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Some are discussing his billionaire status, some are discussing his family in a general sense. But most of the articles popping up are about Thorin’s supposed drug addiction. Women claiming to have done drugs with him, people spouting all sorts of hurtful things. Then, amongst all of it is Gabriel Donner, running his mouth about how Ravenscroft Hotels are a shitstain on society, bound to crumble as the elite hotels due to Thorin’s actions. There’s even rumors of the board demanding drug testing, demanding his resignation, and very little about what Thorin’s family has to say about it. There’s also a brief mention of a marriage gone wrong, but my name doesn’t appear so I disregard it.
He’s almost as alone as I feel when it comes to surrounding myself with people. At least on paper. In reality I know the truth. Aillard and King are doing everything they can to defend their friend with evidence and outside support, even if Thorin’s family is reluctant to involve themselves.
Still, Thorin’s life is not my overall responsibility. He’s merely a right now one.
And right now, he will survive if I take the day off to save my sanity.
I decide everything on my plate can wait and go home.
12
“Here lies the foundation of which everything I’ve built my empire on: the skeletons.” - Thorin
I heave the glass paperweight across the room, watching it shatter into a billion tiny pieces as it hits the wall. My chest expands as I suck air greedily into my lungs, but it still feels as though I can’t breathe. I’m still drowning.
The door to my office suddenly swings open, showcasing a wide-eyed Holly who looks from me to the mess on the floor, before she immediately slams the door shut as if she never encountered me to begin with.
“What the fuck was that?” King’s voice barks from the phone.
I straighten my shoulders, adjusting my shirt as I unbutton the top to try and gain some air. “I believe it was an award I won a few years ago. It’s now in pieces.” My voice is far calmer than my physical body. My hands are shaking, my clothes feel too tight, and the room seems to be shrinking before my very eyes.
“I already told you that we told them to fuck off,” King says. “There’s no need to throw a tantrum.”
I beg to differ. Instead I don’t bother dignifying him with a response.
“Donner Hotels will fail, if not for the mere fact that Emilia is now determined to set at least one location on fire,” King tacks on. “They won a bid for a property you had your eye on, it’s not the end of the world. I can bury them in red tape with one phone call and the project will never be anything more than an idea scrawled on paper.”
As tempting as that offer is, I disregard his entire comment. “You know damn well this isn’t about the location.”
King clears his throat. “Yes, well, I’m working on it.”
Working on it?“How the hell did it even get made public knowledge?” I snap. “Aren’t you supposed to be the all knowing one? Didn’t you see this as a potential threat to our campaign to reel in my behavior and showcase the world who I truly am?”
“If you mean do I have a plan in place already for such a situation, then yes. If you’re asking me why my feet are dragging it is because I am working with Bex’s assistant to ensure the blowback doesn’t hit her nearly as much as it is going to.”
I stop pacing. “You’re working with Detrick?”
“Yes.”
Pulling in a deep, calm breath I don’t feel, I ask, “Is she alright?”
“No.”
His sudden candid answer takes me by surprise. “What?”
“I spoke with her earlier today, she’s not in the mood to deal with people at the moment. Detrick is refusing to push my calls through to her for some reason, though when I spoke to her earlier she was not in the best frame of mind. In fact, her anger might rival yours.”
“She’s that angry about the articles?”
“Jessica showed up at her office spouting tales, trying to drum up drama. And before you ask, no she is not the one who leaked this information.”
The scoff leaving my throat begs to differ, but my instant reaction doesn’t mean I don’t believe King. Jessica probably didn’t leak my divorce papers to the press. They’re not actually hard to find in court if you know where to look. Not to mention, almost everything is accessible for the right price, regardless of privacy laws. Then I focus on the first part of King’s comment. “I’m sorry, Jessica turned up at Bex’s office?”
“Saying you were having dinner with her tonight.”
I frown as I look down at the calendar on my tablet. “I have a meeting with the board tonight.”
“She also threatened to expose your less than stellar marital status in an attempt to dissuade Bex from aiding you, but clearly that’s no longer an issue.” He shuffles something on his desk. “Roxanne and Kristen are going to be handling the issue.”
