#8 Petty

Eilidh POV

I rolled my eyes but pulled out my phone anyway. “Fine. Just tae see if karma’s doin’ her job.”

Cat scooted closer so she could see my screen. Within seconds, we were both scrolling through the Hollywood gossip feeds. It didn’t take long before I found it, a headline in bold letters:

COLE HARRINGTON’S ON-SET MELTDOWN: INSIDER CLAIMS ACTOR’S BEHAVIOR IS ‘OUT OF CONTROL’

“Oh, this is gonna be good,” Cat said, snatching the phone from my hand. She read aloud: “Sources report Harrington has been showing up late to set, forgetting lines, and clashing with the director. Production insiders blame ‘personal issues’ for the disruption.”

I smirked. “Personal issues like bein’ a lyin’, cheatin’ arse.”

“That’s not even the best part,” Cat said, scrolling further. She tapped another headline. COLE HARRINGTON SPOTTED ARGUING WITH CO-STAR ANYA VETROVA OUTSIDE LUXURY HOTEL

The photo beneath it was glorious, Cole, red faced and mid shout, while Anya glared at him like she was about to walk off for good.

“Sweet divine justice,” I muttered. “They look like they’re one argument away from throwin’ punches.”

Cat tossed my phone back with a grin. “Well, at least we know he’s miserable. Now the only question is, are you gonna watch from the sidelines, or give karma a little… push?”

I took a slow sip of my coffee, my mind already spinning. “Oh, love. I’m just gettin’ started.”

The next morning, I woke to the sound of Cat rummaging through the mini fridge in my room. She popped up with a yogurt in one hand and a phone in the other.

“Morning, babe,” she chirped. “Guess what? Cole and Anya had a screaming match in the middle of a Beverly Hills restaurant last night. Two people caught it on video. TMZ’s already circling.”

I sat up, stretching, my lips curling into a slow grin. “Seems karma’s workin’ overtime.”

“Yeah,” Cat said, perching on the end of the bed, “but why just watch when you could direct the show?”

I raised a brow. “Direct?”

She tossed her phone onto the duvet. “You’ve got receipts, Elle. You’ve got stories. And trust me, the press loves an anonymous source.”

I leaned back against the headboard, letting the idea sink in. “Aye… an anonymous source. Sounds delightfully irresponsible.”

Cat’s grin turned wicked. “Exactly.”

It didn’t take long to set up a burner email. No names, no personal info. Just the right subject line: Tip: Cole Harrington’s Off Screen Behavior

We crafted it together, sipping coffee and laughing between edits. It wasn’t a rant, it was precise. Specific. Little details only someone close to him would know, wrapped up in just enough vague phrasing to keep them hungry for more.

Chronic lateness to set

Substance abuse rumors among crew

Tension between him and lead actress  including several public fights

Director considering cutting him from future projects if behavior continues

Before hitting send, I added one more line, Sources also claim Harrington’s personal relationship with co-star Anya Vetrova has caused ongoing disruption in production.

I read it over once, twice. Then clicked send. Cat flopped back on the bed, laughing. “God, that felt good.”

“Aye,” I said, sliding my phone onto the nightstand, “but just wait. Give it a few days, love, this fire’s only just been lit.”

The email had been out in the wild less than forty-eight hours before the first headline dropped....

“Cole Harrington’s Behavior on Set Causes Major Delays- Director Considering Recasting”

Cat shoved her phone in my face at breakfast. “We didn’t just light the match, we tossed it into a barrel of petrol.”

I grinned over my coffee. “Told ye. Karma just needed a little direction.”

Not even ten minutes later, my phone buzzed. Cole. Cat’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God, put it on speaker.”

I raised a brow. “And deprive myself of the joy of hearin’ his voice crack in private? No, love, I’ll savor this one.”

I answered, voice smooth as silk. “Cole.” His voice was already raised. “You think I don’t know it was you?”

I leaned back in my chair. “Ye’re gonna have tae be more specific, darling. I’ve done a lot of things lately.”

“Don’t play games with me, Ellie,” he snarled. “Someone’s feeding lies to the press, and you’re the only one petty enough...”

“Lies?” I cut in, my brogue curling thick. “So ye don’t show up late? Ye don’t drink yerself stupid between scenes? And ye didn’t shag yer co-star in yer dressing room while I was still yer wife?”

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end. “Aye,” I went on, sweet as poison. “Didn’t think so. Sounds like I’ve been far too kind.”

“You’re going to regret this,” he spat. I smiled. “Oh, Cole… I already regret marryin’ ye. Everything else is just makin’ up for lost time.”

I hung up before he could answer. Cat nearly fell off her chair laughing. “I think I just got pregnant from secondhand savagery.”

I reached for my mimosa. “And that, love, is only round one.”

By the next morning, the gossip sites had gone feral.

Cat slid into the breakfast nook, phone in hand, grinning like she’d won the lottery. “You have got to see this one.”

She spun the screen toward me. The headline read:

“Cole Harrington and Anya Vetrova in Heated Screaming Match Outside Luxury Hotel”

The photo was even better. Cole, mid-yell, veins standing out in his neck, while Anya pointed a manicured finger right in his face. Her expression was pure fury, his pure panic.

“Oh, this is art,” I murmured, zooming in. “They’ve not even been together five minutes and they’re already at each other’s throats.”

Cat scrolled to another photo, this one of the two of them storming in opposite directions. “Sources say she threw a drink at him in the lobby before this. Hotel staff had to intervene.”

I sipped my coffee slowly. “Aye… karma’s not just workin’ overtime, she’s collectin’ bonuses.”

Cat’s grin turned sly. “So, what’s next? Sit back and watch?”

I set my cup down with deliberate care. “Oh no, love. Watchin’ is for amateurs. I think it’s time I take this from whispers and headlines… tae public spectacle.”

Her brows shot up. “Meaning…?”

I leaned in, my voice low. “Meaning the next time I see Cole Harrington will be in person. I want the cameras rollin’, the crowd watchin’, and him squirming in real time.”

Cat’s jaw dropped, then her grin came back twice as wicked. “God, I love when you get like this.”

I smiled, sharp and slow. “Then you’re going tae love what I’ve got planned next.”