Page 6 of How to Play the Player

“I’ll get on that ASAP,” Jake assures, pulling out his phone with practiced efficiency.

I continue sliding into my element. “My top priority is to manage you and your fiancée’s public image. Not just as a couple but also as individuals. What I would essentially do is carefully construct a narrative where we have control over what people will see and ultimately think when they see pictures of you online.”

“How so?” Jonathan leans farther forward, clearly intrigued.

So far so good,I think to myself,warming to my topic.

“The key is maintaining positive media coverage. The more positive and focused on the wedding itself, the better. I have several connections that can help with that.”

“How do you know they’ll do as you ask?” Kiera’s question is sharp but not unkind. “Knight Industries is on the rise and people—very important people—are noticing. The last thing we need is for anyone to consider our love story as some kind of scandal.”

“They’re people I know on a personal level, and they’ll work under deep discretion if I ask them. Also”—I allow myself a small smile—“a lot of them owe me favors.”

I continue. “Which brings me to social media. We’ll have to be meticulous about what you or anyone in your wedding party posts. This includes sharing updates and highlights on social media such as…saying yes to bridesmaids’ dresses or to showing you two at a cake tasting.”

“I’m sure I’m being paranoid, but we could easily go viral for the wrong reasons,” Jonathan observes, his fingers drumming once on the polished table.

“Maybe, but you could just as easily go viral for all the right reasons. A negative post is only a big deal if we make it one. The more the positive outweighs the negative, the better.”

“So your plan is to ignore negative or speculative comments?” Kami simplifies, raising an eyebrow.

“Not ignore but get ahead and present the opposite. Indirectly debunking the negative, so to speak. Like I said, the positive must outweigh the negative. And the more we post every day, the more people will see what we want them to see.”

Jonathan nods, his posture relaxing as he gives me a warm smile. “Would it be possible to create a social media schedule? Also, I’d like all our meetings to be in-person, given our complex and sensitive situation.”

“We can absolutely do that,” I reply. This seems promising, my confidence building with each positive response. “We can start that process as soon as possible. Lyla and I can compare notes over the course of the planning.” The completionist in me wants to get it all done now, but I’ve learned to be patient; I haven’t received an offer yet.

“Kiera and I would like to discuss this with each other for a few minutes, if that’s okay.”

“Of course!” I agree.

Jonathan stands from his seat beside me, takes Kiera’s hand, and they exit through the kitchen door. Lyla sends a file of her planning schedule to my phone when the couple returns a few moments later.

“We’d like to offer you a position as our PR consultant for the wedding,” Jonathan states with a smile. Kiera beside him shows excitement in her expression.

My heart leaps. “Really? That’s amazing! Thank you so much for taking a chance on me.”

Jonathan’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “Is that a yes?”

At this point, this decision is a no-brainer. “Absolutely!” I stand, extending my hand for a professional shake to him and her. Kiera bypasses it entirely for another warm hug.

“So what are the next steps?” Kiera asks, practically glowing with enthusiasm.

I settle back at my laptop, already in planning mode. “Well, I’ll be sending you an email confirmation, and as we discussed earlier, we can start getting into more details.”

The moment I create the confirmation on my computer and hit Send, there’s a knock at the front door.

“I’ll get that.” Kiera walks out of the room and past the alcove. I hear the door unlocking and opening.

“Are we expecting anyone?” Jake asks.

“One person, but he’d told me he’d be busy at the office,” Jonathan responds, just as puzzled.

“Was it one of your groomsmen? Kyle?” Kami guesses.

“No, he said he’d be out of town,” Jake replies, a note of recognition in his voice. “I think it was?—”

No one has to finish that sentence for me to know who it is. My eyes immediately lock onto the familiar face once he comes into the dining room. I knew this would happen. I just didn’t think I’d be facing Nathan Knight right now.

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