Before I could react, she pulled a stack of photos from her bag and flung them onto Benedict's desk. "Take a look at your new girlfriend's explicit photos." She leaned against the desk, her expression pure mockery. "I have to say, she's quite the performer."
"With this kind of PR liability, I'd say the contract can be terminated right now, don't you think?"
My mind went blank. Explicit photos? Of me?
The previous nine contract girlfriends had all been terminated without warning. The woman standing before me made it obvious why.
Athena Simmons. The sole heiress of the Simmons family. Benedict Fox's childhood sweetheart.
I picked up one of the photos, studied it carefully, then looked up at Benedict's expression.
"Well, isn't this entertaining. That's twice now your image has fallen apart, Thelma." He was mocking me.
Athena stood with her arms crossed, watching me with the satisfied look of someone who'd already won.
"Mr. Fox, there's no rebuilding without something falling apart first."
"I can handle this two ways," I said, unhurried.
"Quick thinker. No wonder you ran a project division." Benedict tapped the desk. "Let's hear it."
"First, confirm whether these have spread online. If they have, we hire a lawyer and pursue legal action. We document the entire process and make it the content of our first livestream: a woman fighting back against defamation."
"You look like that and you still want to go live?"
Athena's voice dripped with disbelief.
"Ms. Simmons, the rougher the seas, the bigger the catch. Surely you understand that?"
"And if you don't, let me spell it out. Thanks to the stir you've created, all eyes are already on me. A doubled livestream impact is guaranteed."
"How do you know my last name?" Athena's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "And who created any stir?" Her fair complexion flushed red with irritation.
Of course I knew who she was. In Cindy's case files, Athena's name appeared more times than I could count.
"If there hasn't been any public spread, then we move to the second option."
"Which is this: Ms. Simmons, you gather up these AI-generated photos and walk out of here."
I stepped toward her, looked her straight in the eye, and seized the wrist she'd rested on the edge of the desk. I squeezed. Hard.
"Ow ow ow, that hurts!" She let out an exaggerated shriek. "Ben, do you see what this woman is? Are you really going to sign her?"