Page 124 of Illicit Education

Watching Rylan drive away from me was the second most gut-wrenching thing I’d experienced in as many days. But I couldn’t focus on that now, not when our lives were under scrutiny, everything I’d worked for was about to be ripped from my grasp, and the woman I’d fallen for was all over the tabloids.

The fact that multiple news outlets dared call her character into question gave me a real lesson in self-control. I’d talked myself out of heading down to each magazine and news outlet and beating the ever-loving shit out of the first reporter I laid eyes on. A public brawl was the last thing we needed right now but the primal need to protect her was damn near irresistible.

This was all my fault. I’d crossed countless lines, with both Rylan and Stella, and this was my penance. The frustrating part, the part that made me see crimson, was the fact that Rylan was the victim of my poor choices. That she’d been caught up in the crosshairs and now her life had been forever changed.

I was about to head back inside when another car came into view, heading toward the long driveway. A split second of uncertainty kicked my heart into overdrive as I braced for a news crew, but then I recognized Travis’s sedan and exhaled.

He parked the car and climbed out, dressed in his weekend uniform of jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt. He adjusted a Yankees baseball cap on his mop of dirty-blond hair as he strode toward me.

“Go ahead,” I said, bracing myself. “Give me your best ‘I told you so’.”

“Nah, man, that’s not my kink.” Travis clapped me on the shoulder, then pulled me into a quick hug. “You look like shit.”

I laughed, but there was no joy in the sound. “I feel like shit.”

He released me and scanned the vehicles in the driveway as we started up the walk. “Who’s here?”

“Mina, her attorney…” I paused because this part was royally fucked up. “Rombauer and Harkins.”

Travis cursed under his breath. “Then the vultures already know.”

I nodded. “They’ll be circling in no time.”

“Where’s Rylan?”

“Just passed her on your way in.”

“How’s she doing?”

“She’s…” I swallowed hard. I wasn’t entirely sure. “Handling it better than I am.”

“That’s not surprising.”

I raised my eyebrows as I held the door open for him.

“You’re the king of control, brother, and this is completely off the fucking rails.”

My shoulders slumped as he voiced the way I’d been feeling. I’d lost control of everything. My private, perfectly curated life was all over the news. People I cared about were under fire. My company, my employees, hell, I’d even put my friends in danger. If I lost Reed Enterprises over this, Travis would be out of a job. If anything happened to Mina… I shook my head, pushing the thought aside.

No, I wouldn’t let anything happen to any of the people I loved.

We joined the others in the kitchen and as soon as Travis made the rounds, shaking hands with the attorneys and giving Mina a light kiss on the cheek, he sat down and spread his hands on the table. “So? Who has the best idea so far. How do we clean this up?”

“You mean make it go away,” I said as I leaned against the breakfast bar.

“No chance of that.” Travis shook his head. “I haven’t seen tabloids this ravenous

“An intern.” Rombauer’s eyes glittered as he watched me. “Of all the preposterous—”

I cleared my throat and looked at Harkin pointedly. I stated very clearly and definitely for the record, “Welcome to the team. I’m sorry your first experience with me is under these circumstances.”

I didn’t look at Winston Rombauer again. He was only here because I hadn’t yet taken over as CEO of Reed Enterprises. As soon as that move was complete, he was gone.

Mr. Harkins nodded, his expression somber. “It’s a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Reed, though I agree the circumstances are not ideal.” He paused, looking down at his notebook. “But I think we can get around this, although you may not like what I suggest.”

I sipped on my coffee and motioned for him to proceed.

He closed his notebook and crossed his arms over the table. “I think you should marry the girl.”

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