Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
I like it. “See you then.”
That night, I dream of being chased by Carter and two ten-foot-tall coconuts. He yells, “Touch my nuts, Mila! Pet them, woman! Now!” as he rolls them after me through fields of giant candy corns. Then I see Logan waiting for me at the other end of the field. He’s in his suit, looking perfectly sexy and confident. “Hurry, Mila. Come with me. We need to start our life together.” Then I stop and look at him as he evaporates like a wisp of steam. I turn my head just as Carter runs me over with one of his big, hairy, brown testicles.
I wake covered in sweat. The dream felt so real that I sniff my hands and arms for ball sweat.
Crap. I need to get on with my life. I need Carter gone. Today, I’m serving up justice; then I’m never looking back.
And starting tomorrow, I’m looking for a new job. I’ve always wanted to run my own business, but the question has always been, which business? I want to travel. I want to see the world, but this dream of my pretty little house is equally strong. I want a home, a place all my own. I want a business that serves a purpose and doesn’t just make money. If I knew what that was, I’d get my ass in gear. But until I figure that out, I need to broaden my horizons and add more tools to my box. At the moment, I’ve just been meeting tools.
Today, everything changes. Because it’s time for me to face the truth: I’m never going to be Sofie. Here on out, I have to start making my own luck.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“Sofie, you didn’t tell me you were going to add all that stuff.” The exposé included clips of Mr. Sticky Nuts basting himself with chocolate syrup (junk blurred out) and women at some bachelorette party squealing over his performance, plus Carter’s movie trailers. The flow went something like this:
Who is Carter Strike, award-winning filmmaker? Then the montage started almost like a real bio reel. Until, boom!
Mr. Sticky Nuts, fetish porn king.
And master manipulator. The video then shows Logan, followed by Carter’s voice confessing what he did to me. But the best comes last: bombshell. Carter Strike pretends to be his own twin and seduces innocent women.
It was one damning piece of work.
“What do you think?” Sofie asks, grinning proudly.
“I think he’s screwed and is about to be on the front page of every gossip website. The photo of him grabbing his nut sack at the end was particularly special.”
“I asked my guy to throw that in.”
“Good touch. I mean that figuratively, of course.” I take a big breath. Somehow, revenge isn’t as sweet as I’d hoped. “So what comes next?”
“Watch.” Sofie points to all the comments, likes, and shares happening. One hundred. Two hundred. Four hundred. The comments range from hysterical laughter to disbelief:
OMG. Carter Strike does porn?
Mr. Sticky Nuts makes documentaries?
That man is hot. I don’t care how crazy he is. Heart emoji.
I lean back on the sofa. “Well, I guess not everyone is getting the fact that he tried to seduce me just to capture it all on film.”
“Give me a sec.” Sofie types something and posts it.
“What did you say?”
“I added in the comments that it’s not cool to profit from exploiting a woman’s love. #dignityvampire #privacyrapist #notmysister.”
I blink. “That privacy rapist thing was a little harsh, but the dignity vampire is pretty accurate.”
“See.” She points to the screen. “It’s super grabby.”
I nod, watching all the comments getting tagged with her hashtags. “So that’s it, huh?”
“Why do you look so disappointed?” she asks.
“I dunno. Maybe I was imagining seeing Carter having a massive meltdown or crying in public, but I just realized I won’t get to see him repent.”
“Yeah, I suppose that’s the downside.” She slaps me on the back. “But hey, you know he’s freaking the hell out right now. He’s watching his life flash before his eyes.”
I stare at the screen, not feeling it. No sense of sweet, juicy justice. Not even the warm, comforting glow of a revenge fulfilled. Honestly, I just feel hurt. Hurt because I really liked Logan. Even yesterday, I felt this gnawing attraction.
“You’re right,” Sofie says. “It’s not as climactic as I thought. You can still sue him if you want.”
“Nah,” I say. “I think I’m ready to move on. I really just want to forget this episode of my life.”
“Don’t worry. Within a week, you’ll have moved on, but Carter Strike will have to carry the shame of screwing you over for the rest of his life.”
“If you say so.” I mean, Sofie is always right. Why should I start doubting her now?
Around midnight, there’s a loud knock on my front door. My phone is beeping, indicating the cameras are active and recording.