Page 77 of Nathan
“Well, that’s because he’s been a naughty pickle,” River said.
“Oooh…” I scrunched up my face and stroked Saffron’s hair. “Looks like River is bringing out some of your mum’s big words now. If I were you, I’d run before she says things like stinker and rugrat.”
With a cheeky grin, Saffron emptied her glass and slid down from the countertop before she disappeared to her playroom.
I brought my martini glass and the rest of the bottle of Coke with me to the dining table when River called everyone together.
“You people look like someone died,” I said after facing the five stern faces of Charles, Liv, Lumi, Damian, and River.
Liv was the first to speak. “We’ve been worried about you. Your business with the actress is getting out of hand. It’s affecting all of us. Do you know how hard it was for Charles and Lumi to talk Atlas into taking the role of CEO of Solver Industries? Now that the news have dug up the connection between you and the Red Manor, the ugly story is resurfacing and it’s led business reporters onto Atlas’s being the son of a mass murderer.” Liv crossed her arms. “That’s bad publicity and unnecessary pressure on Atlas.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What happened?” Lumi threw her arms up. “I know we all agreed to the kissing plot, but how did it spin out of control like this? And why is everyone talking about you kidnapping Serena to a cabin in the woods and abusing her? Tell us that’s not true!”
I jerked my head back. “What the heck, Lumi! I’m insulted that you’re even asking me that. Of course it’s not true. We’re in love!”
Lumi rubbed her temples as if this conversation was giving her a headache. “When you saywedoes that mean Serena has feelings for you too or is this a celebrity infatuation on your part?”
“Wow, that’s cold, Lumi, even for you.” I crossed my arms. “I’m not some deluded stalker. Serena and I actually fell in love and had some amazing days in Sweden. We enjoyed being away from all the media hysteria, but then she fell in the forest, and I had to take her to the hospital.”
Charles weaved his fingers together and placed his hands on the table in front of him. “Nathan, we need complete transparency from you. As Liv already explained, this affair of yours is stressful for our entire family. River, why don’t you tell him about the call you received last night?”
River looked like a clamped-together oyster as she sat with her hands under her thighs and her head down. I’d seen her like this before, but she’d been a teenager feeling under attack.
“What call?” I asked.
Straightening a little in her chair, River said, “You know how I just signed a contract to be the face of KIP Fashion house.”
“Mhmm.”
“Well, they canceled the contract. My brand value has dropped after the story of our involvement in the Red Manor Cult showed up again.”
I breathed hard and drew my eyebrows together. “River, I’m sorry.”
Her shoulders drooped again. “I’m being chased by journalists, and no one is asking questions about fashion anymore. It’s all about what I can remember from the cult and if I ever told Storm about it. One reporter even asked me if I thought that my disturbed childhood was the reason Storm left me for Serena. In only one week, I’ve gone from being a fashion icon and a role model to being this broken person in the public view.”
“Can I say somethin’?” Damian moved in his seat. “Ye may not want to hear this, but may I remind ye that Nathan isn’t the only one responsible for this situation. As I recall it, several of us were in on the plot that set this whole thing off.”
“What plot?” Charles asked.
Lumi answered, “Remember, I told you yesterday?”
Charles took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose with a thoughtful expression. “Things have been going a little fast these past days, but yes, it was something about getting pictures of Serena kissing Nathan and sending them to Storm for revenge.”
“Yes.” Lumi nodded while Liv smacked her tongue with a sound of disapproval.
Damian pointed between River and me. “Jolene did warn ye that it was gonna come back and bite yer arses.”
“All I wanted was for Storm to get a taste of his own medicine and for karma to show him what it feels like to have your heart crushed,” River cried. “It’s not fair that we’re the ones suffering.”
“All I’m sayin’ is that ye should have listened to Jolene.”
“Damian, will you stop, please.” Lumi gave him a hard stare. “We know we made a mistake, but there’s no need for you to rub it in.”
Raising both his palms in the air, Damien gestured that he was withdrawing from the argument.
“Nathan, what about the actress?” Liv asked. “According to the media, she’s badly hurt and suicidal. Will she be all right?”
