Chapter 3 Why Won't they listen to me

"Hey" A voice yelled behind her and she froze.

"Has her cover been blown? Did they see through her disguise?" Different thoughts ran through her mind in a rush. She turned slowly like a drenched chicken.

"You overpaid" The lady at the counter gestured to the money on the counter.

Tina sighed in relief and quickly grabbed the money, mumbled a thank you, and left hurriedly. When she got outside, she tilted her glasses upward and wiped the tears on her face while making sure her scarf was still intact. She flagged down a cab in a rush and boarded it. The driver made matters worse by talking about the news that has gone trending.

"These girls of nowadays are shameless" The driver started and she nodded but said nothing. She was not in the mood for random talks.

"How could she seduce a billionaire and record it to tarnish his image? She's wicked and inconsiderate" The driver raged lividly.

"I didn't seduce him. We were both drunk" Tina yelled in her head but said nothing. She looked out of the window and practiced the breathing technique to calm herself.

"Ma'am, she is.." Her ringing phone cut the cab driver off and she was glad. She checked the caller and it was Brenda. She picked it up dreadfully.

"Tina, where are you? Are you okay?" Brenda bombarded her with questions. No doubt, she was concerned.

"I'm fine" She answered simply.

"Where are you? Are you still at the pharmacy?" Brenda was agitated.

"I'm on my way home" She responded unenthusiastically.

"You've seen it right?" Brenda mumbled over the phone.

"Yes" She replied and glared at the driver who was peeping at her through the rearview mirror. He muttered a sorry and focused on driving.

"I will be home soon" She muttered in response and quickly cut the call. She realized that the driver was eavesdropping on her call.

"Ma'am, as I was saying..."

"Can you please drive quietly?" Tina's tone was harsh. She was done putting up with his loquaciousness.

"Sorry" The driver muttered and the rest of the drive was silent.

★

JAKE'S MANSION

"Boss" Brad called in an alarming tone as he entered his boss's bedroom. Jake was just coming out of the bathroom with a towel in hand. He was already dressed and he was drying his hair.

"What happened to knocking?" He glared at Brad.

"Sorry boss" Brad bowed in apology. Jake ignored him and threw the towel in the trash can. He walked to the couch in his room and sat down gently on the sofa.

"Speak" He said to Brad without looking up.

"You need to see this boss" Brad intoned and brought his phone forward so he could show him.

"Is it about the unsolicited promotion by the blogs? I've seen it several times and I'm tired of it. Don't bother me" Jake groaned, crossed his legs and reached for his phone.

"This is more than an unsolicited promotion boss, see" Brad shoved the phone into his hand. Jake watched the leaked sex video silently but his facial expression remained blank. One thing about him is the ability to remain composure even in the face of chaos.

"Okay" He returned the phone and Brad's eyes widened at his response.

"You said you deleted it" He muttered.

"I did. I don't know how it got out. Unless someone got to it before me" Brad responded.

Jake said nothing again and scrolled through his phone. The news was already everywhere and on every blog. What baffled him was how the public kept criticizing the lady and cursing her. The comments were brutal and the blame was heaped on her for seducing him and recording the clip so she could promote her stripping business.

"Who posted it?" He questioned simply.

"The person is anonymous sir. I tried tracking down his IP address but it kept bringing it back to me. It's a clean job sir" Brad replied.

"I deleted it on the web but it's on people's phones and they keep reposting and sharing it. It's impossible to bring it down permanently sir" Brad added dreadfully.

"Why are they heaping all the blame on her" Jake blurted.

"Your public opinion is strong and good sir and it's a good thing" Brad replied and he nodded in understanding.

"Your business partners and some clients called but I let them know that there's no cause for alarm and that the news that she seduced you was true. They extended their sympathy and offered to help in case you want to sue her for leaking the clip" Brad relayed and Jake scoffed at his statement.

"Do you think she's the one who leaked the clip?" He asked curiously.

"From what I've seen, I don't think she's the one. This is done by a very experienced tech expert, not something a stripper can do" Brad replied.

"I want to be alone" He muttered and relaxed on the couch while resting his head on the armchair.

"Okay boss" Brad bowed gently and walked out.

Immediately the door was shut, Jake stood up abruptly and ruffled his hair. He was trying to remain calm but his head was messed up. How could his sex tape be everywhere on the Internet? How did he even get erect and display so much energy which is unlike him? He was disturbed. He also felt pity for the stripper girl. He knew they were both drunk. The charm and seduction part of the story wasn't true.

His phone dinged to signify that a message had been sent to him. It was a text message from Tee. He opened it abruptly and he nodded slowly.

"Just as I thought" He locked the phone and threw it on the chair.

★

"It's okay. We will find something to do about this" Brenda rubbed Tina's back soothingly.

Tina was sitting on the floor and wailing silently. Her eyes were red and puffy from too much crying. She took her phone beside her and continued checking the hate comments online. She burst into fresh tears again.

"Give that to me. It will only make you overthink" Brenda collected the phone from her.

"I didn't seduce him. Why won't they listen to me? Should I make a post? I didn't post the clip. We were both drunk" She wailed bitterly.

"It will only complicate things if you make a post. I trust you and I believe you" Brenda pulled her into a hug.

"But why me? Why is all this happening to me?" She muttered in agony and sniffed in her tears.

"Everything will be over someday. In a few days, the news will die down" Brenda assured.

"Should I just go to the man and beg him to make a statement to vindicate me?" She was agitated. Brenda looked at her pitifully.

"That won't solve the problem. The public will still see you as a stripper. Just let this die down quietly" Brenda replied.

"I'm a stripper" She muttered and nodded slowly as if saying that would make her realize what she really is.

"I didn't mean to say that. I'm sorry" Brenda felt guilty and apologized.

"You only said the truth" She muttered and wiped the tears traces on her face.

"I'm going in. I need to finish a manuscript and send it to the client" She muttered, stood up, and headed to her room.

"She still wants to write in this situation" Brenda mumbled to herself and sighed as she heard the door closed.

Brenda's phone rang and as she checked the caller, her body vibrated in panic. She looked around vigilantly and hurried into her room. She made sure she locked the door before she picked up the call.

"You've done what you wanted, what is it again?" Brenda meant to yell into the phone but she was trying to keep her voice low.

Silence on the other end. Her eyes widened in horror as she shook her head vehemently at what the person on the other end was saying.

"No no... I can't do that to her" She shook her head more and her fear was written on her face.

Her hand shook more and tears trickled down her face as she listened to what the person was saying on the other end again.

"I will do it" She mumbled in response and the call ended.

"I'm sorry" She muttered and went to her bed while shaking like a drenched chicken and held her Bible to her chest.

"Lord, please forgive me" She shut her eyes and repeated the statement.