Page 101 of Bind Me
“Is it?” she feigned confusion. “I’m here because you showed me photos you said would become public. Images made to look both suggestive and embarrassing.”
For a moment Oliver’s composure faltered. She wasn’t meant to refer to them, that was clear. Then he waved a hand. “Well, but that’s?—”
“And then you offered me an interview.”
“That’s not—” Another pause. “That’s how interviews happen sometimes.”
On the chat screen:
THAT'S HOW INTERVIEWS HAPPEN???
Bro that is literally blackmail
Tell me he didn’t just say that
uhhhh pretty sure that’s textbook NOT how you’re meant to get an interview
Oliver leaned back. “Women who marry powerful men often discover that public interest comes with the territory.”
“Did you trace the source of the material?” Bea asked point-blank.
His jaw tightened ever so slightly. “We were in the process of?—”
Vibrations skittered over the control desk. The crew all across the floor were pulling out their phones. Her eyes flicked to Rafael. He gave the faintest nod, and prowled forward, stopping just outside the camera frame. Close enough if she needed him.
“Because we did.”
Oliver’s expression finally slipped.
His producer jumped up so fast the chair behind him toppled, slashing a hand across his throat at Oliver in a universal gesture:Kill the interview. Now.
Oliver glanced toward the viewer count. It had jumped to nearly eight hundred thousand. He hesitated.
Your numbers are so high, Oliver.
Then the chat exploded.
GUYS WHAT JUST DROPPED
Link to: DAO STRATEGIC FORENSICS REPORT
Link to: GRIFFIN VENTURES STATEMENT LIVE
The UR are investigating him for blackmail!!!
are we sure??? this feels like finding out your dad has a second family
His producer dropped all subtlety and started shouting, “Cut the feed! Cut the feednow!”
The red light died.
Bea looked back at Oliver. And smiled.
The color on his face ignited from cool bronze to a vivid red, like a lobster meeting boiling water for the first time. “You set me up.”
“Isetyouup?” It was her turn to lean back in her chair, steadying her jaw against the urge to chatter. “Youwanted this interview, Oliver. An interview with a Griffin.”
“Everyone wants a Griffin interview,” Oliver snapped.
