“These are doctored,” Jeff explained. “You understand that these have been doctored, right? They took these pictures and put Steph and Zoe’s faces on them.”
“Of course we understand, Jeff,” said Pauline, once David had switched the image back to the live footage from the parental pair. “You don’t have to tell us. We know Steph isn’t anything like the person in those pictures. And she would never neglect Zoe like that. But the damage is done, I’m afraid. The apartment is gone.”
“At least she donated it to a good cause,” said Steph quietly.
This was a nightmare. First WelBeQ, then Sofie Fashion, and now this. Someone was out to get her. Out to destroy her utterly and completely.
“I think I know who’s behind this,” she said. “And I’m going to prove it.”
“There is one glimmer of hope,” said Pauline. “Your father and I have been discussing things, and we think we might be in the position to offer you an alternative for Evelyne’s apartment. It won’t be as nice, of course, since Evelyne’s apartment is located in the fourth arrondissement, one of the best neighborhoods in Paris, but we may have a surprise for you.”
The screen changed once again, and a picture of a great-looking apartment building appeared. It was built in the typical Haussmannian style, with the cream-colored facade and the mansard roof with the dormer windows. Next came a series of pictures of the interior of a spacious apartment that looked simply wonderful. It was sparsely decorated, presumably by the real estate agent, but looked like an absolute dream in comparison with their cramped Brooklyn flat.
“What’s this?” asked Jeff, after exchanging a look of surprise with Steph.
David and Pauline returned, all smiles this time.“It’s yours if you want,” said Pauline. “We closed escrow last week, and were going to put it on the rental market. But now that the opportunity to live in Evelyne’s apartment has fallen through, we thought you should have it.”
Steph and Jeff’s faces must have revealed their shock, for David and Pauline laughed. “Maman!Papa!” said Jeff. “Are you serious?”
“Of course,” said David. “I never joke about real estate. And if you don’t want it, it’s still a sound investment for us, so no harm done.”
“You have got to be kidding,” said Steph.
“No, we’re not,” said Pauline. “You deserve it, after all your hard work. Jeff told us about the job you’ve just landed with Sofie Fashion, and David is already pulling some strings to land Jeff a job at a very prestigious bank in the eighth arrondissement, so Paris awaits. And frankly wecan’t wait for you to arrive, so we can finally see our granddaughter again. Because Skype is very nice, but it’s simply not the same as being in the same room.” She must have noticed something in Steph’s expression, though, for her face fell. “What is it? Something I said?”
“The job at Sofie Fashion fell through,” said Steph. “They received the same terrible pictures WelBeQ received, and also Evelyne.”
“Someone is out to get Steph,” said Jeff. “Sabotage her career.”
“Not just my career—my entire life,” said Steph.
“Have you talked to the police yet?” asked David.
“We talked to a reporter who works with the police,” said Jeff. “Odelia Kingsley. We’ve heard good things about her, and she gets results.”
“She also told us to go to the police, though,” said Steph. “To file an official complaint with the NYPD.”
“Well, you should,” said Pauline. “You can’t allow this to go on. Who knows what this person is going to do next? Post these pictures on the internet? Destroy your reputation for good? Once these things are out there, they take on a life of their own, Stephanie, darling. And before you knowit, the story goes viral and your life is ruined. So you have to stop this before it’s too late.”
“You’re right,” said Steph. “I should have gone to the police sooner.”
“Go now. Don’t wait another minute. File this complaint today,” David advised.
“I will. I’ll go right now, and tell them the whole story. Can you send me the pictures? I’m going to show them to the police. They need to stop this person.”
“Of course. I’m sending them now,” said David. “And the letter as well. I took a picture of the envelope, too. Maybe the postage stamp will tell them something.”
“I wonder where they got Evelyne’s address,” said Jeff. “Or how they even knew she was bequeathing her apartment to me. These people, whoever they are, seem to know an awful lot about us, don’t they?”
“Did you post about Evelyne on Facebook, maybe?” asked Pauline.
Jeff thought for a moment.“I don’t think so. I did mention it to a colleague, but I don’t see how she would… I mean, why would she even…”
“Just talk to the police,” David stressed again. “They’ll figure it out. It’s their job.”
And so it was decided. Steph would go to the police and get this terrible business with the slanderous letters and emails stopped once and for all.