Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Her tears brimmed over as she squeezed her eyes closed, her fingers sliding around my wrists as she melted against me.
Relief eased the cloying panic in my chest. “Football was never going to last. I mean, I’ll have to move out of my apartment because I won’t be making as much until Blantyre takes off, but—”
“You know I don’t care about that stuff.” Maia jerked away. “I would live in a shoebox with you.”
My lips twitched. “Aye, it’ll no’ come to that.”
Her eyes dimmed. “Did you see the article today? I haven’t seen it. But apparently, he wrote about Dad being in prison.”
As tears spilled down Maia’s cheeks, part of me wished I’d beat the shit out of Craig Bennet after all. Yet I knew if I had, I wouldn’t be here to wipe those tears away. “I saw, baby.”
A wee sob escaped her lips, breaking my fucking heart. “I haven’t spoken to Dad or Grace yet. Or Aunt Shannon. I feel so selfish. When we started this … I was so set on doing it that I didn’t allow myself to really think about how this could impact them.”
“My, you couldn’t have known Bennet would write about your family. I know for a fact they’ll be more worried about you than you are about them.”
“I want to go to them. I need to.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
She searched my face and despite the love she couldn’t hide, I still waited nervously for her response. “I’m sorry for pushing you away. It’s only because I love you so much.”
“I know, My. But please, don’t do it again. It … hurts.”
New tears spilled free. “I’m sorry.”
I kissed the tears away. “No more sorries,” I whispered. “It’s done. We’re good.”
A throat cleared behind us, and I cuddled Maia protectively to my chest as I glanced over my shoulder. Hilary and Christina stood in the doorway.
Hilary appeared uncomfortable. “I hate to break this up, but we really do need to discuss the campaign.”
“We do that, then Maia gets the rest of the day off so she can go see her family,” I negotiated.
Christina smirked, I think in approval, behind Hilary’s back.
Hilary sighed. “Fine.”
“Fine.” I wrapped both arms around Maia, not letting her go as her bosses entered the room. “The wedding’s still on. I spoke to my publicist, and she suggested we don’t fan the flames. Especially as the campaign is almost at an end. No response. Continue on as we have.”
Maia gently extricated herself from my arms, wiping at her cheeks. I let her go because she was in a professional situation and I knew she wanted to respect that. However, I felt her fingers twine with mine at our sides, her grip tight as she met her bosses head on. “I agree with Baird.”
Crossing her arms, leaning her arse on her desk, Hilary sighed. “Well, there’s been some negative backlash about Pennington’s not checking their employee history carefully enough. As irrational as that sounds, we do have to listen to public opinion. Our publicist suggested you make a statement distancing yourself from your family. Including your father.”
Maia sucked in a harsh breath. “I’m sorry, but that’s never going to happen.”
Pride swelled in my chest even as I felt like hunting down their publicist and telling them to buy a fucking soul.
“I thought that’s what you’d say.” Hilary gestured to Christina. “Christina insists you’re invaluable to the company. I can’t argue that you’re very good at your job, Maia, but I do have to protect my company’s reputation. Iain and I will not be the people who ruin Pennington’s. I’m afraid I will need you to make that statement.”
“No.” Maia jutted her chin. “Go ahead and fire me. End the campaign. For all your talk of loyalty, Ms. Erstwhile, please do be a hypocrite and give into the minority of irrational voices who just happen to be louder than the masses. Punish the person who has given a decade of her life and sacrificed her personal privacy for this company just to appease a couple of morons on the internet.”
I squeezed her hand, wishing I could fucking whoop with joy at the sight of Maia letting go of her people-pleasing ways to stand up for herself. Christina bowed her head to look at her shoes, but I witnessed the smile she was trying to hide.
Hilary raised one eyebrow and pushed off the desk. Her cheeks flushed red, and she opened and shut her mouth. I could practically hear Maia’s heart pounding, and I rubbed a thumb over the pulse at her wrist, reminding her I was right there.
Finally, her boss crossed her arms over her chest. “While I don’t appreciate your tone, I can’t deny there’s truth in what you said.”
“Hilary,” Christina spoke up. “This will all blow over. As soon as they see the video of Maia walking down the aisle in her wedding dress and saying her vows to her ridiculously good-looking footballer fiancé, they’ll forget everything else. And our bridal sales will go up.”