Rasul, however, remained quiet and withdrawn. If Jacob tried to talk to him, all Rasul did was apologize.
“Her actions have nothing to do with you,” Jacob pointed out over and over again. “You’re the one who was wronged here. I don’t understand why you’re not angrier than you are.”
“I’ve known who she was since our first date. I mean, I didn’t know she’d take it this far, but I sensed the potential. I think it was part of what attracted me. To be honest, more than once I’ve wondered if I chose to be with her because I knew she might do this or something like it.”
Jacob glowered. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, that’s ridiculous.”
“I mean, yeah, but I don’t think you get how ridiculous I was being when I got with her. I was angry, overwhelmed, and I hate to admit it, but more than a bit entitled. I knocked around between angry people who expected the impossible from me, terrified I’d disappoint them and lose everything. So I just sort of spiraled.” Rasul was wrapped in a blanket in the living room, rocking himself gently to the tick of the clock. “I was a heartbeat away from being the same kind of mess she is.”
“But you’re not a mess. You’re doing well. You pulled yourself out of it. And you don’t deserve being hurt like this, no matter how many mistakes you may or may not have made.”
“I know.” He didn’t sound like he did, though.
Rasul canceled his classes for the rest of the week. “My students are hounded enough as it is, getting hammered with questions and combed for anything that might make a news story.” Jacob hated to see it, not the least of all because this whole disaster gave Adina the limelight just like she wanted. All eyes were on her as she pretended to blush and demur and protest she never expected such an intimate moment to leak out, and at such an unfortunate time.
“She’s trying to Kardashian this, and it makes me furious,” Gus said at an MMS meeting—held at the bookstore after hours. It was too difficult for Jacob to go anywhere else.
“Rasul’s had it color all his interviews, and there have been some calls for the cancellation of his book,” Jacob said, grim. “Since the publisher has been referring to it as young adult, some say an author this scandalous shouldn’t be writing for children.”
“That’s terrible.” Matt pursed his lips. “But expected, unfortunately. God, why are people such assholes?”
Elizabeth called every day, keeping Rasul steady, a technique that only sort of worked. A week after the scandal hit, though, she called Jacob.
“Mr. Moore. A pleasure to meet you. I wish it were under more auspicious circumstances.”
“Likewise.” Jacob had taken the call in his office, and he leaned back in his chair. “How can I help you?”
“I’m chasing down something my investigator turned up. She thinks there’s someone in Copper Point who helped Adina out. There’s so much fresh footage in her doctored videos that there has to be an inside individual. Or maybe even two.”
“I’ve thought that too—but wait, two?”
“Let me ask you this, Jacob. Is there someone in town who has it out for you? Someone who has intimate access, especially of your store?”
Jacob opened his mouth, then closed it. “I mean, there’s this petty man who doesn’t want me to be president of the chamber of commerce, but I hardly see how that could have anything to do with Adina. And he never comes in my store or is around us regularly in any way.”
“Is there any connection between someone you do see regularly and this individual?”
He started to say no, then froze as the realization dawned. “Oh no. No. I don’t want to believe that.” He wiped at his face, lowering his voice as he glanced toward the office door. “Les Clark’s granddaughter. She’s one of my part-timers.” He lowered his voice further. “She’s working today.” The simplicity of the betrayal—so obviously in front of his face this whole time—hit him in waves. “She was the one who caused the stir that first day when he was shopping. But I can’t imagine she would goad anyone into releasing a sex tape. She’s still in high school! She’s about to graduate, and I heard she was planning to major in elementary education in college.”
“High schoolers do worse than this on a daily basis. The real question is, would her grandfather set something like this up?”
“He might, if he were angry and spiteful enough. Which he is.” Jacob felt ill. “So you’re saying Rasul’s nightmare is because of me?”
“I don’t know anything yet except that you’re not to blame any more than Rasul is, and I don’t blame him at all. My God, you gave me my author back, and made him happier than I’ve ever seen him in his life. Plus your little passive-aggressive spat with Adina gave us the right kind of boost. I have no issues with you, nor with Rasul. But if this wise guy and his granddaughter did anything to my author, I’m going to take them down.”
“I can’t believe Jodie has any part in this.”
“You’d be surprised what people will do to get what they want. Put money or fame on the table, and you see someone’s true colors. As a literary agent, I’ve seen the worst of everyone. Authors who’ll step on anyone to chase their dreams, believing everything is worth the price if it gets them enough control and power. Same for other agents, and some editors. Polite to each other in a professional setting, but always jockeying for an imaginary golden ring. What’s a little destruction of someone’s career when something you want lies in front of you? It’s grim to learn how many people you thought were good will drag others through the muck to get what they want, how many humans see other people as tools and props instead of members of a community. But you have to acknowledge these people exist. If you don’t, they’ll knife you in the back every time.”
Jacob stared at the wall behind his desk for a long time after he’d hung up with Elizabeth, trying to digest what she’d told him. He just couldn’t believe Jodie would be a part of this. Yes, she was often silly, but most teenagers were. Even Les—would he honestly try to sabotage another man’s career for a simple community leadership position? How did he even begin to approach either of them?
He needed help wrapping his head around this. Who could he talk to, though? Not Rasul, obviously. Gus and Matt would be happy to listen, but he wanted someone who would do more than listen. Someone who would dissect this even more than Elizabeth had and help him see what he needed to do—
He sat up sharply. Rebecca. She was probably working too, but her job was often flexible. Plus, she wouldn’t lie to him. Much as Jacob wanted to hear Elizabeth was just a cynical literary agent, he needed to know if even a little bit of what she said applied here. Rebecca would know how to handle this, how to approach Jodie without stirring anything up unnecessarily.
He hurried to find his phone and sent her a text. She replied immediately, telling him she was free and looking for an excuse to stretch her legs. She’d be over in five.
Jacob met her at the door. She took one look at him and raised her eyebrow. “This is serious, isn’t it.”
Aware Jodie was somewhere in the stacks, Jacob only offered Rebecca a strained smile and escorted her to the office.