Page 50 of The Caress

I spend the next thirty minutes telling Evan more information about my personal life than anyone has a right to know, but it’s a necessary trade-off if I’m going to have any chance of recovering from this self-induced crisis.

"And you are officially divorced now?" he asks. "That’s on the record?"

"Correct. It was amicable, and we’ve agreed that our daughter should stay with me for the majority of the time."

Most of this is true. A divorce is less than amicable, of course, but nobody actually admits how brutal those hearings really are.

"Can you tell me if there’s any truth to the rumors that you’ve been having an affair with your daughter’s nanny for the past several months?"

Ouch.

That’s a less-than-friendly question, isn’t it? At least he’s giving me the opportunity to answer directly, though.

I take a deep breath, buying myself a few more seconds to collect my thoughts. "First, I want to be completely clear that even though my divorce has just recently been finalized, my ex-wife and I have been legally separated for over a year. Almost a year and a half. I stayed faithful to my wedding vows until we both decided that the marriage was irretrievably broken. Even then, I didn’t start dating when I could have because I didn’t want to risk upsetting or confusing my daughter."

"Yes, sir," he answers. "I’ll make sure that’s clearly stated in the article I write. But I’d be remiss in my journalistic duties if I didn’t point out that you haven’t actually answered my question."

Shit.

I know better than to think I can dazzle an experienced, veteran reporter with my title and wealth, but I’m still secretly hoping he’ll cut me a little slack on the relationship issue.

Apparently, there’s only so much slack he’s willing to give.

"I am seeing someone," I answer through clenched teeth. "That’s all I’ll say."

"Your daughter’s nanny?"

"That’s all I’ll say," I repeat. "Thank you for your time, Evan. I hope I haven’t kept you too long."

"Not at all, sir," he says, mercifully dropping the uncomfortable question about Ella. "Thank you for reaching out. I’m only a phone call away if you ever want to talk again."

He says it in such a relaxed way that it’s almost easy to forget he’s being paid to print all this information about me.

I hang up the phone and ease back into my chair, closing my eyes and hoping I’ve made the right decision. Going to the press and giving an interview about my personal life is a dangerous gamble at the best of times.

Evan O’Connell has the power to help turn the tide of public opinion back in my favor. But he could just as easily use my words against me if that’s what he decides to do.

God knows I’ve given him plenty of ammunition.

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

ELLA

There’s a lot of activity at the castle today. I’m trying not to be too nosy.

Okay, I’m actually not trying that hard. I’m being nosy.

But Keir has hired a new personal assistant. That means I’ll be working with someone new on a regular basis. I think I’m entitled to do a little snooping, just to find out what kind of person he’s hired to fill such an important role.

It seems reasonable to me, at least.

I get my first look at the assistant just before Keir whisks her—her—away into his office.

I’m not impressed.

Or maybe I am impressed. That's the problem. God, am I the one getting jealous now?

Granted, I haven’t officially met the woman yet, but I can tell from looking at her that she’s professional, classy, and pretty.

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