Reputation(115)

And there’s a part of me that deeply admires Aurora. I want to think I would have sought vengeance for Willa, back in the day, had I known of what happened at that frat house. This alone restores my faith that maybe I have done something right as a parent. The thing that matters most is standing up for the people we love. And for that, I’m glad Aurora was there when my father volunteered to take the blame for her. Alfred Manning’s public reputation was tarnished for the ages, but in my family’s heart, he’s golden. A martyr. A hero.

Far out at sea, my sister and daughters bob like sleek, black seals. The sun hides behind the cloud, giving the air a welcome bite. I get a burst of optimism so pure and unexpected that I almost laugh. Not long ago, I used to be consumed with how people saw me . . . and I did everything possible to remain that person. But these days, after the hack, the murder, the rumors, my arrest, my father’s choice—I have no idea what people think of me anymore. Terrible things, probably. I imagine the country club all atwitter—and the people at my job, and all my old clients. And Lynn Godfrey? She’s probably pleased as punch. All those people who gossiped when Greg and I got together. All those people who criticized my father’s reign over Aldrich. People who didn’t like me, and people who did—I’m forever changed in their minds.

But you know what? I don’t care.

Maybe the best reputation is no reputation. Maybe it’s best not to care whatsoever how people see you. Maybe the only thing that really matters is how you see yourself.





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Like all books I write, this one took a while and had a lot of moving parts. It actually began as development for a TV series, though figuring out what the story should—or shouldn’t—be helped tremendously in mapping out how to make things as dramatic and juicy and satisfying as possible in book form. So for that, I’d like to thank Sara Shandler, Josh Bank, Gina Girolamo, Les Morgenstein, and Melissa Carter for working with me to crack these characters, their secrets, how the hack worked, and the world the hack shattered. It took a while, but we finally got there!

Thanks, next, to Andy McNicol for believing in the project. And to Maya Ziv—my favorite editor ever—for loving Reputation in its raw form and working to make it even better. It is truly a delight to be partnered with you again. Thanks also to Laura Barbiea at Alloy, Hanna Feeney at Dutton, and Althea Schenck at WME for your keen eyes and tireless efforts. Thanks also to Christine Ball at Dutton for being an early fan—I’m so excited you saw the potential.

I also owe a great deal of gratitude to Rick White, for donating to the Childhood Leukemia Foundation—and for Rick’s partner, Lynn Nordstrom, for allowing me to use her name in this novel. Thanks also to Amanda and Jeff Manning for being okay with me using their last name. Many thanks to Michael for being his Michael self. And much love to Kristian and Henry. Stay good, my boys! And please, if you learn one thing from this book: Never e-mail what you’re actually thinking! People will always find out.