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"Ms. Jones?"

Pippi immediately straightened in her seat. "Yes, sir?"

"There's been some delays with Excalibur Park, and I may have a need for your services longer than expected..."

****

"UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE." Acheron scowled at the real-time footage coming from their CCTV cameras, which showed paparazzi still clamoring for a chance to interview Amelia about Anthony Nolasco's murder. "Didn't you tell me our legal team was on top of this already?" They were supposed to keep Amelia's name out of the press, dammit.

"They were, sir." Charlie's voice was strained. While it wasn't the first time for the billionaire to lose his temper in Charlie's presence, it still had him quaking in his boots and looking for the nearest exit in case things went south. "The leak about his death came straight from the police. A reporter was able to sweet talk the information out of a first responder..."

"Fuck."

Wickham saw Charlie literally jump in his boots and, taking pity on the boy, he nodded the secretary's dismissal and waited until they were alone before speaking again. "Amy still doesn't have any access to the TV or Internet, and even if she were to look outside the window and see them, we can simply say it's because news about her being your girlfriend—-"

"No." Acheron's tone was clipped. "It can't be that. Have P.R. spin something else - anything but that."

Wickham's eyes twinkled momentarily in amusement. "Afraid of little Ms. Jones' reaction?"

"After what happened yesterday?" Acheron didn't even bother hiding the truth."Hell, yes."

"As you should be," Wickham murmured, "considering what everyone's been talking about..."

While Acheron had been cooped up inside his office, rumors of Pippilotta Jones' presently unfolding romance had also made its way to the 37th floor. The first to get wind of it were the ladies working at reception, and after them were the secretaries, who of course shared the interesting bit of news with the executives they reported to.

Wickham had gone to Acheron's office to inform the younger man of this, only to be sidetracked when he learned of the press' sudden and intense interest in Amy.

"She's been asking for you, by the way," Wickham said gruffly.

Acheron's face turned inscrutable. "I expected as much."

"She knows you're avoiding her."

"I'll speak to her soon," Acheron said finally. "But until then..."

Wickham nodded in understanding at the silent command. He would keep Amelia off the boss' back while making sure to keep the press away from Amelia as well.

"How is she, by the way?"

"Going cold turkey - especially when it's being forced on you - is never easy." He saw pain flicker in Acheron's eyes, and Wickham frowned. "Stop blaming yourself. She made her own choices, and now she's paying the price for them." While Wickham still thought of Amelia as a dear old friend, he wasn't blind to the woman's faults like Acheron was. She might have helped save their lives, but an angel she was absolutely not.

Seeing the billionaire still looking grim, Wickham decided it was time to spice things up a little. "There's been a rumor going around about Ms. Jones," he drawled. The effect was instantaneous, with Acheron bristling.Good. That was much healthier than having the boy mope about because of old flames.

Wickham handed his phone to the CEO. "It's a screenshot of one of your employees' chat groups. See for yourself."

Several seconds passed, and then Acheron started cursing up a storm. Wickham burst into laughter.

"What the fuck?"

The whole company thought Pippi was in love with one of those idiots?

The billionaire's first instinct was to have Charlie issue a company-wide memorandum.

To: All male employees of Simonides Incorporated

Re: Pippilotta Jones

Subject above is property of the CEO.