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She’s holding our latest PR box like it’s ticking. Her face is pale, her lips pressed tight.

“What now?”

She sets it on my desk and steps back like it might explode.

Talia sucks her teeth. “Don’t tell me that’s another of those hate packages disguised as our PR boxes? Why would you bring that here?”

“It was sent under one of our brand ambassadors’ names. I thought it was being returned.”

I pull back the flap and the smell hits first. Something sharp, something sour. Rotten lemons. The stench punches me in the face. The rind is covered with black mold and one of the rotten lemons is leaking. Talia’s hand flies to her nose, a pinched expression on her face.

A typed note sits on the top:“Your Lemon Glow Serum gave me acne. Retire!”

My stomach flips. I shove the box away.

“Don’t bring this to my desk again. Ever.”

“I’m so sorry.” Lily’s gaze fell to her shoes, hands clenched in her lap.

I nod, dismissing her with a wave of hand. My throat is tight and I find it hard to speak.

“We have to respond to these claims, Wren,” Talia says, pressing a handkerchief to her nose as Lily leaves with the rotten package. “I’ve been on calls since 6 AM. The media’s trying to get your response about her claims. I told them the claims are false and damaging. But this thing’s a wildfire. I didn’t want to tell you but Camille is set to appear on the Morning Show tomorrow.”

I swallow, standing up now to pace. “She’s on a roll, for sure.”

“They promise to show her so-called receipts on the show.”

“Her what?”

“I received news that she’ll be showing exclusive screenshots she hasn't made public yet. Blog posts from six years ago. She claims she pitched the concept to a boutique lab and somehow you got wind of it.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

Talia exhales hard. “It doesn’t matter. People believe her.”

“I built this brand from scratch.”

“I know.” She looks me in the eye. “But the internet doesn’t care. We’ve got the Morning Show running the story. That’s how bad it’s gotten. My hunch smells foul play and my hunch is never wrong. This seems like a coordinated attack.”

I tuck a distracting lock of dark hair behind my ear. “How? Who would want to attack me?”

“Your skincare brand’s the number one in the country. You went from being an actress to owning the most beloved skincare brand. If you think that wouldn't have attracted some envy, then you're naive.”

I sigh. Talia is right, of course. When I launched Lemon LLC, I was met with positive responses but I didn't miss the snide remarks from skincare industry executives and colleagues who think an actress should stay in her lane and leave skincare to professionals. I paid them no mind and it paid off. Lemon LLC is a success.

“I can't think of anyone.”

“Oh, I can think of a few. Camille Ross has to be backed by someone with influence,” Talia opens her laptop, and a notification chimes as she does. “She’s doing these big interviews, Wren. Press. Podcasts. She’s being painted as the underdog. And people? They love an underdog.”

I bit my lips hard. “And where is legal in all of this? Peter should be here.”

“They’re drafting a cease and desist, but the court of public opinion is faster than paperwork.”

Raj Kapoor, Lemon LLC’s chief innovation officer, appears like he’s been summoned by stress. He’s a person of calm and collected disposition but today, his hair looks like he’s pulled it five times. His eyes are wild and his Lemon Skin-Aqua shirt is buttoned up wrong.

“We have to postpone the launch.”

My stomach drops. I shake my head.