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I are left by the wayside. Whatever it is you want, I don’t care.”
    I was walking toward the door when he stopped me. “Even if it means wiping the debt on your house?”
    I turned back, slowly.
    “It’s a simple job. You might even like it. Someone has copies of a tape they shouldn’t. Steal them, and your debt is wiped.” He pushed two folders across his desk, in my direction. “In the top folder, you’ll find the financial records relating to your loan. Do this successfully, and that debt will be wiped out. Completely.”
    My eyes darted to the sheaf of papers in the folder. I was tempted. Sorely tempted . But then my jaw tightened. “Whatever’s on that tape, the company must want it bad. And if the company wants it bad, that means you shouldn’t have it.” It was with effort that I held myself back from spitting at him. “No deal. My mother and I will survive without your charity.”
    “How is your mother, Josephine?” he asked suddenly.
    “Fine, thank you.”
    He stubbed out a cigar, then began to trim another. “Funny, I’ve heard a much grimmer tale.” A match flared. He took several puffs. “In fact, I’d say with her heart, leaving that house might even kill her.”
    “She’ll move in with me. We’ll make it work.”
    His eyebrows rose. “Two women in that one bedroom shitbox you’re renting? You’re late on the rent there too, aren’t you?”
    “We’ll. Make. It. Work.”
    He sighed, shaking his head. “I told them you wouldn’t go for it.” Then he’d pushed across the second file on his desk. “That’s why I have this second folder.”
    “Whatever it is, I’m not interested.”
    “Open it,” he cajoled. “I mean, I could, but it would ruin the surprise.”
    I stepped forward hesitantly. When I opened the folder, my eyes filled with tears.
    It was me . Photos of me, naked as the day I was born. How he’d gotten his hands on them; I had no idea, but I wouldn’t put anything past the company at this point.
    “I didn’t realize you were so… photogenic,” he sneered. “And those poses with the props! Very inspiring. Wouldn’t it be a shame if your family saw something like this? I mean, your mom, with her bad heart. It would almost kill her.”
    He licked his lips as he stubbed out his cigar. “Don’t worry, of course. I’ll keep them safe. Because I care about you, and want to help you… you do want to help me in return, don’t you Josephine?”
    I couldn’t imagine the effect it would have on Mom if she saw these. The shame in her eyes—he was wrong. It wouldn’t kill Mom. It would kill me .
    My shoulders slumped. He knew he had me. “The dialogue you’re looking for took place on September 23 rd .” The blue smoke wafting across the room now made me feel sick. “You’ll find a copy in the editing room. Don’t take it. He’s bound to notice it missing. Just do what needs to be done, then put it back.”
    I had nodded, feeling nauseous.
    “The master copy he keeps on his person at all times, from what I’m told. You’ll have to get your hands on that in some other way.” He’d winked, then. “From what I can tell in this folder, I’m sure you’ll have no problems thinking of something.” I’d rushed from the room then to be sick. His laughter, and the memory of that folder, had followed me all the way.
     
    * * *
     
    Back on the jungle set, I was clutching the tape so hard my fingers had gone white. It held so much more than what appeared on the surface. This wasn’t just about me. It was about my mother, too. I was her sweet little doll. I couldn’t let her see those photos.
    Before, when I’d thought I could be strong, I’d been blinded by lust. Now that the haze had cleared I knew it wasn’t that simple. I should take the tape . After all, if I left it, what would really happen? Janus had lawyers. I’m sure they had contingency plans.
    And Archer was a billionaire! Money wasn’t important to him like it was to me. Leaving the tape