Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22648 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
"Hi,” I say to the guards and give them a small wave. They smile politely before Scout takes me over to a bank of elevators. When I see our reflections in the metal, I look at her and then look at me. "I'm so underdressed for this."
"You're fine. It's only my cousin."
"But he's some big-shot lawyer."
"Meh." Scout shrugs, clearly not impressed with her cousin. "Trust me, my cousin loves comic books."
"Not sure that's a good thing." The comic book world is better about women than the gamer world, but there’s still a lingering boys’ club. It's why I'm in this mess to begin with.
“It is. That noncompete you signed is now over. He violated that when he started making passes at you,” Scout says as we step onto the elevator together.
I would make extra money at comic book conventions by doing drawings, and people would often want to take pictures with me when I was dressed up. Between that and social media, I could make an okay living. That’s how I met Geoff.
He was an up-and-coming comic book author. Geoff asked to take a picture with me, and I did a quick drawing for him. We chatted, and he asked about potentially working together. He said he needed help with drawing, and I was excited that he liked my work. Sure, I’d done comics on my own, but I was always too shy to show anyone. I still am.
It started off easy enough. He’d write, and I’d draw the pages. Geoff paid me a flat fee for each image I did for him, and after a few months, he started to really take off. He wanted to do a new series and asked me to sign a contract so that I couldn’t drop out before the series was complete. It seemed simple enough, and at the time, I understood why he would want to have it in place.
It’s my own stupid fault, but I signed the contract not realizing it had a noncompete. In addition to that, it included dressing up in cosplay for conventions and that all costumes had to be approved by him. The clause didn’t make sense because I was ghosting under him. No one knew I was the one creating the art for his comics or connected to him in any way. I didn’t realize it until it was too late and there was nothing I could do.
After I signed that paper and started working on the first book in the series, things got weird. The writing got dirtier, and the details of how he wanted me to draw the main girl made her have an uncanny resemblance to me. Then he gave me notes on how to draw the hero, who he wanted modeled after him. Only taller, with more hair and abs.
Geoff insisted we spend more time together, with me drawing in front of him. It was one thing after another, and before I knew it, he was trying to control all aspects of my life. Even what I could wear. Worse, the comic book series was blowing up, but all I wanted was to get out.
When I told him, he all but lost his mind and was quick to point out the noncompete and that I had a contract to finish with him. He told me he'd take everything I had. Not that there was a ton, but it didn't end there.
I can't prove it's Geoff, but around the same time, I started getting weird threats and aggressive sexual comments on my socials and through email. People would send pictures they created of me in graphic sexual positions. Sometimes with multiple men doing awful things to my image. A few times the commenters would say where I'd been that afternoon or what I'd worn, and that’s when I started to panic.
It all feels connected, but I have no proof, and the police handed it over to the cybercrimes division. That’s where the case died.
Except it hasn't died for me. In fact, it's getting worse.
Chapter Two
SPENCER
“You know there was a time when you guys were focused on work.” I glare at Landon and Gideon, who seem to find this funny.
“We’re focused.” Landon doesn’t even look up from his phone as he says it. He reads something on the screen, and then I watch him grin slyly before typing. I’d be willing to bet the firm he’s sending dirty messages to his wife.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.” Gideon is on his computer, but instead of running numbers, he’s designing a new greenhouse to go in his back garden.
“If anything, I’m jealous you guys are taking the month off and I’m stuck here,” I huff as I lean back in the chair and glare out at the city.
We’re in our shared office space, but I don’t have much longer before I need to meet my new client. I wasn’t planning on working during our break, but since these two clowns are taking their wives with them, it’s not like I can tag along. I’m not in the mood for a pity invite or to be the fifth wheel. As much as I don’t want to admit it, Gideon’s right. I am jealous.