Free BeautyandtheButch by Paisley Smith

disappointment.
    Lindsey knew her career hung on what she said next. But she
couldn’t betray Ella. Not for anything. “Completely by accident.”
    She heard Nigel huff a deep breath. “You signed a waiver
when you took this show. I’m afraid TLN has every legal right to include the
clip.”
    She blinked back hot tears. “You don’t understand…”
    “Oh but I do. And I’m sorry if you’ve developed feelings for the girl, but because she’s a congressman’s daughter, this is certain to
make a ton of money for the network. There’ll be a firestorm,” he said frankly.
“And Lindz, as your friend, I’d be remiss if I didn’t reiterate that it would
behoove you to behave as if you intended this if you expect to climb the ladder
in this business. Global Now isn’t going to want a producer without
balls.”
    Lindsey grappled for the words to refuse him while at the
same time every part of her being longed for that position with Global Now .
    “You knew when you signed on that the reality show business
was no place for the tenderhearted. As your executive producer, I’m ordering
you to mic that girl up and film the meltdown,” Nigel said. “And see if you can
get a second interview with her father.”
    * * * * *
    Ella glanced at her cell phone and winced as HOME CALLING
flashed on the screen. She couldn’t face talking to her parents right now. Not
over the phone.
    A stagnant silence followed after the phone stopped ringing.
Ella expected it to immediately ring again, but instead the voice mail button
lit up. She couldn’t ignore them forever. She snatched the phone and hit Play.
    “Ella.” Her father sounded tense and stressed. “I’ve spoken
to my publicist. Whatever you do, don’t speak to the media and for God’s sakes
don’t be seen or photographed with that…that woman again. Get yourself home and
we’ll begin damage control from here but you can kiss your teaching job goodbye.
I’ve already gotten a call from the superintendent.”
    Ella squeezed her eyes shut. Being kicked out of the pageant
was humiliating enough, but to embarrass her father or to hurt his position in
Congress…
    And yet a bigger part of her than she wanted to give
credence to was angry that her relationship with another woman served as the
cause of this turmoil. Why did a person’s sexual orientation have to be
considered scandalous?
    The rebellious side of her wanted to throw caution out the
window and proudly declare herself a lesbian and have it be over with. The only
thing keeping her from it now was her dad.
    Without caring, she raked her cosmetics off the bathroom
counter and into her makeup bag. She wanted away from here.
    The phone vibrated again and she looked down expecting to
discover a return call from home. Instead LINDSEY MITCHELL flashed across the
screen. Ella’s heart leaped in her chest. She reached for her cell but then
stopped. Lindsey wouldn’t have betrayed her.
    Would she?
    Fear and doubt gnawed at Ella’s insides. Still, she wasn’t
stupid. Outing her would mean a ratings boost for the show Lindsey produced.
Ella didn’t want to believe the woman who’d so quickly captured her interest
would mislead her but in truth she really didn’t know Lindsey.
    Confused and heartsore, Ella punched the ignore button and
continued packing. She didn’t want to see anyone. Not even Lindsey.
    Three soft raps came from the door.
    Ella whirled and her gaze fixed on the peephole. She wished
she could see through it from where she stood. She gulped. At first her pulse
rioted at the thought of Lindsey coming to comfort her but harsh reality came
crashing down hard around her.
    What if the media was outside, waiting to snap yet another
picture of Lindsey coming and going from her room?
    “Who is it?” she called.
    “Ella?” an unfamiliar voice said. “I’m Natalie Griggs with
the Femme Coalition.”
    Ella had heard of the lesbian rights group on the news. What
could they possibly want other than to make her