Page 10 of A Christmas Maker

“Haven’t you seen the news?” Emilia asks.

Not if I can help it. “I try not to watch upsetting things. I stick to business articles covering philanthropy and puppy accounts on social media.” I shrug. “If there’s drivel out there about Thorin, it’s news to me.” The only thing I’m aware of is Aillard having a girlfriend thanks to Nana Noel’s penchant for reading gossip sites.

“If you agree,” King grunts to move along the conversation, “all you have to do is let him follow your normal schedule. You don’t have to talk to the press or do anything other than let Thorin shadow you. Preferably, I’d like you not to speak to the press at all considering the NDA you just signed. I don’t care if you pawn Thorin off at the charity events to other volunteers as long as he can go and we can have the press there. I’m sure you’re aware that New York’s magazine covering philanthropy discusses you and the charities you work at constantly, even though you don’t give interviews. You’re thePrincess of Philanthropy,” he adds the last part with disdain dripping in his voice.

I narrow my eyes. “Why not just arrange for him to go to charities of his choosing? That’s going to be far easier than dragging me into his life.” Plus it seems like it would get the same amount of media coverage.

“Because we need someone the media sees asgoodtaking a chance on Thorin.” King shifts awkwardly. “We’re not proposing you date him, but we would prefer if the media were to come to that conclusion on their own after watching the two of you. You’re practically a media princess, always polite and charming whenever you go out. You treat people kindly and they take into account your interests because of that. Thorin needs someone to help redirect his image to being charitable and business savvy before his family name and company go under because of someone else’s ploy to take his business down.”

“Why would someone drug Thorin?” I wonder aloud.

King simply stares at me with hard electric blue eyes as his body tenses. “Knowing that is not part of your job if you take on this contract.”

I glance over at Emilia, but she’s keeping her mouth shut as she taps a pen gently against a stack of paperwork in a beige folder

Something tightens in my stomach at the thought of someone purposely targeting Thorin. For what? Why? I may hate him, but not to the level of wickedness it would take to do something so deplorable to another human being. Looking at King, though, it’s clear he won’t tell me what’s going on, only the information that is pertinent to my involvement in this. Deciding it’s better to focus on what I can do if I accept, I ask, “Does Thorin even donate to charity?”

“Probably.” King takes a moment to readjust, lowering his shoulders as he relaxes backwards in his seat. “If you’re interested in participating then I need to go over the contract with you.”

Am I really going to consider this? Before coming up here it was a resounding no. But King is offering me the one thing I’m not able to do myself: salvage the rest of my life. The debt is astronomical. I live in the guest house at my Nana Noel’s so I can send almost every dime to the company collecting my student loans and help her pay for some of the medical costs her insurance doesn’t cover.

All Thorin will be doing is showing up to do charity work at places I’m already going to be at anyways. I could always pawn him off onto someone else like King suggests. It’s doubtful anyone would expect him to do any real work. He would simply be bringing the press, allowing more exposure to the charities. It would help them gain more donors. And that’s a good thing for these people who benefit from their donations and time. Right?

I’m going to look like such a bitch if I turn down this offer. “I want it noted that I’m agreeing to this under duress.”

King doesn’t even bat an eyelash or tell me I’m not actually under the legal terminology that would qualify for duress. He simply says, “Okay.”

“And I want a stipulation added.”

Now King looks ready to throttle me.

Emilia seems to be the peacekeeper here since she’s the one who intervenes before King can start shouting. “We’ll take it under consideration depending on the stipulation you’re requesting.”

Fair enough. Although it’s childish, I can’t help but think about what happens when Thorin and I have to interact again. Will I stomp on his foot? Slap him? Will all the buildup of pain suddenly dissipate as I realize my life is suddenly no longer tethered to his? Would seeing him again set me free and bring me peace? “If being around Thorin is too much, I reserve the right to hand him off to the charities I work with without being in attendance. Yes, I’ll show up briefly, just long enough for the press to notice, but won’t stay long after that.” Looking directly at King, I add, “I know what it’s like to have the media twist who you really are. I wouldn’t wish that onanyone. But I don’t want to be part of his life. He’ll only be allowed to be a shadow in mine. I’ll personally show him how things work unless it becomes too much, is that a deal?”

Emilia glances quickly at King before she answers. “That’s reasonable. I can make the amendment to the contract.”

King stares back at me, more calculating than angry. Finally, he nods his head at Emilia who immediately snags the papers and leaves the room to create a fresh document with the amendment. “You surprised me.”

Well, that’s news to me. “I did?”

“I looked into you when I made my plan to help recreate Thorin’s media image. I still remember him telling me about the feisty, compassionate, and kind person he met and fell in love with in Las Vegas. I thought time would have changed those qualities in you, but they remain the same.”

“Some of us are who we say we are,” I shrug.

King shakes his head like he pities me for saying that. “Most people are liars.”

I flick an eyebrow up. “By your definition or theirs?”

A small smile forms on his lips. “Mostly mine. Emilia gives everyone the benefit of the doubt while I assume the worst traits people have will always be their downfall. A narcissist will always be vain at the end of the day, there’s no point in trying to pretend otherwise.”

How sad of a world King lives in to believe that wholeheartedly. “So you believe the things you said about me all those years ago are still true?” I challenge.

“No.” King closes his eyes, deep lines forming between his brows at the pinched expression on his face. “I recently had it out with Thorin in a rather unproductive manner unrelated to this incident. We’ve not been as close as usual due to it. It’s led me to understand that the way I view the world is not always correct. What Aillard and I did came from a protective place over Thorin, but we neglected to see that Thorin lied and led you to believe false things, placing you in a no-win situation once the truth got out.”

At least he can admit that the blame lies with the three of them. When I met Thorin in Las Vegas, he was using his mother’s maiden name to travel. I didn’t know much about the Ravenscroft Hotel chain before them anyways since I rebelled against money after Dad left me for Nana Noel to raise. I kept my head down at college, mostly working myself at church functions or school events, having no time for gossip or partying. So when we met, I didn’t know he was a billionaire’s son, running away to Las Vegas because he didn’t have the balls to break it off with his fiancée. I didn’t knowanythingand I was the laughing stock when it all came to light.

Still, it’s nice that King is finally admitting it in a roundabout way. Far be it for me to point out that everyone isn’t always perfect. “I suppose it must have hurt when you fell off your pedestal.” A god who fell to be among the mortals with his powers stripped.

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