Sophomore Year || Parenthood Series, Book One || WATTYS 2018

Chapter Fifty-Two

SOUNDTRACK:  "Next Time" - Prohaize, feat. Breanna Marin

Jared sighed as he looked at his laptop and scrolled through the websites his team had pulled up for him. The secret was out. People had identified Kate. It hadn't gotten past a few discussion boards, but he knew it would be out there by the end of the week. He wasn't even angry. Relieved was more like it. At least now he didn't have to keep worrying about things. A million ideas were racing through his mind as he tried to figure out his next step. A knock on his office door got his attention.

"Hey," he said as Robin came in. "Who let you in?" he asked, standing to greet his publicist.

"Kate did, actually. She was on her way out. Said something about Olivia's?" Robin replied, sitting in the armchair in front of his desk.

He nodded and sat down again. "So it's out," he sighed.

She turned his laptop toward her and scrolled the pages. Pictures of Kate were the main focus on several blogs on Tumblr and a few discussion boards were blowing up about her, but no one had landed on exactly who she was to Jared. And the sooner they nipped those theories in the bud, the better.

"Not completely, but yes. I can see why you called," she answered, turning the device back towards him.

"I want to go public," he said, resting his chin on his finger tips.

Robin arched a brow. "How public? Like are we talking People cover story or Today Show tell-all interview?"

He winced. "Not that public. I know I have press coming up for Suicide Squad. Is there any way we can sneak this in with that? You know, lessen the shock value by burying it within a bunch of stuff people already want to see?"

"That's what Emma spoke with me about a few weeks ago," she said. "I can set up several magazine interviews for you and you can drop the story in those. But I think it would also be wise to do a television interview of some kind, only because of the gravity of this type of situation," she added.

He nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea."

"Anyone in particular you feel comfortable enough with?" she asked, pulling a notebook from her bag.

He thought for a moment, trying to find the most personable and kind host. "Ellen would be good," he said. "She won't pry too much and I can play it off lightly."

Robin nodded. "Good idea. And if you style yourself right, you could totally go for the DILF vibe," she added.

"DILF?"

"Dad I'd Like to-" she started.

He winced. "Yeah. I got that part." He stood up and rolled his shoulders as he walked around the desk. "I guess we could go that angle. God knows I have enough underage girls throwing themselves at me already."

She smiled tightly. "I'm aware. But I would probably let Kate know about how this will all go down. I don't know how she'll feel when girls her age are acting that way toward you. Because you know it'll only add to the craziness."

"I will. She doesn't really know about people knowing her name and everything," he said.

"What about her social media?"

He shrugged. "I have people watching it, but I don't know what to do. I feel like making her go private is unfair because she has every right to post whatever she wants. But I also want to tell her to hide everything because these people will stalk the ever loving shit out of her," he groaned, running a hand through his hair.