Page 17 of An Enchanted Spring

“You can imagine the calls I’ve been receiving this morning for a statement as to Mrs. Kincaid’s activities. If it were just a rag, we could control this. But it’s not, Ms. Perkins. It’s much bigger than that, because these photos have gone viral. Completely viral…in fact, ‘Kinky Kincaid’ is the top-trending phrase online. The Kincaids—and their lawyers—are on their way to the office now,” Mr. Price exploded, slamming his hands onto the table. “The movie’s producers—and their lawyers—are also on their way to the office now!”

“We can spin this,” Josh said. Emma was afraid he might rub the skin off his head, he was kneading his temples so hard. “It’s not our fault Kincaid can’t keep her hands off every living male. It’s not the end of her career. We can fix this.”

“I’m so glad you have such confidence,” Mr. Price said sarcastically. “Need I remind you, her actions are precisely why we are in business. Our asses are on the line here. Linda, Heidi, and Jessica are calming down other clients as we speak. But this is only part of the issue at hand.” He redirected his focus back onto Emma. “You are being accused of deliberately releasing materials to humiliate and defame Mrs. Kincaid, as it was your fiancé she was screwing.”

“What?” Emma nearly shrieked. “I most certainly did not!”

“Her lawyers are going to come in here and try to slap you with a lawsuit.” His eyes hardened. “You have worked here for a long time, Ms. Perkins. That is the only reason why our lawyers will step in on your behalf. That suit won’t see the light of day…but you know what has to happen next.”

“A personal lawsuit? They think Emma gave out the pictures to destroy her fiancé’s reputation?” Josh asked. “That’s just stupid. She’d ruin her chances of ever working in this city—or anywhere in PR—ever again.”

Emma was having difficulty breathing.This isn’t happening.

“We don’t have time to fix this,” Mr. Price said, ignoring Josh completely. “The movie cost over two hundred million to make; if they don’t make that back and they decide to attribute it to this scandal, we’re done. What we will do, however, is damage control. I have mybestmanagers”—Emma felt the dig keenly—“working to fix the Kincaid crisis, which may in fact be a lost cause. But the rest of our clients will not be, and we need to reassure them of that. My business is at stake here, Ms. Perkins. I have clients calling, worried that they are in danger of being personally targeted by my staff.” He stood up straight and delivered the killing blow. “I will make an announcement to our clients that thisunfortunate eventwill be dealt with swiftly and severely. You have fifteen minutes to gather your belongings and get out of my building. You’re done here.”

Emma stoodoutside her office building, clutching her heavy cardboard box, fighting back the sting of tears as she stared up at what used to be her floor. She was humiliated, angry, and a little scared of the future…everything that she’d sworn, on the day her grandfather died and she was left without any family, she would never allow herself to be.

“Ms. Perkins?”

Emma nearly jumped out of her skin. She spun around, the contents of her box rattling forcefully. “Mr. MacWilliam! What are you doing here?”

He frowned slightly at her as he closed the door of the car behind him. “We have a meeting to discuss the contract?”

Emma bit back a curse. How was she to tell him that there wouldn’t be anything further, because her career was over? She decided to just spit it out. He had a Plan B. He’d said so last night.

She took a deep breath, uncomfortably aware of herdecidedlackof a Plan B. “I’m no longer employed with this firm. I’m so sorry, Mr. MacWilliam; you’ll have to find someone else.” Her voice shook, and she almost dropped the box. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“Emmaline,” he replied, concern etching his features. “Take a breath. What happened?”

She gave him a bright, false smile and clutched the cardboard tighter. “Just a small mishap. I’ll bounce back. Just need to take a break, is all.”

“Are you all right?” he asked. His eyes looked darker and more intense than they had last night; she prayed that he couldn’t see through her brave façade. Brave being that she wasn’t allowing the tears to fall, although they were blurring her vision.

“I’m sure I will be. I really do have to go—I don’t want to be here when the lawyers arrive.” She made to move past him, but he put his hand on her arm, effectively freezing her to the spot.

“I’ll take you home.”

Emma just barely resisted the urge to melt into the stability he radiated. She was in uncharted territory; she’d always known where she was going, and how she was going to get there. But at this moment, she was adrift in a sea of unknowing…she had to get away before she embarrassed herself further and broke down in tears in front of him.

“I’ll be okay,” she repeated. She wanted, more than anything, to lean on someone. But she didn’t know this man, and she had too much pride to simply cry on the first available shoulder.

It didn’t matter that she really, really didn’t want to do it on her own anymore.

“Emmaline—get in the car.” Aidan tightened his grip on her arm and took the box from her with his other hand. “Let me take you home.” She didn’t protest as he all but pushed her into the vehicle. “Cian—change of plans.” She gave thedriver her address as Aidan reached into a small cooler and withdrew a bottle of water. “Drink. You look like you’re going to faint.”

Obediently, she took a sip. “Thank you,” she said automatically. “And I am sorry that I can’t represent you.”

“Why not?” Aidan asked, motioning for her to keep drinking.

Briefly, she explained what had happened, and when Aidan didn’t say anything, she took it as confirmation that he realized the severity of the situation. As they pulled up to her apartment, he grabbed her cardboard box off the seat. “I’ll carry it up. You still look as though you may fall over.”

Fall apartwas on the tip of her tongue, but she agreed with a nod. The elevator was broken, and she didn’t feel very steady on her feet.

“Thank you for the ride,” she said as they trudged up the stairs.

“You’re entirely welcome.” He shifted the box in his arms.

She opened her apartment door and let out a shriek. At once, Aidan pinned her protectively against the wall, the contents of the box scattering across the hallway. He drew a dagger from somewhere, and she felt a flash of fear course through her body…but his focus was on the inside of the apartment, not her throat.

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