Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
“I’m sure that was a fascinating Google search,” I mutter.
“Besides the Playboy spread, a very public affair with a prominent married man.” Karen clears her throat again, shooting a glance at Trevor that makes me scared to hear what dirt she’s about to bring out from under the carpet. “A, ahem, threesome or two bragged about in the tabloids.”
Trevor looks at me sharply, brows in the air, asking the silent question. I just shrug one shoulder.
“I was young and drunk.”
“Which brings me to my next question, Sofie,” Karen says. “Any drug use?”
“I’m a model, Karen,” I reply. “If you’re asking if someone somewhere may have a picture of me snorting a line of coke, that could happen. I’m not an addict, by any means. It would have been rare, but at a party or after a shoot, things happen. I’m not the one on trial here.”
“And neither is Kyle, at least not criminally,” Karen says. “We have to be clear about what a win is for us. Neither you nor Shaunti have a criminal case anymore, but with her allegations still in people’s minds, and then someone as high profile as you adding yours, it will at least bring pressure for him to drop out of the Senate race. And, hopefully, encourage some girl who does still have a criminal case against him to come forward.”
“That’s exactly what we’ve been thinking,” I say.
“In the meantime, Sofie,” Karen says, sympathy in her eyes and on her face. “They’ll make life hell for you.”
“It can’t be worse than the night he raped me.” My voice shakes only the tiniest bit, but from Trevor’s eyes fixed on my face, I think he hears it. “For days afterward I had bruises and bite marks from his attack. I didn’t take pictures, but I’ve never forgotten that.”
“Did he bite your, um…” Shaunti glances self-consciously at Trevor. “Your breasts?”
“Yes.” I look at my wrist, half surprised not to see red whelp marks ringing them. “And he belted my wrists.”
“Mine, too,” Shaunti whispers. “Did he ejaculate on your stomach at the end? I couldn’t understand why he…he just…Did he do that to you, too?”
I can only offer a jerky nod, the memory of that humiliation sealing my lips together. Me tied to the hotel bed with his belt knotted around my wrists, his eyes locked on mine while he spent himself on my belly and rubbed it into my skin. Hours after I showered until my skin turned raw, I could still feel that wet stickiness violating me.
“If he did those things to both of us, maybe it’s a pattern.” Shaunti brushes a tear from her cheek. “And there’s another girl who will hear your story and come forward, too.”
“Would you be willing to share a detailed account, Sofie?” Karen asks.
“Yes, of course.” I frown before going on. “The attack itself remained vivid in my mind for years, but the time afterward got hazy. We tried to reconstruct those hours afterward in therapy, but bits and pieces of it just aren’t clear.”
“You saw a therapist?” Shaunti asks.
“Yes, in Milan.” I rub the face of my watch, surprised at how much time has passed. I need to get Trevor out of here so he can prepare for his trip. “We don’t have a lot of time left. We need to get going soon. Mr. Bishop has a flight.”
“Of course.” Karen jots down a few notes on a legal pad. “Start trying to reconstruct those hours following the attack, the ones you say remain hazy. People will ask why you’re just now coming forward, and if there’s anything in that time frame we need to speak about, we need you to remember it.”
How different would things have been if I had come forward? Hadn’t heard my parents arguing? Had knocked on their door with my bruises and bite marks, evidence of Kyle’s brutality, instead of hiding it for days. Now it’s just my word against his, but I’m determined he won’t have the last word.
“We really do need to go.” I stand and so does Trevor. “What’s the next step?”
“You and I need to have a follow-up where you share a detailed account of the incident. I have Shaunti’s account on file, and we need to have that for the record, but also for you to get used to recalling and articulating your story. You’ll have to tell it soon.”
“I’ll coordinate with my assistant and get back to you with a time. She keeps my schedule.”
“Fine, and give me a day or so. We’ll craft a statement for release.” Karen stands, too. “In the meantime, play this close to the chest. I know you want to apprise your team, but no one beyond that. We stand a better chance with Kyle’s team having less notice.”
“Well, my parents know I’m planning to do this.” My lips take on a bitter twist. “They were very clear that they would not support me, and have probably already told Kyle about my allegations.”