The Price Of Scandal(19)

“Well, let’s hope there’s something that rolls off the tongue a little more naturally. Should you start to spiral in that direction, I’ll step in and handle it,” Derek said smugly.

I hated people “handling” things for me and had the distinct impression that he’d guessed that.

“I don’t want to stand around on the sidewalk answering questions about cocaine and bad dates. I want to go inside and do my fucking job.”

It was almost laughable that everything I’d worked so hard for was hanging in the balance. One tiny misstep, and I could lose everything.

“Just remember, you need the people out here with their cameras,” he said, rolling to a stop in front of my office building.

I scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

“You want something from them. You want their absolution. Their support. Their favor. You want them skipping out to buy shares of Flawless when it goes public because they like you, they believe in you.”

My expression told him in no uncertain terms what he and the rest of the people on the sidewalk could go do.

“Try to be slightly human,” he suggested.

Jane snorted. “Good luck with that.”

“Hey!”

“Sorry, boss,” she said, clearly not remotely apologetic.

Derek leaned over me for the door handle. “Now, hold your donut up, darling, and smile.”





10





Derek





The smile Emily slapped on her face was just this side of frozen. “Give me your bag,” I insisted, taking her purse from her so she could hold her coffee and donut for the unruly crowd awaiting their glimpse.

The billionaire with drive-thru coffee and distressed jeans looked miles more approachable than she had yesterday.

“Emily!” There were two dozen photographers stationed on either side of the entrance to the building. Security kept them from blocking the door with sawhorses and ferocious frowns.

My charge cleared her throat, and I realized beneath that glossy layer of bravado, she was nervous. “Hello,” she called weakly.

“Emily!” More photographers jockeyed for her attention, shouting her name as they lined her up in their camera bullseyes. I gave her a little nudge forward. Jane and I flanked her as she approached the front door.

“Do you feel lucky you avoided an arrest?” a woman bellowed from the front row.

Emily’s smile wavered, and I felt a rarely used protective instinct flare to life. Most of my clients brought their shitstorms upon themselves. But my instincts were telling me that this wasn’t her fault.

“What kind of donut is that?” someone else called.

Emily turned to the man. “It’s a cinnamon sugar vanilla donut from Carbs ’n Coffee,” she said, holding it up proudly. “Breakfast of champions.”

There were a few titters of laughter. But it was enough to embolden her.

“If I’d known you all would be here loitering, I’d have brought some for everyone,” she said.

“Tomorrow!” a jokester in the back yelled.

Emily beamed in his direction.

“Emily, whose shoes are you wearing?” someone on the right called.

“Mine.”

I hid my smile and gave her a subtle elbow.

“Mine via Sophia Wang. She’s relatively new,” she corrected.

“Who’s the hottie?” a woman demanded from behind the camera that was documenting every millisecond.

“I’m Jane,” Jane deadpanned.

The crowd cracked up.

“Nice to meet you, Jane. How about you, handsome?” the woman tried again.

I pointed to myself, feigning confusion and looking over my shoulder. “Me? Oh, I’m just one of Emily’s dear friends.”

Emily turned to look at me and arched an eyebrow. I grinned at her, fully aware of the picture we were making.

“None of my friends look like you,” another woman called from behind her camera.

“I’m just here to carry her purse,” I assured the crowd.

Emily’s smile tightened. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a big day at Flawless today, and I’m excited to get started,” she said, only a hint of tightness in her tone.

“Is the IPO still on?” someone yelled.

“Are you and Derek dating?”

“Have you apologized to your family for the embarrassment?”

“Were the drugs yours or Van Winston’s?”

We were whisked neatly inside by building security. Emily’s tight smile stayed in place as she thanked the guards but vanished as soon as the elevator doors slid shut.

“Jane?”

“Yeah, boss?”

“Could you dig up a few extra-large cauldrons and some hot oil for me?” Emily asked. “I’m thinking of doing some renovations to the roof.”

I hid my smile.





I followed her into the Flawless offices. “Good morning, whoa—” the woman behind the desk breathed, the papers in her hand floating to the ground unheeded. Jane smirked next to me.

“Good morning, Rosario. This is Mr. Price. Don’t get used to him,” Emily said crisply.

I waved in the woman’s direction. She wiggled her fingers, eyes wide.