Page 46 of How to Prevent a Fumble

Finally at the office, I get out of the car, waiting for Briar when I realize she has no idea how to open the door herself. Pushing the button on my fob, it opens itself, and she climbs out, looking sheepish. “See, I don’t have those kind of issues with mine.”

“Your car is a liability.”

She grunts. “I love that thing.”

“I’m sure you do. Doesn’t change the fact that the thing is a casket on wheels.”

She glowers at me.

“Okay. Game plan. We go in there, you hang out while they tell me whatever they want to tell me, I pretend like I understand them, and we leave. Got it?”

She shakes her head, a strand of hair coming loose.

“Leo, you’re going to go in there and actually listen tothem. This is your career on the line. You can’t keep fucking things up.”

Ouch.

I bite my cheek to stop myself from saying anything, annoyed.

“Fine. I’ll go in and actually listen to them. I’ll take notes like a good boy.”

Briar nods. “Good.”

Ugh.

I hold the door open for her as she heads inside, and when we reach their main office, Briar takes a seat outside as I’m shown into the back.

A young woman steps out of the office, her hair tied back in a high ponytail, her lips red. “Mr. Warner, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Zhuri Bakshi. Thank you so much for coming in today.”

“Thank you for taking me,” I tell her seriously.

Because no one else would. Literally.

She lets me into the room and shows me to a chair. There are two men there as well, older with graying hair, their faces serious.

“We have a lot of information we want to go over with you, and we’re excited to get started. You comfortable?” she asks.

I nod.

“Great. Okay,” she opens the manilla folder in front of her, handing me some paperwork. “We have some forms that you need to look over and sign. Your lawyer already approved them, as he said he told you, which is great. Cuts down on time. All we need now is your signature wherever it requires it.”

“Can we speak about the plans you’ve come up with first?” I ask her apprehensively. It’s not like I really have a choice though. I need this, whether I think it’s a good idea or not, and I can’t just walk out. This is my only option.

But I don’t have to act desperate, that’s for sure.

“Of course. Here,” she takes out another stack of paper, pushing it across the table to me. “This is our action plan. We took a look at exactly what your problems were and put together steps in order to ensure that your image stays clean, and we can get your name out of the press.”

Taking it from her, I flip through the pages, not really understanding what I’m looking at.

“What does this mean?” I ask, pointing to the first bullet point.

She smiles a little, her bright teeth showing. “That means that we’re going to approve a relationship for you, Mr. Warner.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that by signing with us, you agree to participate in a PR relationship. It’s going to be beneficial for you, and we won’t force you with anyone you don’t feel comfortable with, I promise. But you need some good press, and we need to find you someone who will get you that.”

“What do you mean by a PR relationship?” I ask, confused. Is it like a normal relationship, and they talk about me to the press?

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