Imposter by Antony John Page B

but it’s not.”
    Tracie perches on the edge of the table and crosses her legs. “Now, Maggie was saying Kris and Sabrina say and do whatever they like. I know what Sabrina said about you last night. What did Kris say?”
    â€œHe made a snide remark about Maggie’s dress.”
    â€œHmm. What a class act.” She looks at Brian and Ryder. “And you wanted him back in the movie.”
    â€œKris is guaranteed box office,” says Brian. “A few minutes of screen time and he might’ve doubled our receipts.”
    â€œSo this is all about money now?”
    â€œThat’s pretty hypocritical, coming from someone who bills by the hour.” Brian circles the table, fists twitching at his sides. “If I ever see that woman again . . .”
    Tracie turns in a slow arc. “Leave the room, Brian.”
    â€œWhat? I’m not going any—”
    â€œGet out! I’m not asking.”
    I figure there’s no way he’ll go, but he does. I’m glad too. Brian looks like he wants to make someone pay, and with Maggie gone, I’m the guiltiest person here.
    Tracie doesn’t continue until Brian is gone and the door is closed again. “Now then, Seth. Who told you about Kris and Tamara in the first place?”
    â€œSabrina. I never thought Maggie would tell anyone.”
    â€œIt’s not your fault.” She presses her fingers together in a steeple and taps her lips. “Look, if you hear any other gossip or rumors, you come straight to us, okay? Not your father or brother. Not your friends.
Us
. I can only spin this stuff so much. Eventually someone’s going to notice that the trail of breadcrumbs leads here.”
    â€œWhat about Sabrina? Kris is going to know the story came from her.”
    â€œNot necessarily. Anyway, this doesn’t get any better for her if we drag it out. The best thing is to put it behind us. Give it one news cycle and the media will be on to another story.”
    Tracie wraps a tendril of hair around her ear like she’s putting everything in order again. But the look on her face assures me that things aren’t in order. There are still loose ends, things she’ll have to deal with.
    Ryder hasn’t said much. He just stares at some sheets of paper on the table—his revised script, I guess. The top sheet is covered in red pencil markings. Do those markings return Kris and Sabrina to their starring roles? I’ll probably never know, but it’s possible that Maggie just saved Annaleigh and me from drifting into irrelevance.
    â€œI’m sorry, Ryder,” I say.
    He looks up. “Tracie’s right—it
will
blow over. We just need time to get things back on track.”
    â€œCan I go home?” I ask. “For Christmas Day.”
    â€œNo,” he says firmly. “We’ve got to get the focus back on you and Annaleigh, and you need to get used to each other.”
    â€œI know you probably feel guilty, letting Kris and Tamara’s affair get out,” adds Tracie, “but Kris is gone now. You’re our star. Understand?”
    I understand all right: They want me to cover up what happened, not just for the sake of the movie, but for my sake too. If Maggie’s the leak, I’m the source.
    Tracie pulls out her wallet and hands me a wad of twenties. “Here, take it. I’ll get reimbursed.”
    â€œI can’t.”
    â€œSure you can. Go buy your dad and brother a present. Heck, buy yourself something too. Your first paycheck comes NewYear’s Day, but you’ve earned an advance. Consider it our commitment to you.”
    She pats me on the shoulder—a gesture of support and strength. Also an acknowledgment that someone has screwed up, and it’s not only me.
    â€œYou won’t tell anyone about this, right?” she asks.
    I feel the bills in my hand. Think about how it would feel to lose everything. “I won’t tell