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“Fuck,” Zane says, dragging his hand down his face. “Well, who gives a shit, sugar? Let them talk. If they’re talking about us, they’re leaving someone else alone.”
“We worked hard for years to not have this happen,” she replies. She looks as if she’s on the verge of tears, and I want to pull her to me and assure her that I’ll fix this.
But I have no idea how to fix it.
“My staff wouldn’t do this,” I begin, and Rina turns to me.
“Well, someone did. And you might not think it’s a big deal, but you’re wrong. It’s a big fucking deal, Ben. And you know what? I don’t want to talk to you right now. You should go.”
I stand, stunned. “You’re kicking me out?”
“Yes. I am. Please go.”
She hurries up the stairs and slams her bedroom door. Zane shrugs.
“This will blow over,” he says. “Give her a couple of hours to calm down. She can’t stay mad for long.”
“I don’t blame her for being pissed,” I reply. “I’m surprised you don’t want to punch me in the face.”
“I do.” Zane grins. “But that won’t help anything. Looks like I have some calls to make. I’ll lock up behind you.”
That’s my not-so-subtle hint to leave, so I walk out to my car, ignoring the asshole still staked out in front of the house, and do the only thing I can think of.
I call Luke.
“Hey, Ben, Merry Christmas.”
“Hi, Luke. There’s an issue.”
As I drive back toward the gym, I fill him in on the situation. “I’m on my way back now to chew some asses and figure out how this happened. But now I don’t know what to do about the paparazzo sitting in front of your house.”
“I’ll handle that,” he says, but there’s an edge to his voice that tells me he’s pissed. “My wife and I have worked hard to keep our family out of the spotlight, Ben. Part of that is keeping that house under the radar. We’ve had other superstars stay there without even a whisper in the press.”
And now I’ve fucked all of that up.
“I’m sorry. This is not how I operate.”
“That’s why I hired you. But now I have to clean up a goddamn mess on Christmas day.”
He hangs up, and I cringe. I pull into the parking lot, cut the engine, and run inside. My staff is just getting ready to go home.
“My office. Now. All of you.”
I can feel them looking at each other as I stomp through the gym to my office and stand behind my desk. Lisa and the four trainers join me, all looking nervous.
“Photos were taken today that got leaked to the fucking tabloids,” I inform them. “Zane’s and Sabrina’s privacy was invaded, and now my reputation is at stake. If any of you knows anything about this, you’d better speak up right effing now.”
Lisa immediately starts tapping on her phone, her face pulled into a frown. A newer trainer, Bonnie, raises her hand.
“I was working with a woman this morning. I stepped away from her to check on another client, and when I returned, I noticed she was taking pictures. I told her right away that she needed to delete them, and she promised she would.”
“Well, she didn’t,” I reply, my voice full of ice. “And now Rina’s not speaking to me, and Luke Williams, my boss, is fucking pissed.”
“I’m not sure if Rina isn’t speaking to you just because of her photo being taken,” Lisa says as she approaches me, looking at her phone. “It could have something to do with you making out with another chick.”
She shows me the picture, and I scowl. “I didn’t make out with anyone.”
“It looks like you,” Lisa points out. “And you’re sucking that girl’s face right off.”
“It’s not me,” I say again, this time with a growl.
“I think it’s me.” Aiden, the newest trainer, clears his throat. “My girlfriend stopped by because it’s Christmas, and I, uh, kissed the hell out of her.”
“You two look alike from behind,” Lisa interjects. “I get you confused all the time.”
“Damn it.” I pace the floor behind my desk. “Okay, first thing we’re going to do is this. Effective immediately, there are to be no cell phones on the floor. They have to be left in lockers. That’s non-negotiable. I could lose my business over this.
“And second,” I continue, “no kissing the hell out of someone while you’re at work. I get that it’s Christmas, and it sucks to be here today, but it’s not professional, no matter what day it is.”
“I agree,” Aiden says and nods. “It won’t happen again. I apologize.”
“Okay, now I have to go convince Rina that I’m not an asshole.”
“Good luck,” Lisa calls after me.* * * *I hurry to Rina’s place and breathe a sigh of relief when I pull into the drive and see that the paparazzo is gone.
