“You forget, I’ve seen it.”
“I’m older now.”
“And humbler.”Sebastian quirks his lips.
I chuckle, and the mood lightens.I want to ease his mind.I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize my career and reputation.
Sure, I nearly did.
I was inches from crushing my mouth to hers in that restroom, but I didn’t.
“She’s a gorgeous woman.More than gorgeous—”
“The entire room noticed.”Sebastian states.“And they also know you’re her attorney.”
“The entire country knows.”I shrug, “Escorting her home is not going to get me disbarred.”
He leans forward.“It raises questions.If I noticed, so will other people.Including Vanguard.He’ll use it against you.”
I am aware.
And he’s fucking correct.
My reputation is at stake here, and there doesn’t need to be proof when it comes to the court of public opinion.You just need to plant the seed of doubt.
And if Warren saw me leave with Courtney, and the state she was in, the only way I can turn it around is by making her a victim.
Courtney will be more than pissed if I do that.
––––––––
“WHAT THE HELL is this?”Courtney comes storming into my office two days later and tosses the New York Times onto my desk, seething.
I stand, tidy my shirt to make sure it’s tucked nicely into my pants and round my desk.
I close the door.
“Me fixing a potential disaster.You saw your husband’s social post,” I state.
“Ex.”
“Not yet.”
I lock the door.
When I turn, she’s pacing the floor.“You made me look like an idiot.Like I’m brokenhearted and regretful for leaving.”
I wish to God she would trust me.I expected this response from her, but it was a necessary step to take.Adam is playing dirty, and so we have to be strategic and play games, too.
Sebastian was right during his little mini-intervention; Vanguard used our exit from the Spring Gala to paint a picture of us being involved with one another.Media outlets and podcasters picked it up and ran with it.Social media is split down the middle.
Courtney is a whore.
Adam is evil.
Predictable as hell.
I immediately called my PR manager into my office, and we went into risk management mode.I should have consulted Courtney, but as this affected me far more than her, I had every right to speak up.
