Chapter 8
As soon as Sebastian was detained, I filed for divorce.
The day the court judgment came through, I sold the house and moved to a new place.
I thought I was finally closing that chapter of my life, but one crisis had barely ended before another began.
That evening, just after I’d arrived home, my assistant called, her voice trembling. “Ms. Sterling, oh my god–I don’t know how to tell you this–someone’s posted explicit photos they’re claiming are you on TikTok. It’s already going viral.”
My heart dropped. I immediately checked my phone.
The photos showed someone in a hotel bed in explicit poses. Thankfully, the face and private areas were pixelated.
They were posted by a user called “ClairelyNotOver,” with text heavily implying the woman was the CEO of Sterling Associates.
I didn’t need to guess who was behind this.
Sterling Associates was trending again, with comments from people eagerly consuming the scandal.
Some even accused me of leaking the photos myself for publicity.
Just as I was about to contact our PR team, my phone buzzed with a message.
[Enjoying your 15 mins of fame, bitch? Got the whole thing in HD–full face, full body, EVERYTHING. Wanna see yourself getting railed while drugged???]
[What do you want?]
[Coffee shop by Jefferson High. Tuesday 1pm. 500k CASH. No cops or the video drops EVERYWHERE. Tick tock, slut.]
My hands shook so violently I nearly dropped my phone. I pulled up my recent calls, thumb hovering over 911.
Three deep breaths. Think, Anastasia.
If that video leaked–the one where I was unconscious and being assaulted–my reputation would be destroyed. Not because I’d done anything wrong, but because the world would see me at my most vulnerable, most violated. The company my parents built would be
forever tainted.
The police might eventually catch the blackmailer, but they couldn’t un–ring that bell.
Once online, always online.
I deleted the emergency call screen and scrolled to a different contact.
16.06
