Page 3 of Interview with the Billionaire

“Apparently this reporter is hoping to spend the weekend with us. I thought we could put her up in the bungalow. She’s a photographer, too, so just her. But she does want to interview family and friends as well. And get photos of us and the house.”

“Family?”

He heard the tightness in her voice. “I already told her no interviews or pictures of the kids. One family photo if you’re okay with that, then we send them off to Jackson and Sylvia’s just like we planned.”

They’d had a no-publicity policy about their kids from the time they’d adopted Lara, but after Anne’s kidnapping, they’d become even more diligent. Now, Nikki nodded slowly. “One family photo should be fine so long as we choose the location and can veto the image.” She drew a breath. “All right. I guess you can tell Evelyn we’re in.”

“Next weekend for the resort?”

“That, Mr. Stark, is a date.” She slid off his lap, then held out her hand to him. He took it and stood. “We should go rescue Bree. You’re still getting in the pool with us?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“So who’s the reporter?”

“Maggie Bridge. Apparently she does a lot of celebrity interviews. I’m not familiar with her, but Evelyn says she’s the real deal.”

“She’d have to be. Evelyn wouldn’t let anyone else get close to you.”

“No. She wouldn’t.” He hesitated at the top of the stairs. He’d been living in a publicity spotlight since the day he won his first tennis match. That combined with the star-power that came with the success of Stark International had made him comfortable giving interviews, and he knew how to position himself for the press.

None of that meant that he liked it, and that was especially true when the publicity machine ventured into his personal life.

“Second thoughts, Mr. Stark?”

“And third and fourth.”

“We’ll be fine. You’ll wrap that reporter around your little finger, and my chops with the press aren’t too shabby, either.”

She was right about that. Not only did she have press experience from years on the pageant circuit, but her public revelations about her history with cutting, the press and publicity for Fairchild Development, and the simple fact that she was his wife and the press wouldn’t stay away had all come together to make Nikki comfortable in front of a camera. That’s not to say she sought it out, but she could definitely handle herself.

“Of course, we’ll be fine,” he said, taking her hand as they descended the stairs. “What can touch us, so long as we’re together?”

Damien’s Journal

10th Birthday

Dear Mom:

It’s my birthday. I’m ten today, and I miss you. I wish I could call you or send you a letter. I know I can’t. So I’m talking to you in my journal instead. I don’t know if you can read this. I hope you can. I miss you so much.

You told me to be strong. I’m trying to. Really. But it’s super hard.

It was easier at first because I did what you said about playing tennis when I was sad or scared or angry or just missing you. I loved it so much. The game. Hitting the ball, and making it go where I wanted.

And winning.

Guess what? You were right. It helped. With the missing you, I mean. And the more I played, the more I loved it.

After you left, I started playing in tournaments. And Mr. Lang--do you remember my gym coach when I was 8? Anyway, he started practicing with me after school. But then he couldn’t anymore, but he got me into a summer tennis camp even though Dad said we couldn’t afford it because there wasn’t money left. But Mr. Lang talked to Coach Sanders. He’s a pro who works at the tennis center, and he said that he’d coach me. And he did for almost an entire year.

It was so awesome.

I’d play all day, and then wait in the building with my books until Dad picked me up.

Oh—I forgot to tell you. I just finished I, Robot. You were right. It was really good. I want to read Stranger In a Strange Land, but the lady at the library said I’m not old enough. I’m gonna bike to the bookstore and buy it anyway. I have enough allowance saved up, so Dad doesn’t have to know.

And one of the people who volunteers at the sport center teaches high school physics. I asked him if I could mow his lawn, and he’d teach me instead of pay me.