Kevin worked fast.
The next evening, Tristan already exchanged the information he wanted for cash.
"When I told them I was a fan of Nelson's, these two almost closed the door in front of me," Kevin recollected with a small scowl. "And when that didn't work, they did all they could to convince me to stop being Nelson's fan. Luckily for me, that made it easy to get the information you needed from them."
"And?"
"This interview wasn't their idea—the journalist who took the interview approached them first. He called himself Logan Brooks, but it might be a pseudonym. That's all they know."
Tristan nodded thoughtfully.
So, as he feared, there was someone else behind this. Someone at BuzzBeat, the gossip news website that published the slandering article, had to know more about this.
'I could pay a personal visit to their office—if there's even anyone here. Not to mention, it's in another city. No, I should use a more delicate touch instead.'
***
The BuzzBeat newspaper had an online page, as everything in modern days. Its journalists also had their own pages, linked to the main one. Although Logan Brooks was definitely not his real name, Tristan easily found the journalist's online profile.
The journalist even offered people to submit juicy gossip to a specified e-mail address.
'This is so easy.'
In half an hour, Tristan wrote and sent a message from a disposable email.
***
Another day later, it was actually fished out from the deep well of other messages and opened by Brooks.
[Topic: I walked past Golden Talent Group offices and saw THIS! They didn't notice me filming.]
The body of the email was empty, but there was a single video fail attached.
Perhaps it was a prank—God would know it wasn't the first in Brooks' career—but perhaps it was a jewel that will win him a Pulitzer award. It was his job to check.
He opened the video... and immediately closed it, cringing and rubbing his forehead.
However, even Tristan felt like this would be a disproportionate punishment to the crime. The thing that suffered the most was Nel's nerves, and even they recovered in no time when the slandering article got no traction.
It got no traction because Nel wasn't popular enough, but that wasn't the point.
'I'm going to remind her which of us has actual blackmail material on the other.'
***
Next day.
"I can arrange a meeting between the two of you, Mr. Gemello, but may I ask why? If these are personal matters, you don't have to say, but at least I should know what to put into the message."
"Just say that I want to talk with her. Personally." Tristan put a smile on his face and forced it to stay charming instead of showing his true anger. "If she is curious, tell her that I had regrets since our last meeting."
Derek looked at Tristan with palpable concern.
"Mr. Gemello, there won't be any gossip articles about you after this, right?.." he chuckled weakly. "Well, I suppose it's inescapable. Just be careful, please. Your preparations for both the contest in Los Angeles and the music video release go so well, it'd be terrible if something happened."
Tristan nodded.
"Don't worry. I just hope she replies soon."
But that would take some time. Meanwhile, Tristan had something to tell Nel.
***
The next time they gathered to eat out together after music practice, Tristan told Nel about what he found.
"What? Jane?!" Nel shook his head. "Tris, we didn't even talk to each other! What does she have against me? Where did you find that info from? Why were you searching for it, I told you not to!"
"Calm down, Nel. I'm 100% sure about this information. As for how I found it... I hired a hacker."
Nel dropped his head into his palms and groaned.
"You are so stubborn. And so... You know that law exists? Even if law enforcement is..." Read new chapters at m_v-l'e-NovelFire
"Yeah, the law enforcement indeed is. And Jane Greenpawl tried to slander you. And might try again. Are you going to do something about it?"