Chapter 3: Exposed Secrets
The car door opened and a short old man dressed in all black slipped into the passenger seat. "Shut the door Jason, let's go for a drive." Victor told him as he started the ignition and drove off. The smooth hum of the engine filled the car.
"Okay Jason what's the latest update?" Victor asked the old man. "Well sir it's confirmed Elliot and Jonah are in a romantic relationship and I have the evidence to prove it." The man replied. "Good job. Hope the evidence is damning?" Victor asked.
Jason nodded and hands the envelope over to Victor. The envelope rustled as Victor inspected the pictures. He nodded in satisfaction and said, "Your money would be wired to you this evening." Victor told him. Jason nodded and exited the car. Victor smiled to himself, his plan was ready to be set in motion.
A knock was heard on Elaine's door.
She went to open it but no one was there and a brown envelope laid on her doorstep. Curiosity got the best of her and she picked up the envelope to inspect it. The envelope was filled with scandalous pictures of Elliot and Jonah.
Attached to them was a note that said, "Just what you needed." Signed V. A grin crept on her face as she entered her apartment and shut the door. With her back against the door, " This month's rent would be paid off. I might even be able to take a vacation once I publish these pictures on our tabloid." She said while smiling to herself.
Elliot is startled from his sleep from a loud sound from the door. He sits up to see his father standing at the foot of his bed. Confused, he asks"Dad what's going on and what was that loud sound?" "Save the questions young man!" His dad scolds " Care to explain yourself?" He asks while flinging magazines towards him. They all had different headlines but covered the same topic and had the same picture.
The first one read,"Billionaire's son is believed to be gay despite being engaged to socialite Clara." Plastered on the front cover was pictures taken the night before Elliot's engagement party and the morning after.
"Well are you going to explain yourself or sit there staring at how handsome you are in those photos." Elliot's father said mockingly. "This was the same guy at the engagement party. I really need a good explanation from you Elliot." His father said. The silence from Elliot was deafening.His mind scrambled to put words together. To come up with a reasonable explanation yet nothing was feasible.
Elliot's father sighed disappointed," I do not have the time to coddle you or to coax the truth out of you. Your mother can handle that. Since you're not ready to talk, I just want to let you know that our reputation, legacy and company is at stake because of you." "I expect this scandal to be blown over by tomorrow so fix it!" Elliot's father said and stormed out of the room slamming the door with a bang.
Elliot sighed, he rubbed his face furiously and ran his hand through his head multiple times. Everything seemed to spiral out of control.
The vibration of Elliott's phone jolts him from his sleep. His phone had been buzzing non-stop and even sleep couldn't drown out the noise. Groaning he finally picks up the phone, the name Clara with a heart emoji displayed on the screen. Sighing he picks up the phone.
"El, isss it t..true what the blogs are saying?" Clara asked her voice sounding hoarse over the phone clearly from crying. Elliot sighed he couldn't beat to hear her like this. "Have you been crying?" Elliot asks concerned.
"That's not the answer to my question!" She said her voice slightly raised followed with her sobs flowing from the phone's speaker. "Clara I can't explain much to you over the phone. I'm coming over to the house." Elliot explained. A hiss is heard and the call ends.
Elliot dressed in all black including a hood and a face cap. This disguise was necessary for him to be able to avoid the multiple news vans outside of the house and journalists who might be on his trail hunting for their next big story. With his head down, he left the house through the back door. Turning into the street he breaks out into a jog to distance himself from the chaos.
An hour later he arrives at the gate of Clara's house.
"Hey, Mr. Sinclair!" A young lady called out. "Mr Sinclair!" She called out again. "Shit!" Elliot swore. He really didn't want to entertain anyone right now. He reluctantly turned to give her attention. Rudely she thrust her voice recorder in his face asking, "Is it true? The rumors in the news about you." Elliot angry said, "Don't you have anything better to do than to meddle in people's business and stalking them all the time."
"Stay away from me next time or I'll have you arrested for harassment." He warned in a low voice. Then he walked up to Clara's front door
The maid opens the door and he's ushered into the house. "Miss Clara is up in her room sir." The maid informed him then walked away. Elliot walked up the stairs dreading each step he took. After a long while he found himself standing in front of Clara's door.
Faint sobs could be heard from outside. Sighing he pushed open the door. Clara looked up from her bed as he stepped into the room. "Now that you're here, please tell me if it's true. What the media is saying about you and Jonah?" She begged.
Elliot sighed and stared at the picture on her dresser unable to face her. "Yes, yes it's true." He said. "And this is how I get to find out?" Clara asked. "No no I never meant for it to turn out this way." Elliot tried to explain.
"Wow so you never planned to tell me?" She scoffed. "Here I was thinking I was getting married to a man who loved me. Not knowing that he's been cheating and lying to me." She said to herself. "Clara please don't sound that way. You have to understand I didn't love you but I care for you like a little sister." Elliot tried to explain to save himself. "You know what save it! I don't want to hear any explanation.
None of it makes sense just leave." Clara told him. Sighing he turned to leave but stopped in front of the door. "Clara please I just want to ask this one last thing of you before I leave. Don't do something rash please." Elliot begged. "Bold of you to ask me for anything after what just happened." Clara rebutted. " I know. I know I don't have any right to ask you of anything but please I have no one else to turn to." Elliot said. " Dad won't listen, mum would be heartbroken and I'd probably be disowned and left hungry in the streets. So please don't tell anyone about this please." Elliot begged.