Page 93 of Love is a Harmony
“How did this happen?” Her voice was low, cold.
Her dad sat in the chair across the desk from her. “There was a press release.”
Her eyes snapped up. “A press—Devlin. I give him one of my biggest clients and within weeks he has changed his image forever. How did Devlin find out?” Noah wouldn’t have told him, she was sure of it.
Her dad looked to Henry, and the young man’s face reddened. “It was just office gossip. I-I’m sorry.”
“Your assistant,” her dad started, “spoke to Devlin’s assistant, apparently.”
“I left your name out of it.” Henry stepped forward. “I’d never betray your trust.”
Melanie’s jaw clenched. “Do you expect my gratitude? Henry, you want to be a publicist one day, and the number one rule is to control when information comes out. Secrets are our currency.” She looked to her dad. “So, it’s out there. Now, what?”
He sighed as if she knew he wouldn’t like her answer. “Now, nothing. I spoke to Devlin. His goal as Noah’s new publicist is to prove he has turned over a new leaf. It’s not a bad plan. Noah’s fans will love him more for letting love change him.”
Love? “Even if it’s a lie?”
“They will never know it’s a lie.”
“He won’t be okay with this.”
“It is done, Mel. Noah Clarke is not your client, so this is not your mess to clean up. Devlin will issue a statement claiming it comes from Noah, but it won’t be enough to satisfy the paparazzi, not when they don’t know who the mystery bride is.”
He was right. Melanie rubbed her forehead to prevent the oncoming headache. “It’s a good thing he’s leaving the country next week. Until then, they will watch him, his comings and goings.” Stella. She closed her eyes. The kid didn’t deserve the scrutiny that was about to come her way.
Her dad leaned forward in his chair. “You will need to keep your distance.”
“I know.” She’d come to the same conclusion, as much as it hurt to think about. She refused to be picked apart on gossip blogs, to let the world see her as Noah’s wife. Their marriage wasn’t real, no matter what lived between them.
And it would never be real.
Her dad stood. “This will blow over, Mel.” He stopped at the door. “In the meantime, I suggest you fire your assistant.”
And then, he was gone, leaving Melanie and Henry in an uncomfortable silence.
“Am I fired?” Henry sounded dejected, resigned to his fate.
Melanie considered him for a long moment before releasing a sigh. “Go back to your desk. I’m sending you a list of phone calls I need you to make.”
“About this situation?”
“No.” Her dad was right. Noah wasn’t her client anymore. “We have other clients and a lot of work to do.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Turning, he practically ran to the door.
“Henry?”
“Yeah?” He looked back at her.
“Next time, remember office gossip is not a time to divulge information about our clients. You may go.”
When he shut the door behind him, Melanie sagged in her seat.
If word got out that she’d married one of her clients, it would forever tarnish her professional reputation, a reputation she’d built over years of working harder than anyone else, of giving every part of herself to this job and leaving nothing for the rest of her life.
She couldn’t let everything she’d done since Justin’s death be for nothing.
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