Her Forbidden Millionaire

“Fair enough.” Phoebe was relieved that he even agreed as she got her friend on the phone. Pam didn’t waste any time getting over to Phoebe’s house. She came in willing to help any way that she could. She had to brace herself when she stepped into Phoebe’s apartment to see Lincoln Gold sitting their in a pair of sweatpants. After shooting Phoebe a quick smirk and side eye, she sat down and pulled out her notepad.

She could see the apprehension in Lincoln’s face. “Did you think I was going to memorize everything? Just take your time and tell me everything about what’s going on?”

“Okay.” Lincoln paused for a moment. “The short version is that when I was 16, my girlfriend who was also 16 at the time, went to an industry party. We both got high and drunk and ended up having s*x in front of everybody there. That was bad enough, but there was this skeezy set manager who worked on the same lot as me when I was doing that sitcom. He was there and recorded the entire thing. It wasn’t too long after that party that we both got letters and calls demanding money not to release the tape. I went to rehab and so did she, but after the price of his silence became too high for me to pay for the both of us, she started getting high again. I don’t even want to think about what that asshole had her doing to shut him up. But she ended up overdosing and passed away a few years ago. I don’t want that to happen to me, but I’m actually scared about what this tape will do for my career. This is my passion. This is my livelihood. I don’t want this to ruin everything I’ve worked so hard for.”

“Okay, we can do an expose on the industry in general and then have you come on to nonchalantly reveal that this goes on with child actors and how they get exploited and even used. It will be subtle and the main focus will be child actors as a whole rather than just focusing on you and your story. But once it’s out there it will be out there and we can figure out how to deal with the backlash. The backlash itself shouldn’t be too bad seeing as you were a young kid and you didn’t have the support system you have now. People will understand and probably feel bad for you. What we can also do is get this guy to admit what he’s done,” Pam said as she continued to jot notes down.

“How would we do that?” Phoebe asked her curiously.

The three sat there in silence for a few minutes when Lincoln’s phone went off. He looked up to them. “I have to get back to set. They just gave me my call time. Do you mind if I leave some of my stuff here, Phoebe? I promise to have it out of your way by tonight.”

“That’s fine with me,” Phoebe agreed as she tried to ignore the knowing glare from Pam.

“I’ve got it!” Pam shouted. “You’re going to set. Is it on that studio lot a few minutes outside of the city?”

“Yeah,” Lincoln turned to her. “Why?”

“Okay, we can set up a sting, like the police do. Lincoln, you call the guy to tell him you want to discuss your payment arrangement. And he has to do it in person for obvious reasons. You’ll take him to an empty set, but we’ll have the whole thing laced with microphones and cameras. You have to do that first. Then the next time he calls you, Phoebe, being all disgusting and sh*t, tell him you’ll do anything to get him to leave Lincoln alone and it has to be today to meet you. He will more than likely have you come to the same studio he’s meeting Lincoln at,” Pam explained with excitement.

“And what if he doesn’t?” Phoebe asked. “What if he tries to get me to come to the house or something?”

“Then you suggest the lot, because you think it will be just for talking and you want to be able to give Lincoln the good news while he’s on set.” Pam rattled off her reasoning as if deception came second nature to her.

“That sounds a little too dangerous,” Lincoln said. “I don’t like the idea of him being too close to you, Phoebe. What if something bad happens? He’s a really nasty guy. He’s not afraid to hit women or do whatever it takes to get his way.”

“I’m not some dainty little flower that can’t take care of herself,” Phoebe argued. “I’ll bring my pepper spray and if he gets too close, then I’ll let him have it. But we all agree that this can’t continue. At least if we do it this way we can have some control over what gets said versus going to the police and everything being splashed across the tabloids without your say so whatsoever.”

“I guess, I’ll make the call on my way to set and hopefully this plan of yours works,” he said, looking to Pam.

Pam nodded, trying to reassure him. “Don’t worry it will.”

They all went to work hoping that the plan they concocted went off without a hitch. Sure enough, a few moments after Phoebe had settled into her office the phone rang.

“Phoebe Grissom here,” she answered, hoping it wasn’t the raspy voice.

But it was. She knew this had to be done and soon it would be over. “So, my lovely bi*ch. I see you’re still messing around with things you ain’t got no business fu*king with.”

“I know, but it’s only because I care about my clients. Is there anything I can do to make you stop going after Mr. Gold?” Phoebe asked, but all she was met with was silence. “Hello?”

“I’m still here, just thinking about the many things I could say that you’d be willing to do,” he sneered.

Phoebe felt her skin crawling with disgust. “I’ll do anything. I’m supposed to be meeting Lincoln on set so I can bring you whatever you like on my way to him.”