Page 60 of Protect Your Queen

“Be careful trusting kindness from men,” she said, tapping her nail on her desk.

She was right. Ifshewas being held back by a man, then what chance did I have?

Again, Chris’s face jumped to my mind. His kind eyes. His left hand on the piano, and how he almost kissed me.

“This negative press you have with the paparazzi is just not going to work.” She tapped at her lower lip with a red nail. “The story has to change. We need to turn you into the ‘it’ girl, and not the next unhinged starlet. Have you heard of Phoenix Asher?”

“Yes, of course, who hasn’t?” He was one of the best actors of this generation. He started as a kid, when his breakout role got him an Oscar nominee. He was sexy and had a reputation for being one of the nicest people in the movie business.

“Have dinner with him this Friday,” she said, casually. “I’ll make the call. I’ll get your reservations at La Croix Perdue, and you two will have drinks, chat, and be photographed together. Officially, you’re at work. Unofficially, you’re going to look like you’re having a budding romance.”

“But we’ve never met.”

“That doesn’t matter. You’re just giving hints of a romance - not enough to confirm, just enough to tease.” She dismissed my concerns with another wave of her hand. I realized that this was one of her physical ticks. She liked to dismiss things with those long, elegant fingers. It was like she swatted them away in the air. “Phoenix will take charge, and just follow his lead, alright?”

I was wringing my hands in my lap.

“I don’t think my brother would allow it.” I had never been on a date. Even if it was fake, I wasn’t sure if this would work.

She looked up at me, and my hands, and almost laughed.

“Darling, it’s not a date, he’s not expecting anything. You’ll both share a car on the way there, and out, but you’ll be picked up and dropped off at your own residences. You’ll have your security coordinate with one another. It’s not real.” She flipped her hair and tucked it behind one ear. “Has Michael never had you plant a story in the press?”

I shook my head.

“Peculiar,” she said, her lips pursing into an angry line. “He should have been doing that all along.”

She leaned forward on the desk, resting on her elbows.

“My dear, if he hasn’t been controlling the paparazzi on your behalf, then he’s certainly trying to set you up for failure.” Her eyes narrowed as she regarded me. “You must have really ticked him off.”

Then she smiled, bringing her fingers to her lips.

“Hmm,” she said, her white teeth glinting at me. “Curiouser and curiouser.”

She set up a date with Phoenix’s assistant on speaker phone. Then I stepped out of her office on wobbly legs.

I’m used to being miserable. I really am. But everything was careening out of my control too fast for me to get my balance, and I didn’t want to go on this date. When Chris stood up, buttoning the blazer of his suit as I came out into the waiting room, I felt the weight of pressure crashing on my shoulders. For him. For Stasia. For my family…

I was losing my balance. Dizzy. Nauseous.

“I’ve got you.” I felt his whisper near my ear. Not close enough to feel his warmth, but near enough to know he was there. Then his hand was under mine, the back of his strong, calloused knuckles pressing up on my palm. “I’m right here, little Songbird. You can lean on me.”

Chapter twenty-two

A Good Guy

Chris

Maybe we should bug the client. I was desperate to find out what she and Stasia Dryden had talked about behind closed doors. She came out looking pale. I wanted to take her up in my arms and carry her back to the car, rather than just place my hand beneath hers so she could steady herself.

She was silent on the drive home, staring forlornly out the window.

Her family was gone, and the twins were bunked up in the office, taking turns watching the surveillance equipment. Where Jazz and Jareth were, I wasn’t sure. But the eerily silent house was heavy with a stillness that the ocean waves couldn’t cover up.

“Jes,” I called as she headed to her room.

Her steps halted and she froze, her fists clenched to her side. She turned her head a little, to show me she was listening, but she didn’t look at me.

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