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“We can discuss that on our way to New York.” He looked at his watch. “You’re heading to Penelope’s special event, aren’t you?”
“How long have you been stalking me?”
“Six months, give or take.” He puffed an “O.” Then he gestured to the woman who’d followed me. “This is Madeline Dawson. She’s an up and coming handler and well-versed in public relations. If you take me back, she’s part of the package.”
“You don’t have to look so surprised.” She extended her hand. “I know you’re shocked to find out I’m not a stripper.”
“I’m quite thrilled that you’re not.” I shook it. “I’llhave tothinkabout hiring you.”
“You’re hired, Madeline.” Ralph overruled. “Now, show us to one of your private jets. I promised Miss Dawson that was a perk of this job.”
“Sounds like you were certain that I would hire you back.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” He shrugged. “Given how awful you’ve behaved over the past several months, no one else wants anything to do with you.”
“I have a line of publicists itching to work for me.” I bluffed. “My inbox gets fifty new requests a day.”
“So, youhaven’tread your last manager’s article.”
“On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?”
“Fifty,” he and Miss Dawson spoke in unison.
“Fifty as in a pipe bomb or a hydrogen one?”
“Travis.” Ralph patted my shoulder. “It’s effin’ nuclear.”
“Hmmm.” I figured that words couldn’t make me feel any worse than I already did. “Pull it out and let me read it…”
ONE & A HALF
PRESENT DAY
TRAVIS
One Private Flight Later
Manhattan, New York
Sheets of rain fell over the city as the private town car swerved through the wet streets.
Ralph was locked into “manager mode” already, fielding phone call after phone call, while my new handler was staring at me like she was incapable of blinking.
She hadn’t uttered a single word during the flight, and every time I’d turned around to look at her, her beady brown eyes were transfixed on me.
“Is there a problem, Miss Dawson?” I asked.
“Yes.” She nodded. “A huge one.”
“Care to share it?”
“I have a confession to make.” She leaned closer. “Something important that I need to tell you if our business relationship is going to work.”
I shook my head, still reeling from my old manager’s scathing article. “I don’t want to know what it is.”
“I pride myself on being super honest with all my clients,” she said. “It’s something they teach at Cornell when it comes to things like this.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure Ralph is fine with it since he hired you to be on my team.”
