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The last thing I ever expected to be divulged to the media was my marriage history. When we got divorced, I thought King was able to bury the paperwork so far in the underbelly of the city no one would ever be able to find it. But apparently he didn’t hide it as well as he thought now that it’s in the light of day.
“Donner cares more about making headlines, even if it’s bad press on his part for being kicked out of a prestigious restaurant. All he’ll care about is that his name is out there and the reason he was escorted away was because he was confronting me. It’s all about the angle he can sell to the media to ensure his hotel chain is being talked about,” Thorin explains.
“He’s still a douche.”
A startled laugh escapes the man across from me. Thorin runs his hand through his sweaty brown locks, grinning with twinkling mocha eyes as he watches me. “Yes, well, most people know that already. People who haven’t had the luxury to actually speak with him tend to be the ones listening to his every word.”
“Does it make you scared about what he’s saying? Not about the rumors about you, but how it’ll affect the Ravenscroft Hotels chain overall?”
Thorin leans back in his seat, shaking his head with a carefree smile. “Not anymore. The board is backing me. King has his PR department looking into potential interviewers who aren’t under his thumb directly to discuss with me what happened at my birthday party. And Dad gave me the green light for Ravenscroft Center.”
This is news to me. “Ravenscroft Center?”
“An event center,” Thorin nods eagerly. It’s written across his face how excited he is about the prospect of this new adventure. “We’re going to lower the standard of clientele a little and open up the main functioning of the building for events. My goal is to have it in an area close to businesses where millionaires can utilize the space and house incoming parties. Although we don’t typically cater to the lower millionaires, I think it would be vastly overlooking potential profits by maintaining the course we’re on. Donner Hotels caters to these people, but they never build their specs to have enough space to cater to the types of business and annual events I hope will take place.”
“So you’re beating Gabriel at his own game.” How sneaky. And Donner is too focused on getting his face in front of the camera’s to slander Thorin, he won’t even see this coming.
“He thinks he’s winning at life because he managed to swindle a deal for a location I wanted, but he vastly underestimated my business sense,” Thorin grins with the severity of a shark. “By the time he realizes what’s happening, he’ll have sunk so much money into this new investment he won’t have an option to compete with me.”
Sounds like the crow Donner was trying to escape eating will eventually be served to him. “I’m proud of you,” I say. “You’re not letting what he’s saying affect your life in a meaningful way. By continuing to live your life, you’re stripping him of the power to have control over the things you do.”
“The best way to win at something is to be as virtually unaffected as you can be. While I despise his voice, I refuse to let him cripple me in a way I won’t be able to come back from.”
“Even if you have to put yourself out there on television?” My heart painfully constricts at the thought of Thorin being left alone on camera to tell his private story about what happened. Surely any victim wouldn’t want to put their face out there, having to relive and let people whose opinions not matter be allowed to vocalize and speculate about his situation. The sad part is, one can never fully control the narrative.
“I think there’s enough proof to validate what I’m going to say on television that most people won’t have an issue retracting their statements. For those that profit on slander, they’ll continue to twist the narrative to fit their needs. That’s not on me to fix their issues, unfortunately. But I’m okay with going out there. I feel stronger now that I have a support system in place.”
“Everyone needs a support system.”
Something flashes in Thorin’s eyes before it’s gone. He offers a tight lipped smile as he grabs my hand on the table again, threading our fingers together. “Yes, everyone does. After dinner, are you up for a movie or board game?”
A shiver works its way down my spine at his words for two reasons. One, I can tell where his mind went now. Everyone needs a support system,but what about you?goes unsaid. My Dad may not be around, but I do have Detrick and Nana Noel and her crazy bunch of friends. And I guess I now have Thorin, so that’s something. And two, the way his eyes track over my body, even though we’re both so out of place right now in a posh restaurant, says devouring me seems very much on the menu.
Before I can respond, a server appears in black attire, dropping off our plates of food before disappearing back into the kitchen from whence he came. The salsa and chips look terrific and the burger smells heavenly.
“Sounds like tonight will be a fun night,” I say before I reach for my burger.
Thorin doesn’t say anything, but from the way his eyes darken as he gives me a sultry smile, I tighten my thighs together to calm the sudden heat flaring low in my belly. Yes, tonight definitely is going to include some fun.
17
“Sometimes I wish elderly people didn’t know how to operate social media.” - Bex
My hand hovers over the glass of water I’m about to pick up as I watch my Nana Noel make a beeline towards the concessions table, practically shoving over small children in costumes in her wake to reach me. From the look on her face, I can tell whatever is on her mind is about to land me on the other side of a lecture.
Tonight is the day after Halloween, but the kids all came out in costumes to their typical Wednesday gatherings. There’s quite a few different Spiderman’s running around, all shooting each other with some form of web blasters that shoot silly string at unsuspecting targets before they’re chased away by a mob of angry kids.
“You aren’t getting away with it this time,” Nana Noel admonishes, her voice high as she tries to look down her nose sternly at me. Except she’s much shorter, so all it does is make her look like she’s glaring upwards.
“I’m going to need a little more information to go on before I respond to whatever allegation you have,” I inform her politely.
“You’re coming to family dinner on Sunday.”
Oh shit. Last month I didn’t make it, too swept up in King’s arbitrary deal to help Thorin. I was still so angry with Dad about putting me in a position to be blackmailed that I didn’t bother coming. Apparently I only get one free pass. “Right, about that,” I clear my throat. “Sunday isn’t going to work for me this time. Maybe we could move it to the following Sunday?”Or never?I don’t dare say that optimistic question aloud.
“Bexley Anne.”
“I have plans with Thorin,” I grumble, stepping closer to her so I can lower my voice. “We’re supposed to be going out–”
