Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
And now I understood his aggravation.
Tanyn kept talking.
“And he broke his NDA, but he didn’t break any other laws. Nevertheless, I can sue for damages, and I’d win. But that would lead to a PR fiasco. On the other hand, I can’t keep him on and pay him what he should earn, that wouldn’t be sending the right message to the other staff. During questioning, he also told us that he wished he hadn’t done it, because he was horrified about what happened on Sigil, and worried he was the reason why. We confirmed he was, and it was clear he was wrecked at that knowledge.”
Consequences sucked, and unfortunately, this time they sucked for more than just the being who caused them.
Tanyn kept going.
“He also shared, just this morning, Camaryn and Barret had a staff meeting to inform them you wanted to meet everyone and had instructed them to provide a report so we can begin remunerating them appropriately. So now he feels like an absolute dick.”
I could imagine.
Tanyn continued, “We did all the checks before we pulled him in. He has zero ties to Arnaud and Tatra, as he wouldn’t, because he detests them. Now, I’m leaning toward paying him off, sacking him and having him sign another NDA, understanding that he only gets one strike. If he talks again, I will not be so lenient. Though, he won’t be here, so he won’t have anything to talk about, except Arnaud and Tatra.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I said.
Tanyn studied me for so long without saying anything, I was forced to ask, “What?”
“You didn’t read the article.”
“I read enough. Though,” I went on curiously, “does it get worse?”
“No, because there isn’t anything bad to say about you. You’re gorgeous. You have an interesting job. You’re best friends with the True Bride. Your father is an upstanding citizen of the Fall and known for his philanthropy. And you don’t avoid the Edge and are known to visit often for vacation, thus, you and your family have spent a good deal of money as well as time here.”
“Well then,” I mumbled.
“Although this was shared, it was sneeringly, Cat,” he stated. “They didn’t have enough threads to spin, but they did their best to spin it so you were portrayed negatively. Mira reports it’s all over the tapes.”
“All right.”
Tanyn studied me again, even closer.
So I repeated, “What?”
“You’re not upset about this?”
“I told you this would happen,” I reminded him, and belatedly I studied him, so I asked, “Are you upset?”
“Fuck yes,” he clipped. “They insulted you.”
“Tanyn, even if I was from the Edge, someone would find something not to like about me. I can’t obsess about what everyone thinks of me. It’d drive me mad.” I tipped my head to the side. “Do you worry about what beings think about you?”
“It’s of no consequence. I’m king. The end.”
Oh yes.
I totally loved this male.
I moved to him and put my hands on his chest. “And I’m the female you’ve chosen for queen. The end,” I said softly. When I felt him relax under my hands, I continued, “Now, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t respond in some manner. An official statement from the castle to confirm we’re courting. Maybe planting some articles here and there that paint me…and us…in a positive light. But mostly, we have to give it time. Beings will get used to me, or they won’t. We don’t have a lot of control over that. We just have to get on with it.”
“Our closet,” he whispered.
“Sorry?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He just grabbed my jaw and pressed a hard kiss on my lips.
When he finished doing that, I queried, “Did you accept Mira’s resignation?”
“I have not. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Did you hire her?”
He nodded, sliding his hands down to my neck.
“So she’s good at her job,” I remarked.
“She came highly recommended. She had stellar references. In fact, the CEO I hired her away from was pissed she lost her. But I don’t like the idea of keeping her if she has some bias against you.”
“And if she has some bias against me, she’s in a unique position to come to the understanding that’s bullshit, and then draft messaging around the same thing.” I moved into him to round him with my arms. “There’s no way to avoid it, I’m going to have to prove myself, Tanny.”
He stroked my jaw with his thumbs. “You’ll do that in a day.”
“That’s because you like me.”
“And that’s because you’re likeable.”
Hmm.
“Do you have time to fuck on the queen’s desk?” I queried.
His eyes lit.
But his lips said, “Alas, no.”
I didn’t either.
I told him that.
“I have the staff meet in half an hour. And this afternoon, I’m showing Gayle the picture of Selediel. Then, if you’re agreed we don’t want to let Mira go, I’ll sit down with her and develop a strategy to combat that article. So I don’t have time either.”