Jenna
I was sobbing on my sister’s couch, the damask material darkening with my tears.
“I don’t know how this could have happened,” I cried, my voice muffled by a decorative pillow. “I can’t understand what’s happened.”
“Jenna,” said my twin quietly. “What don’t you understand? You did some porn and now that you’re famous, people have taken an interest. The porn’s always been out there, just no one realized it was you.”
“No, it’s not me!” I wailed. “I never did porn, it’s someone who looks like me with blonde hair and blue eyes, but it’s not me!”
My sister shook her head confusedly.
“But Jenna, I’ve seen the pictures. It’s either you or the best photoshop job in the world,” Tina said slowly.
“Yes, that’s me, I admit,” I said brokenly. “I took some nude photos when we were in law school, tuition was due and I had no options,” I said. “I’d maxed out my credit cards so took a gig I found off Craigslist, but it was just me posing naked with cars. They definitely didn’t film me, and I’ve never even heard of Green Guys,” I said, referring to the porn production company.
“But are you sure there were no videocameras?” asked my sister slowly. “I mean, it’s totally possible that someone stood in the corner and filmed you on the sly, right?”
That really hurt. I turned to her, my voice scathing.
“You think I’d forget if I did two guys, let them spurt all over me, coating me with cum and not remember? Seriously Tina, I knew you didn’t like me, but I never thought your hatred went this far,” I spat.
“No, I’m just saying,” said my sister tiredly, shaking her head, bobbling the baby in her arms. “The old you … the old you was unpredictable and flighty. A threesome wasn’t out of the picture at all.”
My cheeks colored as I remembered my past. Yeah, I’d done threesomes before, heck I’d done a lot dirtier so long as the boys did my homework and paid my bills. There had even been a time when I did the football team on a whim, as a passing fancy.
But that was the old me. I was different now and my cheeks flushed at memories of my past, heat suffusing my entire being. I shook my head, my efforts to turn a new leaf thwarted. Because the moment the video had hit the mainstream, my career was dead on arrival.
“UP AND COMING STARLET BARES HER BOOBIES!” “EXPOSURE OF YOUNG AND SWEET SENSATION JENNA WALSH UNTHINKABLE!” screamed newspaper headlines.
I’d recoiled with horror, dumbly forcing myself to look up the video. Oh god, the Green Guys site was the first one that popped up after entering my name, and I clicked numbly. The mass of writhing bodies was explicit, the girl in the video bearing an uncanny resemblance to me, so good that I could see how no one would question the likeness.
Even worse, the video had already been viewed twenty million times, with two million thumbs up. It was a nightmare, and I could hardly believe what had happened, the pressure on my chest crushing, my breathing shallow and fast.
Things were only made worse when a nameless employee from my modeling agency called to let me know that Levast had terminated my contract.
“Alright,” I’d said woodenly. “I’ll deal.” I’d expected that one because Levast represents high-fashion brands, they wouldn’t want a pornstar on their roster. I just needed a bit of time to prove my case, and then Rafe would hire me once again.
But what I hadn’t expected was every single one of my other bookings calling within a day to let me know that I was no longer needed.
“Really?” I’d gasped when Young, Broke and Fabulous notified me that I no longer needed to fly to Malibu next week. YBF is an up-and-coming LA brand known for its sexy, daring beachwear, and they’d walked on the wild side a couple times. Their last show was modeled entirely by Playboy centerfolds, so I’d figured their creative head would keep me on.
“I’m sorry Ms. Walsh, but we just doesn’t see YBF customers identifying with hardcore porn stars,” said the monotonous voice. “Softcore yes, but not what you did.”
I almost wanted to scream into the earpiece that it wasn’t me, there’d been a huge mistake. But who would believe that? So I’d hung up the phone and turned to my only ally left. My sister Tina. Family stands by family right, or at least it should, and I’d flown out to San Francisco on the red-eye, covering my head with a scarf to escape recognition.
Thank god Jake, her husband and my ex-fiancé wasn’t there. I would have died, he’d be laughing so hard at my predicament.
“Teen, Green Guys must have found a girl who resembles me to do the video for a few thousand bucks. Please believe me,” I said forcefully. “Please.”
Tina looked skeptical. “Jenna, I’m not sure,” her voice trailed off. “And you know there’s no love lost between you and my husband, Jake’s never liked you.”
“I know!” I said, struggling not to raise my voice. “But I need your help, and I need Jake’s help in particular. Sterling Pharma has a ton of people working for the company, Jake’s dealt with public relations crises in the past. Please ask him for me, won’t you?”
“I don’t know Jenna,” said my sister, her cheeks flushing. “He still blames you for Janie almost dying.”
I shook my head resignedly. The Pernacular debacle had nothing to do with me, but somehow Jake thought I was responsible for Janie’s ill health.
But before I could speak, Tina interrupted. “Jake’s on a business trip right now, but I’ll ask,” she said resignedly. “I’ll do it … for Mom and our family, if not for you.”
“Thank you,” I said relieved. The Sterlings were my last hope because Rafe still hadn’t returned my calls … breaking my heart.