Chapter 35 - The Smear Campaign
|
Sarah’s warning proved to be terrifyingly accurate. By Thursday morning, the local media had picked up the story of the legal battle surrounding the National Arts Endowment. Arthur Pendelton had strategically leaked a highly manipulated narrative to a popular, sensationalist gossip blog.
I was sitting in the kitchen when my phone buzzed with an alert. I opened the link and felt my blood run completely cold.
The headline read: STERLING'S SHADOW: Is the National Art Exhibition Funding a Convicted Criminal's Family?
The article was a masterpiece of vicious, subtle manipulation. It didn't explicitly name Maya, but it heavily implied that the youth exhibition was rigged. It suggested that the foundation's money was being illegally funneled to support the lavish lifestyle of Richard Sterling’s "ward," completely ignoring the fact that Maya was a victim of his abuse. Pendelton was trying to paint Maya as a spoiled beneficiary of corrupt money, rather than a talented artist who had earned her place.
Marcus walked into the kitchen, taking one look at my pale face. "What happened?"
I handed him the phone. As he read the article, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter.
"This is character assassination," Marcus growled, throwing the phone onto the counter. "He is trying to turn the public against the exhibition so the foundation’s board of directors will panic and cancel the event."
"Maya is going to see this," I whispered, panic rising in my chest. "All her friends at school are going to see this. He is trying to ruin her reputation before the gallery even opens."
May you like
"We are not going to let a cheap blog define her," Marcus said firmly, wrapping his arms around me. "We need to talk to the principal at St. Claire’s. We need to make sure the school environment remains a safe haven for her while we handle the legal fallout."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Pendelton wanted us to feel powerless, but he had forgotten one crucial detail. Maya wasn't alone anymore. She had an entire community standing behind her.
