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Lucas's jaw clenched. His lips were pressed together in a thin line. He knew his old gramps was only trying to make things easier for him, but there were just some places he wasn’t willing to go and a wife with kiddies waving from behind a white picket fence was one of them.
“I know you wanted me to give you more time, Toni, but I think we should make an announcement soon or tell the reporters there will be no further comment. We need to say something to quiet the commotion outside,” Pamela interjected softly.
She was a younger woman who’d been hired as the Romero family’s new spokesperson and informal press secretary. She did indeed look anxious as she waited for a response. Pam was seated with her notepad and pen in hand. The room was packed with family members and the temperature level was off the chart. The heat was sizzling, and not from the sun beaming through the window!
“She’s right, Lucas and Gramps,” Zack added. “We look guilty as hell right now. We need to say something.”
“I realize your job is to help my family maintain a positive public image, Pamela,” Lucas spoke with cool authority. “And it is appreciated. But I think I will handle this one my way.”
His stomach clenched at the thought of finally getting even with the scandal-hungry media that had taken great pleasure ignoring his hard work while digging up all sorts of juicy stories at his expense. Did they even check out the women’s claims before posting their news online? Anger seared through his body.
“What?” Toni called out. The rest of the clan looked just as shocked as Toni. “That’s nonsense, Lucas. What has gotten into you?”
“I’m heading to the office, and when I leave this house, I’m going through the main entrance and I’ll be giving them a piece of my mind so that I can have peace of mind and this can all be done with.”
“Don’t, Lucas. You’re upset. You’ll say something you may end up regretting. Let me be the one to speak,” Pamela urged.
“I see where Lucas is coming from, Pam.” Zack also paced nervously by the fireplace. “It looks bad that Lucas is always seen in compromising positions and always seems to hide behind sugar-coated prepared statements by our spokesperson. He’s never spoken up for himself. Maybe this would put an end to this media circus.”
“Or feed it further!” Toni growled.
Lucas’s jaw tightened. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. “Fine, Pam. Say whatever you want." Lucas’s gut was telling him to give the press a piece of his mind but right now he’d already been caught saying enough in public. Maybe it was time enough for him to lay low.
“In the meanwhile, I suggest you focus on all that good stuff you’re putting into the new software from Healthy Start, Lucas. You’re doing such a fine job with that.”
“Thanks,” Lucas responded half-heartedly. Like any good he’d done ever got noticed. He worked hard to make systems better. Luckily, he’d been a bit of a tech genius and when he’d aced his courses in college, a rival accused him of hacking into the institution’s main computer. Of course, that was untrue. He could crack most passwords if he wanted to but he’d much rather be doing more productive things with his time.
“In fact, Lucas, I need to speak with you privately. I have a job I would like you to personally oversee. This will take a bit of time, but it will get you away from the office and away from the office gossip that is sure to follow after today.”
Lucas narrowed his eyes. He was often a man in control, feared even in the business arena but around his family he was just little Lucas—at least that’s what his granddad always called him when they’d met because he was one of the youngest, though also one of the tallest in the family at six-feet-four inches. So that was ironic. Still, he had to remember that he wasn’t always going to win battles with his dear old grandfather.
Just what did his old man have up his sleeve? He hoped it wouldn’t be some inane publicity stunt planned with Pamela, this neophyte image consultant and advisor. As much as Lucas liked Pamela as a person, he often wondered why the family needed an employee in her position twenty-four-seven.
