The Price Of Scandal(24)

Jane was cagey, rude, and unapologetic. I liked her immensely. Plus, her not telling me things told me just as many other things. She was another loyal follower of Emily’s, which meant there was an interesting woman who earned loyalty from her team under that very shiny layer of polish.

The door opened, and the room filled with the lovely cool breeze that was Ms. Emily Stanton. “Derek,” she said, shooting Jane a look that said you better not be telling secrets. “Lita has time to meet with us if we head over now.”

“Head over?” I asked, catching the flash of annoyance in Jane’s eyes.

“Yes. To her office,” Emily explained as if I were a pesky five-year-old. It pleased me that I could annoy her so easily.

I rose and buttoned my jacket. “Jane, I trust you have enough to get started working out transportation and security.”

“Yeah, yeah. Pip pip cheerio,” Jane called after me.

“I like your Jane,” I told Emily as she led the way back toward the reception desk.

She shot me a wary look over her shoulder.

“What?” I pressed.

“I don’t know what you mean by that.”

I laughed. “I meant just what I said. I like her.”

“Hmm.”

We passed reception. Emily was warmer with her greeting on this pass—I took the credit for alleviating some of her stress—and I noticed the receptionist all but bloom under the fraction of friendliness.

“While I have your undivided attention,” I said, handing Emily a folder. “This is for you.”

Frowning, she flipped it open as we walked. “You already wrote a speech for the luncheon?”

“Just the highlights.”

She closed the folder with what could only be described as a growl and knocked briskly on a glass door before opening it.

This was the office I would have expected for the CEO. Spacious, plush, and the enviable corner. Lita could take in views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami with one swivel of her chair. It was easily three times the size of Emily’s office and decorated in a rather garish fashion. The eclectic world traveler vibe had somehow missed its mark. There was something just slightly off about the dark, imposing furniture and colorful Eastern art.

“I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw the headlines, Emily. That outfit.” The woman behind the desk was curvy and glossy like a pin-up model. Her hair hung in a dark cascade over one shoulder. She wore a red dress that paid special attention to all the right places. Dark lipstick over subtly filled lips, thick lashes, long nails.

Lita Smith wasn’t afraid of showcasing her looks.

“I decided it was a casual day,” Emily said breezily. “I wanted to introduce you to Derek Price. Derek will be working with us to contain the situation.”

Lita offered me a bright smile. “Derek. From what I’ve seen all over the gossip blogs this morning, you’re an excellent purse carrier. I’ve heard a lot about your work with the fallen,” she said, offering her hand.

“The fallen?” I shook her hand.

“The mighty. The ones who take tumbles off their pedestals.”

“Don’t tell me that’s what you think of Emily,” I said.

Lita let out a silvery peal of laughter and clasped my hand in both of hers. “Don’t be ridiculous. Our Emily is impeccably perfect. In fact, I’d be willing to bet this will be your easiest job. The entire thing was a misunderstanding, one I feel completely responsible for,” she added, releasing my hand and placing a hand theatrically over her heart.

“Let’s not rehash all that,” Emily said briskly. “Derek has been hired to un-tarnish my image. Which means I’ll be making more public appearances rather than less.”

I noticed that she left out the part where the board had gone behind her back. No commiserating here.

Lita pursed her lips. “I see. I assume you’ve run this past Helen,” she said, addressing me.

“Helen and I have spoken. I’m the point person on this,” I cut in.

“Well, whatever I can do to help, I’m yours, Derek.” Her lips curved in a feline smile.

Flawless’s chief marketing officer was an expert flirt.

“I do have something I need,” Emily cut in. “I need you to take the temperature of the board. Reach out to a couple of the directors and see how they’re feeling about this mess.”

“Happy to,” she chirped. “I’m always telling you I can handle more. You don’t have to do all the work yourself, Lady Stanton.”

Emily rolled her eyes in that familiar way female friends do. “Speaking of, are you still available to swing by the lab today?”

Lita winced. “Today’s a little tight. I’m in back-to-back meetings. What’s happening at the lab?”

Emily paused for the slightest moment. “We’re removing the biobandages today. It might be good to have marketing there,” she said. I thought I detected an edge of testiness in her tone.

Lita frowned, but her forehead remained unmarred. The modern miracles of science. “I have that in my calendar for next week,” she said, scrolling through her phone.

“It’s today. At three,” Emily said.

“It’s that damn Roderick. He doesn’t know how a calendar works,” Lita groaned.