Page 77 of Back in Black

Ms. Christian didn’t smile, but Drew saw the glee in her eyes—and the fanaticism. Loony-ass broad.

Enjoying the spotlight, Millie Christian pressed her slant on things. “An intimate relationship would bias your task at hand, wouldn’t it? How can you coerce Mr. Black into more suitable behavior if you’re succumbing to his abuse?”

“No one can coerce Mr. Black, his behaviorissuitable, and I assure you he has never abused me!”

“He might not strike you, but there are all types of abuse, Ms. Noode. I was referring to the way that he treats women as second-class citizens, how he calls them demeaning names and ridicules them in the business world.” Emotion added steam to her outburst. “He is known for using women like paper napkins, only to toss them out with the trash when he’s done. And you know he’ll be done with you soon enough.”

Drew rolled his eyes at her venom, but Gillian didn’t have the same reaction.

Her eyes narrowed. “Millie Christian, I presume?”

That took Millie back a step, but she quickly regrouped. “I see that you’ve heard of me.”

“Indeed.” Gillian looked her over with the same distaste she’d give to a bug.

“Because ofhim.” She pointed the recorder at Drew. “Because of his foul mouth and disrespectful attitude toward women.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Gillian said. “I believe any source, male or female, who shared so much erroneous information would have garnered the same reaction from him. It wasn’t sexist at all, just intolerance for lack of facts.”

Drew’s eyebrows went up. Score one for Gillian.

“You’redefendinghim?” The reporter’s red hair nearly stood on end. “But then, I shouldn’t be surprised. If you’re trashy enough to sleep with him, of course you’d see things his way.”

Gillian shook her head as if in pity. “What is wrong with you, Ms. Christian? You sound like a lover scorned, but surely that can’t be the case.” Her lip curled in a way that Drew had never before witnessed. “I know that for a fact, because Drew Black would never be interested in such a petty, mean-spirited,stupidwoman.”

Millie’s face went red with rage.“You’re nothing more than a—”

With all cameras taking it in, Gillian cut her off and put her in her place.

“Oh, please, Ms. Christian, get a grip. Your vindictiveness and spiteful attitude are not appropriate to a professional interview. You’re not asking decisive, pertinent questions. You’re just a gossipmonger.” Gillian shooed her away. “I’m not talking with you. You’re not a professional in any sense of the word.”

Millie Christian turned reddened eyes on Drew. Through her teeth, she said, “Tell me, Mr. Black, were you glad when the photographer was killed?”

“Actually, no. His death denied me the satisfaction of beating him down.” Drew smiled at her. “And if he’d lived, I could have found out who he was working for.”

She sucked in a breath at his honesty. “Just what incriminating scenes will we find on that camera when the film’s developed?”

“That’s more than enough.” Belatedly taking charge again, Sparks stepped in front of her.

But the other reporters were just as keen on a bona fide scandal. They recorded what they could, and the questions were flying like crazy—all aimed at Gillian.

A mic was shoved under her nose. “Are you personally involved with Drew Black, the president of the SBC?”

A second reporter pushed the first aside. “What is the scope of your employed position?”

The first shoved back. “Is Drew Black trying to reform, and why?”

As Sparks herded Millie Christian away, she yelled over her shoulder, “Drew Black’s position in the SBC is at risk, isn’t it? Have even the owners tired of his crude behavior? Who will replace him?”

“For the love of . . .” Muscling aside the reporters, Drew took Gillian’s arm and started dragging her along. The fighters and their women closed ranks around them, making it impossible for the inquisition to continue. But still the flashbulbs lit the night.

“Jesus,” Dickey said. “It was like a damned feeding frenzy.”

“Won’t matter,” Simon said. “It’s not like someone from the NFL was caught. This is one time I’m glad we’re not more mainstream.”

“It’ll hit the smaller news venues, mostly online,” Dean said. “But I can’t see network news picking it up.”

Bullshit. Every sports show out there would sink their teeth into the story. Sure, as long as the SBC did great, most chose to ignore it. But something like this?

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