Page 175 of Between the Lines

The first punch is one of anger, and then my tears begin to flow. There’s no controlling them this time. At least I’m not sobbing. It’s a steady stream of emotions, leaking out of me. The way they always do when I can’t restrain them.

The headline is an embarrassment for him.

He’s made his opinion of reality stars loud and clear all too often. He doesn’t particularly respect his company’s production of dating shows, but he’s tolerated it because it pays the bills. Keeps advertisers happy. Because his personal feelings don’t matter—only the company does. Its survival. And his damn family name.

The one he so wanted to restore.

No relationship beyond the professional.

It didn’t take him long to state that. What had it been, an hour? And he’s already made his position crystal clear.

I glance at my watch. He’ll still be at work, but judging by his repeated calls, he’s trying to reach me. And soon, he’ll be checking at his own home.

I press my foot on the gas.

SOCIAL MEDIA

@yogiyara:Remember Sugar Puff? She scored the man who OWNS The Gamble! Talk about playing the long game.

@digitaldaisy:Honestly, mad respect for this chick. Talk about upgrading and getting the last laugh!

@starbuzz:We can confirm that the billionaire Aiden Hartman (remember him sitting by his father’s side during the infamous court case?) is now dating Sugar Puff girl from The Gamble’s first season. Hard to know who got the short end of the stick there!

CHAPTER 62

AIDEN

The Board meeting is called on short notice.

It’s the last fucking thing I want today. Charlotte isn’t answering my calls or my texts. And she hasn’t spoken to anyone on my team since Eric called to inform her of the current shitstorm.

He did admit that bit of information with a look of defiance on his face. Brave of him, considering how pissed I am. Why the hell did he not wait so I could break the news to her myself?

Give her time,he’d said, too, as if he knows her better than I do. Infuriating.

So now I’m sitting here, facing the Board. The people I dislike the most; the same ones who have consistently been interfering with my goals of returning Titan Media to its position of preeminence in the industry. Some members care more about their own reputation and status than the business.

“The point of this memoir,” Richard Granthurst says across from me at the conference table, “was to show confidence in the company and in you as the CEO. This news directly undermines that.”

“Romance the ghostwriter,” Ingrid says with a wave of her bejeweled hand. “But not publicly, and certainly not if she is a reality star.”

“This whole thing was supposed to send a sign of maturity to the shareholders,” Richard continues. “To show that the company has turned a leaf.”

“That I am not my father. That’s what you mean.” My tone is scathing.

A few members shift uncomfortably in their chairs. But then, several of them nod. “Yes, to put it bluntly.”

I brace my hands against the wooden tabletop. “Let me make a few points,” I say. “First, you all vetted Ms. Gray and found her to be an excellent candidate to write this memoir based on her previous experience. Nothing about that has changed.”

“We didn’t know about her past as a reality star,” Ingrid protests. “That could seriously damage the reputation of this memoir.”

My tone is merciless. “Then you should have done better research. I don’t need to remind you that this memoir wasyouridea, not mine.”

Richard crosses his arms over his chest. He’s one of two Board members who’s been here since my dad’s time. He’s always been cautious, tentative, and obsessed with image.

“The idea was to project strength. Victory, if you will.”

“I don’t see how a tabloid headline would change that.”

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