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And then he beats me to it.
“You’re fired.”
Chapter 12
I nod, blinking, like this is unexpected.
It’s not.
“You understand, of course,” he says in a tone that makes it clear I’d damn well better not argue. “We can still spin this so we save Lindsay’s reputation. The ‘attacker’ slipped out a second before. You were shoved by the perpetrator and off-balance. Whatever we say, the focus will be on Lindsay. Not you. I won’t have my daughter’s barely salvageable reputation affected in any way by you, Drew. Not any more.”
“I’ll take myself off the case.” My mouth is numb. I am speaking through nine layers of glue.
“No.”
I look at him. He’s imposing as fuck, but I’m strangely detached. Not intimidated a bit. This is about reality and facts. I moved from the asset to the liability column with one newspaper photo. I get it. I do.
“You’re fired. Officially. We’re about to make a very public announcement declaring as much. I’m sure you understand it’s nothing personal. This is about damage control. Read the headline.”
I look down.
Deranged Ex-boyfriend Stalks Presidential Candidate’s Daughter.
“Those assholes.”
“They may be assholes, but they outsmarted you, Drew. I can’t have them contaminate Lindsay. Thank God, nothing in that article implicates her, but -- ”
Contaminate?
“Don’t you see what they’re doing, Harry? Are you kidding me? They’re isolating you. Making you fire me. You’re handing them exactly what they want!”
“I don’t care about their agenda. Only my own. And you know I have to do this.”
“Keep Gentian. He’s my best guy. And if you’re going to hire someone -- ”
“I’ve already called Mark Paulson. Left a message.”
A tiny tendril of hope shoots through me.
“Good. Mark’s great.”
“Stay away from him. I don’t want anyone to know you two are associated.”
“He works for me.”
“Not any more. He’s spinning off his own company as we speak. On the record – he’s officially disgusted and shocked by your behavior.”
I grind my teeth. Damn it.
“He’s James Thornberg’s grandson. That legacy will rub off on him. Give him legitimacy. Might even help me with polling. A loose mental association between Thornberg and me could help with this mess.”
This mess.
I am this mess.
“And Lindsay?”
“What about her?”
