Page 7 of One Bossy Disaster

“Because they’ll all be clamoring for a spot in this new program. Even if there’s a scandal hanging over you, sir, that doesn’t diminish Home Shepherd’s power and prestige,” she says smoothly. “Especially if the reward for successfully completing the shadow apprenticeship is a sizable donation to the charity of their choice.”

“I see.”

I hate that I can’t argue.

I hate that it doesn’t sound half-bad.

And Hannah knows it as she gives me a serene smile. “Rather brilliant of you to think of something so gracious, huh?”

I fold my arms and eye her sourly.

Have I mentioned I hate this shit?

Some airhead who spends their days posting ten second puppy videos from animal shelters following me around, yammering and demanding selfies.

Godawful.

Any influencer with a working brain will want something I can’t give. I don’t buck up andsmilefor the same cameras that might as well shoot me in the face.

They’ll drive me mad in a matter of days.

And what, them talking about a marvelous work opportunity is going to cut through Vanessa’s bullshit?

Remind the world for the millionth time that I’m clean and kind and all that happy crap?

“You’re still skeptical,” Hannah says.

“How could you tell?”

“Consider it an engineered distraction,” she throws back. “No, you can’t address Vanessa’s accusations directly and come out on top, but youcanremind people of what you’re doing here. Under your fearless leadership, Home Shepherd has done a lot of good for this world.”

“They won’t forget Vanessa that easily. They never do. Not since Aidan Murphy and the trial of the century,” I grind out, the memory so foul I can chew it.

“They will when her story doesn’t change—or especially if it does—and you don’t give it the time of day.” She leans forward. “Keeping your head down and doing what this company does bestisyour response, Mr. Foster. I don’t think you appreciate just how much weight these influencers have.”

Too much.

Still, it’s the best of several bad options, and Miss Cho has a point.

My fault, really, for not realizing Vanessa isn’t a stable woman who takes rejection nicely. I should have prepared for this when she didn’t respond to my nice email and an offer for one more all-expense paid trip to the conference of her choice just to show her there were no hard feelings.

I just don’t know how Vanessa thought I would ever be seduced.

Hell, Hannah handled most of our correspondence, and my assistant isn’t exactly a grinning cupid.

But this whole influencer scheme will only be temporary.

It’s an honest way to manufacture some good news with the name Shepherd attached for the press.

Me, I can sacrifice a little time if it solves the Vanessa Dumas problem and lets me focus on real work again.

I’ve been meaning to expand the corporate philanthropy program, anyway.

Right now, we’re posting record numbers thanks to our watchful lights. Every high-end home in North America wants a custom porch light that doubles as a solar-powered door camera.

It doesn’t feel right funneling all that money into my pockets. They’re heavy enough as it is.

Maybe it’s the guilt that comes with growing up a mob boss’ nephew.

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