Pride: A Workplace Steamy Contemporary Romance by Arell Rivers

Author:Arell Rivers [Rivers, Arell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tarnished Halo Publishing
Published: 2022-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

18

Xander

The next morning before work, interested in finding out how my statement was received, I boot up my laptop and do the one thing I’ve avoided doing for ages. I google my name. “All,” “News,” and “Images” tabs across the top are filled with results about me. As well as Madison. Information about VOW-cubed and Dad’s prosecution round out the panoply. Great.

I click on “News,” and am greeted with such headlines as “Xander Turner Goes Slumming,” “All About Xander’s New Fling,” and “How Far the Mighty Have Fallen.” I release my jaw when my teeth protest the pain. Fucking bottom feeders.

Ignoring the shit they spewed against me, I focus on the awful things they say about M. From comments about her appearance—her hair, her height, her face, her scar—to dissecting her business, the tabloids are ruthless. She did nothing to deserve this.

I click on Fact Expo and read Amelia’s article. At least her magazine got it right. Or, as right as we want them to get it. Grateful for her support, I shoot her off a text of thanks. Then I return my attention to the other sites that aren’t as positive. And fear things will get worse. Much worse.

Maybe I should work from home today? After all, I need to deal with the Preserve’s campaign and don’t need to be in the office to do that. Then I wouldn’t get to see Madison.

My eyes land on my screen again, my lips pressed into a straight line. I shouldn’t be seen with her anymore. Reporters will go away if we don’t feed their stories.

I pick up my phone and call the office. Madison answers like I knew she would since it’s too early for anyone else to be there. “Hey, M, it’s Xander.”

“Hi there. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. But I’m calling to ask if I can work from home today? I think it would be better for me to lay low, so Amelia’s article can percolate and hopefully call off the other paps.”

“Oh. I was hoping we could meet to go over the Preserve’s campaign. I wanted to discuss the budget and your ideas.”

“I still need to finish that up. I can do it from here.”

“If you think that’s best. But I don’t want you to hide. Reporters will make up whatever they want to print.” Her slight chuckle reaches my ears. “I should know. I’ve fed them enough lines over the years, and they’ve run with them.”

I click through a couple more results. “You’re right, I guess. I’ve been the subject of many articles throughout the past decade, but never has the spotlight been so harsh.”

“Well, you have a leg up on me. I’ve never been in the headlines until now. Although, analytics on the website show a major spike in clicks. And visitors are staying on the website a lot longer than ever before.”

As she speaks, her words ramp up faster and faster, showing how excited she is for this positive side-effect. The only positive one I can see.

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