Page 105 of Irresistibly Wild

“You’re welcome.”

“Is this how you typically handle your high-profile clients?”

“I mean, you’re my first one, so I guess so.”

What the fuck?“What do you mean I’m your first client?”

“Huhhh?” Her cheeks reddened. “I didn’t—I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did.” I stepped closer. “I’m yourfirstclient?”

“First client this year.” She was lying like hell. “That’s what I meant.”

She tried to walk past me, but I blocked her.

“You told Ralph that you studied under the best publicist in Los Angeles,” I said, “and that you graduated from a special marketing program with honors.”

“Okay. Isaidthat, but—”

“But what?”

“I wanted to make myself seem like a big deal, to say whatever it took to get this job.” She shrugged. “Everyone exaggerates.”

“No, they don’t,” I said. “Did you really go to Cornell University, or is that an exaggeration, too?”

She looked at the ceiling, as if the answer was up there .

“Yes or no, Madeline? Did you go to Cornell?”

“I took a few tours of the campus and bought a really expensive sweatshirt from their gift shop.”

I shook my head.

There was no point in firing her at this point. Operation Fake Fiancee was too far gone.

“Do you have any more surprises up your sleeve for me?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t predict the future.”

“Just say no, Madeline.”

“Oh, sorry.” She smiled. “There are no more surprises.”

“Thank God.”

“That I know of at this time…”

TWENTY-FIVE

TATIANA

Las Vegas, Nevada

Operation: Fake Fiancee

Week 3

Day 15-16:

---