Sweet Consumption

Chapter 6

        I take a second to orient myself after the onslaught of lights, but once I do, I see at least six reporters in my hallway, taking pictures and shouting questions.

"Ms. Martin, we heard you were the one that was in the car accident with Collin Harper. Is this true?” A female reporter that looks like she just rolled out of bed, shouts and shoves a cell phone in my face.

"Did Mindy Spencer hire you?" Someone bellows from the back. 

Another reporter, this one male and suffering from a few too many donuts, pushes in front. ”How do you explain the fact that Collin is paying for the accident when it was your fault? Are you sleeping with him?"

The questions come in rapid succession and I'm too shocked to respond.

Behind them, a door opens.

"What's all that racket?" Sasha's face starts out with a frown, but once she sees the paparazzi, her mouth gapes open. I look over at her pleadingly. Upon seeing my expression, she shakes herself and pulls her shoulders back. 

"Alright, it's late and I want to get some sleep. Time for ya'll to move on and leave my poor girl here alone." She makes her way around the group of reporters and cameras and puts herself in front of me. The cameras haven’t stopped flashing since I opened the door and some are now aimed at Sasha. She waves her arms in a shooing gesture. "Ya'll heard me. Now, git!"

Mr. Hooper must have heard the commotion from his own apartment, because he suddenly appears from a few doors down with a quizzical expression on his face. 

"I don't know what kind of place you're running here, Mr. Hooper, but it seems like just anyone can get in here! Do something about this!" Sasha screams. They've thankfully stopped asking questions when Sasha came out, but with this new information of who’s in charge, they direct their attention to the unsuspecting Stan.

"How long has Ms. Martin lived here?” The reporter with the belly shoves a microphone in his face.

A smaller reporter darts around to stand behind Mr. Hooper, effectively caging him in. ”What do you know of the accident?"

"Do you know of any financial trouble that Ms. Martin’s had? Does she pay her rent on time?" The disheveled woman asks.

The questions spew out to poor Mr. Hooper and he holds his hands up in a pleading gesture. He seems as shocked as I am at the outrageous questions they ask. 

Sasha shuts the door hard on their retreating backs and turns to face me. I stand there a minute, stunned and angry. I knew that stupid insurance guy sounded a little different when he got off the phone. He probably called them within seconds of hanging up with me.Don't insurance companies spend enough time milking you for all you're worth?

I stand there fuming, when some muffled shouting breaks through the red haze and I realize Collin’s still on the phone. My hand shakes as I put it up to my ear and I'm instantly assaulted by his loud voice berating someone. 

"Collin?" My voice wavers and Sasha gazes at me in concern. 

His voice is furious when he answers, "Olivia, don't worry. I’ll handle this. I don't know who told them, but I will find out. I promise you.” 

"I think I might have an idea." I tell him my theory about the insurance guy and both he and Sasha swear. 

"Alright. You just stay put. Give me your address and I'll send someone over to handle the reporters," Collin assures me and an angry voice starts to shout in the background.

"Okay," I respond, my voice still shaking both from the shock of the reporters and anger at what people will do to make a quick buck. Sasha takes me by the arm and leads me to the couch in the living room and gently pushes me down to sit.