“I can help with that,” Michael offers.

I turn to him. “Thank you.” Then back to Richard. “And even if she left in a rage at some point, we would have everything on the record.”

“What makes you think Rebecca Vanderbilt would even agree to an interview with you? You’re not exactly friendly with her daughter.”

I blush, and then punch below the belt. “But you are.”

“Not that much,” Richard says, and my heart leaps. At least their little gathering in LA was a bona fide one-night stand. “Anyway,” Richard continues, “even if I were close to her, what would you have me do? Trick Aurora into ruining her mother’s life?”

“Would you do it?”

A girl can hope.

“It’s out of the question.”

And have her hopes crushed. Anyway, I wouldn’t have respected Richard if he’d said yes.

“And what if I got the interview all by myself?” I ask.

“If you can do it without dropping my name.”

“I’ll have to use the magazine name, and you’re the Editor-in-Chief.”

“As long as you leave me out of it personally, it’d be fine.”

“Perfect! Are you giving me the green light to try?”

“Not yet.” Richard drums his fingers on the table. “What if Rebecca Vanderbilt were to sue?”

“For what? We’d make her sign a disclaimer beforehand granting us permission to air the interview.”

“What if she sues for slander?”

“They can win a lawsuit for slander only if the accusation is false,” Michael says. “And if they do sue you, it’d give you the right to access their books to prove your innocence. I doubt any lawyer in his right mind would initiate that kind of lawsuit with a guilty client.”

“So we don’t risk anything?” Richard asks.

“The way I see it,” Michael scratches his chin. “Worst-case scenario, the interview is a YouTube flop and you’ve made an enemy for life. Best-case scenario, it goes viral, and the IRS picks up the investigation where you left off.”

“You think that could really happen?” I ask.

Michael nods. “Half the government’s investigations start from anonymous or public tips.”

“Then why don’t we just tip off the IRS and let them do all the work?” Richard asks.

“Ah.” Michael sighs. “In that case, there’s no guarantee they’d follow up on the tip, but if you make a big public splash…”

Richard sighs. “I really have no choice here, do I?”

“Sorry, buddy,” Michael shrugs. “The girl has you cornered.”

Michael winks at me and I beam back. I can hardly sit in my chair.

“So the interview is a go?” I ask.

Richard looks at me and gives a resigned nod.

***

A week later, my phone starts vibrating on my desk. The caller ID—recently changed—shows, Billy Loomis. Okay, my ex-boyfriend isn’t exactly a serial killer, and he didn’t try to murder me and all my friends while wearing a stupid white mask. But still, I couldn’t keep Gerard as Edward Cullen.

I let the call go unanswered. Two minutes later the phone rings again, and again a third time. At the fourth call, I press ignore, letting Gerard know I’m willfully ignoring his calls. The phone goes silent after that.