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“It still couldn’t hurt to draw attention to everything that’s been happening,” Snow said.
“And if it turns out to be nothing,” Hunter said, “we’ll look like the boy who cried wolf.”
“So what?” Snow said. Didn’t he say he would do everything he could to protect her? “Is there anything in my contracts that say I can’t disclose threats if they come to me?”
“Not exactly—”
“Then I’m going to shine some light on what’s happening.”
Hunter’s steps were the only sound on the sidewalk. He opened the studio’s front door and held it for her. “All right, then,” he said.
Snow stared him down. “I wasn’t asking permission.”
“I wasn’t giving it. I was just—” He paused to think before continuing. “If you were someone I cared about, if you were my sister—or if something like this ever happened to my daughter—I would want the same thing. I would want to draw as much attention to the situation as I possibly could.”
This was news to her. The strain in her shoulders seeped out. “You have a daughter?” She entered the studio. Hunter held the door for Hector before joining her.
“I do. She’s eight, and she’s a firecracker. Her name is Kassie.”
“That’s sweet,” Snow said. She could picture this handsome, stoic, stern man as a father. The idea made her think of her own father. Daddy was the opposite of Hunter. Not steel, but softness. Between him and Mom, Daddy was the pushover. Snow could always go to him for sympathy or as an attempt to get Mom to bend on an issue. Something told Snow Hunter was firmer and more resolute.
“I haven’t told my parents about any of this,” she said.
“What will they want you to do?”
Snow considered this for a moment. Her parents had been fiercely encouraging of her throughout her entire life. They provided music lessons, opportunities for performing in plays, and even karate lessons. “I think my dad will tell me to put my few karate lessons to good use.”
Hunter laughed. “I pity the poor fool who dares to mess with you.” He greeted Heidi at the reception desk, and Hunter asked if anything else had come in the mail.
“Nothing, sir,” she said. “But Eloise is waiting for you in the waiting area.” She pushed a button to beep them in.
“Thank you, Heidi.” Hunter held the door again for Snow and Hector, and they made their way to the waiting room she’d come to her first day in San Diego.
A TV screen was situated around a comfortable couch setup. Several mirrors were available for visitors to check their look before appearing on the TV. There was a play area for children and a shelf offering several children’s book titles as well.
Eloise stood from the couch, one finger pointed to her ear to indicate she was on the phone with someone. She ended her call and then turned to Snow.
“Good, you’re here. And you?”
“I accompanied Snow from the hotel.”
“Wouldn’t want you to trip on your way across the street.” Eloise slid Hunter a derisive glance.
Snow’s brows leapt up. She hadn’t sensed animosity between the two before, but was there some kind of conflict between them? From Eloise’s exasperated tone and mannerisms, something told Snow she was uptight and on edge. Considering the circumstances, that was understandable, but why be mad at Hunter for wanting to help her?
Hunter brushed it off. He either hadn’t noticed Eloise’s frustration or wasn’t putting any stock in it. “Snow and I were talking on the way over here. We’d like to take the threat situation public.”
Eloise’s eyes widened. “Public? Why?”
“Snow feels it would be best to have as much publicity in her favor as possible.”
Redness blotched Eloise’s cheeks. “We’re five days in. Ratings are skyrocketing right now, sir. You don’t want to do anything to interfere with that.”
“Why would publicity interfere with ratings?” Snow said. “If anything, this will help the show.”
“I’m just saying, I hope you’re prepared for the backlash that will come.”
Snow suspected thatbacklashwould be something Eloise would have to deal with. Just how much pressure was Eloise under?
