"Once her new drama wraps and my parents have fully accepted her, I can drop you without it getting ugly."
I could barely believe what I was hearing.
"How shameless can you possibly be? You actually think I'd agree to this?"
"You will."
Clyde pulled a check from his pocket and held it out to me.
"That's two million. When it's done, I'll give you another three. Five million buys me two months of your cooperation."
"You should think about that. At the rate you make doing bit parts, you wouldn't see that kind of money in ten years."
I looked at the check, and something inside me just hollowed out.
So that was it. My dignity, my feelings, who I was as a person—he'd priced it all at five million.
"What if I say no?"
My face was bloodless as I looked at him. "You planned that kidnapping, Clyde. I can go to the police. I can put you behind bars."
He looked at me like I'd told a joke. Nothing but contempt in his eyes.
"Then go ahead."
"Look at what you've actually got. You're the one who filed that report. The police already ruled it a random crime—nothing to do with anybody. And those videos, those photos? Every single one is real. No edits, no fakes. You've got nothing on me."