. I've lost so much already."
"I know I've said this, but… I'm sorry, man. For dragging you into all this."
"And I told you, I'm the idiot that brought that chick into our lives. You tried to warn me, and I ignored it for too long. I didn’t think she was a big deal. It’s my fault too, more so."
I take a seat on the couch, and Stetson sets the phone up and starts recording me.
"Hello. My name is Rafi Singh, but you all know me as Raze. I'm here to address the picture of my girlfriend Emma and my best friend Stetson that's been circulating online since last week. First of all, let me make it clear that this is no one's business but ours, but they are both being torn apart by the public, and I can't stay silent any longer."
I glance at Stetson, but he just nods, so I continue, "Regardless of the circumstances, a naked picture of Emma and Stetson, circulating online without their permission, is cruel, unethical, and illegal. The picture that was posted was real, but I was photoshopped out of it. I was there that night in the room. I'm not going to elaborate on this, because again, it's nobody's fucking business, but Stetson and I were both with my girlfriend that night. Something that was supposed to be sex amongst consenting adults has morphed into something ugly. Emma is a sexually empowered woman, she is extraordinary, and the world doesn't deserve her. But she's not a cheater or whatever shitty ugly thing the public is calling her."
Stetson makes a move, and I look up, he gestures his hands in a downward motion, indicating I'm getting heated and need to calm down. I give him a nod and keep going.
"An obsessed fan was hiding in my hotel room closet after sneaking in and took the pictures. Stetson has formally filed a lawsuit against her for harassment, and I'm going to encourage my girlfriend to do the same. Now, what I really want to say is that the online bullying and harassment against Stetson and Emma need to stop. I love Emma, and if she's listening to this… Emma, I'm so fucking sorry your picture got out like that. That everything became so public. It's my fault. But I need you to know that you're amazing. I love you. Please forgive me."
Stetson turns the camera off, and we rewatch the video. I'm admitting to the public that Stetson and I had a threesome. If it helps Emma, I don't give a fuck what I admit to. I do feel bad dragging Stetson into it, but he was all for it. He didn't give a shit, so as soon as he filed a complaint against Tina, we set this up.
We both post the video to our own accounts. I tag Emma and Stetson in it, he does the same. It's Thanksgiving morning, about 8 am. Stetson takes off to his parent's house, and I just sit down and wait for the video to gain traction.