Seeking Escape

40: Defamation and Extortion

*** Quinn's POV ***

It felt really fucking good to be in front of the camera again. It felt even better that I wasn't performing, just guiding young actors to stay true to themselves. Sure we threw in some gratuitous nudity and let them have at it, but I got to step out of the spotlight while still shaping the industry. It was a pleasing compromise between where I wanted to be in my career and where I ended up.

Even Mir was happy and that was a tough ask. "This is brilliant, Quinn. Absolutely brilliant. And you're building up your directing skills while you're at it. Are you willing to show some clips today?"

"I knew you were buttering me up for something." I smirked. He opened his mouth to argue his case, but I interrupted. "We can show a small clip."

"Yes! I'll get it set up!" He responded gleefully. "Do me a favor and fish out a few fan letters to respond to on air. For someone who met his soulmate through these things, you would think you'd be more eager."

I laughed. "I already found her. Now these are just primarily for boosting my ego."

"Perhaps you should address your critics more." He suggested wryly.

I shook my head and laughed. I definitely was getting people angry for me "pussing out" as they so eloquently put it. Apparently I wasn't permitted autonomy in my career. Fair weather fans. But maybe Mir was right. Maybe I should dip into the hate mail too. I was feeling cocky today. Bring on the haters.

I started reading through and honestly most of it was pretty tame. I had been called much worse to my face, but then my eyes landed on something all together different.

You're ruining her. She deserves better than some cocky bastard that fucks around on her for a living. You're putting her in harm's way and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you get away with it.

It wasn't signed but my mind immediately went to Dan. What the fuck does he know? I scoffed. Mir wouldn't like it, but maybe this was the one to confront head on. Either way, it was written as a warning. And between Dre showing up unannounced at her place and now this, I wanted Joyce to move in with me. I'd talk to her about it tonight.

I tried not to let that message get to me as I prepared for my live show. I played back some of the clips from earlier and selected one that would be sure to draw interest for the full length show.

My phone rang about an hour before we were set to go on. I looked at the ID and answered. "Hello Cynthia."

"Quinn, I'm glad you answered. Is Mir there too?" Her tone was urgent and strained.

"Yeah, we're getting ready to go on for the live segment. What's up?" I asked.

"Get Mir on." She insisted.

I sighed and called to Mir. "Cynthia has something she wants to talk to us both about."

I put the phone on speaker as Mir made his way over. "Cynthia, darling. Are you taking us up on our offer for Quinn's new show? I think the mentoring the mentor aspect would be gold."

"No, this is about news that is being put out attacking Quinn's reputation. Thankfully someone leaked it to me, but Quinn, it's not good." She revealed and then shared the grim details.

An anonymous letter alleged that I had ties to traffickers throughout my entire career. The first person to shoot those photos that changed the course of my life was apparently just indicted on charges associated with sexual coercion. An early film, one of the few in my career that I wasn't proud of because of the role I played as a dominating asshole, allegedly involved girls who were not in the business by choice. The letter went on to allege that I was now scouting girls not just for the porn industry, but for forced prostitution and that I was moving into the role of director to take advantage of the power and to build a more direct pipeline.