“You’re scowling.”
I relax my face muscles. I hadn’t even realized that I was doing it. “I just don’t want to go to this press meeting. And I think you know why.”
Eva gives me a sympathetic look. “I do, but everything will be okay. You have me here. If anyone says anything to you about you-know-what, I’ll knock them out.”
I snort a laugh and she grins at the ridiculousness of what she’s said. Eva’s not gonna do shit. “Right.”
It’s silent on the drive over there. Logan’s there already. I pick at the hem of my skirt. I wish he was with me now. It’s different when he’s next to me. It’s when I’m alone that the dread and regret and anxiety start to consume me.
“How’s things with Logan?” she asks a moment later.
My heart does a flip at his name. I’m honestly kind of angry with him for wanting to take over the plot to destroy Patterson’s company. I’d rather confront the bastard myself and take matters into my own hands. But Logan isn’t having it. He wants me to trust him to handle everything. I’ve agreed... as long as I can stay in contact with the lawyer.
“Good,” I answer, letting out an easy breath. “Better than I thought it could be.”
Eva smiles and leans over to take my hand. “That’s good. I’m happy for you.”
And I know that she means it.
Walking into the press room, I’m a ball of nerves. I know people are watching me, judging me. It makes me feel sick to my stomach. Seriously, I’m about to hurl all over Eva’s high-dollar suit if I don’t get my anxiety under control.
Logan’s already on stage taking questions from reporters. I can’t get over how professional he looks in his business suit, his hair slicked back. For the first time, he actually looks like who he is. The Boss.
The CEO.
Before I can take my assigned seat on the platform behind the podium, a reporter, a man who looks like he’s in his mid-thirties in khaki pants and a plaid shirt, asks, “Mr. Parker, can you tell us how long the affair was with Miss Harrison?”
Anger grips my throat and it’s hard to keep a straight face. I knew questions like this would come up, but it’s still hard not to react. Eva grips my hand tighter and I walk straight ahead, not looking at the audience and slowly falling into my seat.
I watch as Logan clenches his jaw and I can tell he’s trying to keep from blowing a gasket. “I’m not going to answer that question,” he responds, his voice tight. “I keep my personal and business life separate, and this press conference is strictly for business.”
The man doesn’t give up. “But can’t you see that what you engaged in is alarming for your company and the stockholders? As head of your company, you should--”
“I said I’m not here to talk about personal matters,” Logan says and lowers his voice. “If you don’t like it, you can leave.” He scans his gaze over the reporters in the room and says, “I will only entertain questions that pertains to Parker-Moore’s business dealings.”
“But what happened has hurt your company’s image,” the reporter argues, ignoring Logan’s request. “You need to address this issue unless you want to create further damage to your brand.”
Logan clenches and unclenches his jaw, anger evident as the veins stand out on his neck. I don’t think I ever seen him so angry.
Logan stands there for several moments before saying through gritted teeth, “I’m only going to address this once.” Flashes of photos being taken seem to pick up as Logan responds. My heart beats frantically and I try desperately just to stay in my place, remembering the advice from public relations. “The photos that have been circulated involving myself and Miss Harrison were taken with the intent to hurt myself personally as well as Parker-Moore.” He huffs, “A rival of sorts. They can try to slander my name all they want, but what they did was wrong and charges are being pressed. And that’s all I’m going to say on this issue.”
I hear a mocking laugh in the audience and I scan the crowd to see who it is. I do a double take. It’s Patterson. I’ve seen his picture over and over now that I know who it was that destroyed me without a second thought. He has an evil fucking smirk on his face that makes me want to punch him. “You better watch those accusations, Logan, before you have a lawsuit on your hands. We all know who the ‘rival’ is that you’re talking about, and as far as I know, you have no proof of any wrongdoing on my part.”
Logan stands at the podium radiating anger, and the intensity is enough to still my breathing. He stares down Patterson but says nothing. He looks deadly, but Patterson ignores the warning.