Hooray! Over fifty reviews! Thank you so much. I love it when a story gets so much love! Sorry if the editing is messy on this one. I was watching Riverdale and Nancy Drew because my TV preferences lean into teen territory except, I forking love The Good Place.
Chapter Thirteen:
Music blared through my apartment.
"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade/Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you/Masquerade! Every face a different shade/Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you."
The doorbell rang and I opened my tablet to see Paul waving a cup of coffee in front of the camera.
Even though I was wearing pajamas underneath, I still secured my robe before opening the door.
"Phantom of the Opera," he said as he entered. "You're in a mood."
I turned it off with my phone.
"You'd be too if two hundred guests, including coworkers, saw your underwear," I said as I took the coffee.
"How are you holding up otherwise?"
"It's eleven o'clock and I haven't bothered to brush my hair," I said groggily. "How do you think?"
"Did you at least see the entertainment news?" Paul asked. "Everyone is showing video of Spencer Reid doing a strip tease. No one is showing footage of you."
"No one?" I said dubiously.
"One or two fringe websites, but none of the mainstream ones. 'Billionaire Stripper' trended on Twitter for six hours last night."
"Is this all supposed to make me feel better!?" I said angrily. "People I am going to see tomorrow at my job saw my black lace bra and panties! This is worse than when the mean girl at my grade school announced on the bulletin board that I had my period."
"You're not seeing the bigger picture though," he said. "That man loved you and Mrs. Cade enough to strip to make sure the spotlight was off you."
"He doesn't love me," I choked out. "He just felt sorry for me."
"Were you and I at the same gala? I saw him glance your way during dinner at least five times. That man has it bad for you."
"He likes my equations, nothing more!" I said.
"You really aren't doing so hot, are you?" he said softly.
I broke down and cried. I thought I had gotten it out of my system last night when I got home. Some how, I had more tears in me.
Paul took the coffee and hugged me and I cried some more.
"I know it doesn't seem like it, but things are going to get better," he said soothingly.
"Rationally I know, but irrationally, I just want to stay hidden for eternity," I said.
"I know girl. You're strong. Stronger than you'll ever give yourself credit for. One day last night will just be a bad night. It won't have this power over you. I promise."
"How'd my morning barista become my best friend?" I asked.
"Make that coworker," he said with a smile.
"What?"
"After the lockdown was lifted, Reid grabbed me, and asked if I'd like a job in the communication department. He wants to construct narrative for his actions and would like to use my writing skills to help. I'll be working on the fifth floor!"
"That's great Paul!" I said, feeling genuinely happy for the first time since last night.
"That man loves you," he said. "I know it when I see it."
"I'm afraid," I admitted. "Guys in the past have been my opposite, like musicians, poets, or a beach bum once. Spencer speaks my work language so fluently. I don't want to mess this up."
"You won't girl," he said. "Just keep your heart open and don't be afraid to take risks."
"That's sounds like something from The Bachelor," I said with a smile.
"We all have our vices," he said with a wink. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Only toast," I said.
"I'll make us some lunch while you clean up."
"Okay," I said. "My sister did call at three in the morning."
"What'd she say?"
"She couldn't believe my new boss was a stripper."
"See, that should have made you feel better," he said.
"I know," I said. "I have just never felt comfortable in my own skin and to have that happen really messed me up."
"You'll get through and if you need hide and cry with someone, I'll be on the fifth floor. I'm going to have a cubicle! How fun."
"It is really hard to stay sad around you Paul," I said.
"That's why Reid sent me here," he said.
"What!?" I said, shocked.
"The man drinks a lot of coffee he explained over to the phone. He's gotten so close to some of his baristas over the years that he has gotten college graduation party invites, wedding invites, even a ticket to a play. He understands our bond is special and knew you seeing me would do more good than him coming over."
"Wow."
"Lock him down," he said. "They don't make men like him, period."
"Okay," I said. "I'm going to clean up and change."
"That's the spirit," he said as he went into my kitchen.
I walked away feeling better than I had before Paul walked through the door.
…
I went in the kitchen and found Spencer drinking what must have been at least his fifth cup of coffee while looking at a tablet.
"Why don't you get some sleep?" I said.
"It's one o'clock in the afternoon," he said.
"You haven't slept since before the night of the gala."
"I'll go to bed early," he said. "How was therapy?"
"He said everything I'm feeling is normal, to expect nightmares, and that I was holding up exceptionally well. When are you going to see him?"
"I'm glad he was able to come here today. I see him in the afternoon tomorrow, I want to go in to be there for Nessa. I sent Paul over and he texted me that she's doing better since he came in."
"That was smart of you," I said. "Did I hear you hired him last night?"
"To be part of the communication team, I figured it couldn't hurt and I did research that he double-majored in English and Communication at USC."
"Impressive background for a barista."
"The newspapers he worked for kept downsizing. Being a barista is statistically, a slightly safer job in certain areas."
There was a pause where we stared each other down. We were both hiding how much we were hurting because we didn't want to burden each other. It was a tense, if absurd, game.
"Anything new on the algorithm?" I asked.
Spencer had been taking notes.
"August's car has been repossessed. He's lost all his sponsorships, and he's been kicked out of his apartment in Vegas. Carina has been dropped by all her brand sponsors. YouTube has cancelled her channel, and Twitter has banned her."
"I know these things are all big to them," I said. "But not big enough compared to what they did."
"I know," he said. "There's got to be something more."
The house phone suddenly rang.
"No one has this number," I said.
"It could be Carina," Spencer said.
I looked at the caller ID and smiled. I put it on speaker phone.
"Hi Uncle Andrew! You're on speaker phone with Spencer."
"Oh, hi Nico, I was looking for him anyway. How's my favorite god daughter after such a terrible ordeal?"
"I'm holding up. Thank you."
"Spencer, I have a business matter to discuss with you."
Andrew Hinson was a close family friend of Jensen's. A manufacturing company owner, he had loaned Jensen some money to start out his company in exchange for shares in the future. They made each other very rich over the years.
"Can it be discussed in front of Nico?" he asked.
"So long as you're comfortable with it. I trust her with my life."
"So, do I," he said. "How can I help you?"
"I have friends who are in the communication business and they all called me in the morning. They were amazed at how you turned a story about Jensen's daughter and ex-wife's involvement in disrobing two prominent figures in the company, into a story about you performing a striptease that dominated the media."
"That was the point," he said. "I wanted all the attention on me and none on the women who had suffered enough."
"Jacob kept promising that whoever he left the company to would take care of it. He said the person was brilliant and had a heart of gold. He is very proud of you right now."
"Thank you," he said. "That is high praise coming from you."
"I didn't call just give praise. I have a business proposition for you. I'd like to finally retire from the business completely. Would you care to buy my shipping stations?"
Our eyes lit up.
"Mr. Hinson, that purchase would double the capital of our company. You really want to do this because I stripped?"
"Because a man can tell a lot from the way he treats his people," he said. "You put yourself out there in an inventive way to protect what you care about. That say a lot. Nico will tell you Jacob has been after these stations for a decade. Congratulations, Spencer, you accomplished what your father couldn't."
Spencer was beaming.
"Thank you, Uncle Andrew!" I said.
"I'm happy to brighten your day. Spencer, we'll write out the particulars tomorrow. Have a good day!"
I hugged Spencer and felt him trembling.
"Spencer, please to go to bed. You're not going to be functional tomorrow and it is going to be a big day."
"But what about the three employees arrested in relation to destroying yours and Nessa's dresses?" he said "Sophia being the person who came up with the idea while Carina enabled the communication. What about-"
"Spencer," I said. "You need sleep. The world can wait. Paul is with Nessa. Colin is playing with the kids your Star Trek room. Everything is okay for now."
"Thank you, Nico," he said taking a deep breath. "I probably needed to hear that."
He got up and left the table. I pulled out a kettle to make some tea. With a moment to myself, I sighed. I was stronger than I knew. That is what I needed to keep telling our myself.