The Work of a Legacy

Chapter Eleven

Dear Mrs. Ford,

I will personally see to it that your daughter gets your letter. However, concerning the matter of your daughter leaving the show, I am afraid that it would be unsafe for both Stelara and you for her to travel at this time. She has come down with an undiagnosed illness and has been stuck in bed for a few days now. I will make sure to send her back as soon as she is well.

Yours Truly,
Hank Green, Chanced

The meeting at hand takes place on a sunny morning, though the atmosphere in the room is anything but. When Jason is not staring at the table, he is sneaking apprehensive glances at me. Hank is completely oblivious, smiling as bright as the sun is shining.

"Let's begin," he announces finally. "Night?"

"Yes, okay. Well, I found out that S-" my words get caught in my throat.

"Night? Are you okay?"

I nod and cough. "As I was saying, it turns out that Sel-"

Hank's smile fades slightly. "Let's here it. I know it's hard, but this is your job."

Just do your job and get it over with.

"Seli... Selina likes a crew member. Two, actually. Both of different genders."

Jason's jaw drops.

He knew already. Why is he acting so shocked?

My stomach turns, knowing the answer immediately after I ask it.

He's not shocked about her. He's shocked that I would give her away. Some friend I am.

"That'll be all for this meeting. Thank you."

The cameramen file out and Hank turns to me angrily. "Why would you do that?"

"What?"

"You just exploited your love interest! Who knows what viewers will think now! It'll definitely be harder to convince them of your love now!"

I roll my eyes. "We still have a month and a half left before this goes public. Just delete the tape."

"Do you have any more gossip to share?"

"No."

"Then what are we supposed to do? No, it's going in the final edit. You, figure this out."

I nod tiredly and trudge back up to my room, but decide against going inside when I see Anna's exhausted, sleeping frame draped across the bed. She hasn't spoken to me in seventeen hours.

I decide to go down and get some coffee, despite the fact that I hate coffee, unless it's more ice cream than caffeine. Like Starbucks.

"Hey, Stelara," Yasmin greets me as I pad in to the kitchen. "Coffee?"

"Actually, that'd be great."

She pours me a cup and sets it down in front of me. "So, I heard that you extracted the truth from Selina. I wonder who slept with him, if not her."

I shrug boredly. "We'll know when the episode comes out."

"I guess you're right. Hey, if you don't mind me asking, what's going on between you and your roommate?"

"Anna?"

"Yeah, the pretty one. You guys seemed like pretty good friends, and then... I don't know. Is something going on?"

I regard her suspiciously. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm just curious, is all. I'm not Adaeze, I'm not going to tell anyone," she smiles encouragingly.