Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
I knew that Leslie Kensington was volatile with her sons. I’d seen it firsthand. But I also knew that she loved them and prized them even if she was a total hard-ass. I still didn’t know how she’d react when she found out about me and Court.
Still, I took a deep breath and sat.
Leslie finished typing out what appeared to be an email and then turned to face me again. “So, I just had a call from your PR firm. Apparently, you quit?”
“Yes,” I said softly. Then, I cleared my throat and reached for my publicist vote. “Yes. I received some disturbing news about the firm and made the decision to sever ties.”
“Care to share the news? Margery made it seem like…” Leslie waved her hand about. “Well, that you weren’t entirely with it.”
I gritted my teeth. So, it had begun. The slander against my good name.
“Well, I found out from my ex-husband that she’d convinced him to sleep with his costar to help promote the movie. And instead of telling me or talking to me about it, she went behind my back. I just found out about it, and when she finally admitted to it, I decided I didn’t need that kind of person in my life. Let alone as a role model.”
Leslie steepled her fingers in front of her mouth. “Hmm.”
“I understand that I probably should have come to talk to you about it right away. I know that it impacts our contract. That we had two weeks left before the election. But things have been tumultuous, and that is my fault. I take responsibility.”
Leslie was silent a minute. She looked me over, assessing me. As if she could see straight through me. Then, she nodded. “Well, no matter.”
I nearly choked. “What?”
“I don’t care who you work for. I agreed to terminate the contract with Poise under the circumstances,” Leslie said evenly. “It will be much easier to work with you directly.”
“I don’t understand,” I said softly. “I thought you would be upset.”
“Upset? Why? When I hired you, Lark said you were the best in the business. That proved true. It’s all the better that I can bring you in-house and not have to share you with a company in LA,” Leslie said like the strategic businesswoman she was.
“Oh,” I gasped. “You want to hire me in-house?”
“Yes, of course. You’re an excellent publicist, Anna. Or do you prefer English? I’ve heard others call you that.”
“Yes, English,” I muttered, still in a state of shock.
“So, we can discuss salary. I was thinking the same as what we’d agreed on with Poise, but of course, they’re no longer taking a cut. You’d be making more. But I’m willing to negotiate before someone else snaps you up.”
I was reeling. To work for Leslie full-time. I wouldn’t have to start my own company. I could just work under her umbrella. I could deal with the things she needed and make even more money than I had been making. Enough to sustain the life I’d grown accustomed to living.
But also, she would be expecting me to work for Court. To keep working with Court. He’d be my client and responsibility again. Just as we were beginning to become something.
“I appreciate the opportunity,” I said carefully. “But I’m going to have to decline.”
Leslie raised her eyebrows. “Really? Do you want to move back to LA? Has another firm already reached out to you?”
“No,” I said. “But… I can’t work for Court anymore.”
Leslie sighed heavily. As if she had heard this so many other times before. “What did he do this time?”
I laughed softly and shook my head. “Nothing. He’s actually… wonderful. And I know that you won’t approve, but I would rather pursue a relationship with him than take this job.”
Leslie’s mouth dropped open. “Well, I can still be surprised.”
“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you,” I said quickly. “It’s brand-new and…”
Then, she leaned back and held her hand up. “You don’t have to explain. I’m glad that you’re staying in Court’s life. He’s better for it.”
“Oh,” I whispered. My cheeks heated. “Really? I thought you’d be mad. Since you didn’t want to hire someone like me because you were worried I’d fall under his spell… and then I did.”
Leslie shook her head. “No. He fell under your spell. And that’s a different story.”
I opened and closed my mouth. “But…”
“You got him to work for the company. You got him to stop drinking excessively. Not only is he showing up to campaign events, but he’s also sober and giving speeches. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him sober at a campaign event,” she said crisply. “I wanted someone who could handle him. Someone who wasn’t so pretty that they’d fall all over themselves over him. I didn’t realize that it could even happen in reverse. And I’m grateful. Whatever the circumstances.”