Page 55 of Set In Stone

As if on cue, the door to my office opened and Krystina entered. Her face looked flushed, almostfeverish.

“Hey, handsome,” she greeted with a smile, despite the fact that she sounded like hell. I immediately crossed the room to go to her. I drew her into my arms and placed a palm to herforehead.

“How are you feeling,angel?”

“Better as the day goes on. I sound worse than I actuallyfeel.”

“Are you taking yourmedication?”

“Yes, Dr. Stone,” she teased and pulled away. “Every four hours on thenose.”

“Speaking of which, how was yourappointment?”

She blinked, as if confused, before her eyes cleared again. More than likely, she’d forgotten that I had access to hercalendar.

“Oh, um…good. Just a cold like Ithought.”

Her eyes darted around the room nervously and her hands began to fidget. Something was obviously bothering her. Since we hadn’t spoken at all during the day, I wondered if she was upset that I peeked at her schedule. However, I sensed that it was something elseentirely.

“What is it,angel?”

She moved over to the seating area in my office and sat down on the plush loveseat. Resting her elbows on her knees, she squeezed the bridge of hernose.

“I Googled myname.”

Fuck.

Although I knew she might do something like that eventually, I had hoped to shield her from the press speculation for as long aspossible.

“What made you dothat?”

“Curiosity, I guess,” sheshrugged.

“I suggest you don’t make a habit of doing that. I’m sure you read a lot ofuntruths.”

“I did. So many were calling me a gold-digger. You don’t think that, doyou?”

I laughed at the absurdity as I sat down next toher.

“No, angel. I don’t think that. I tried to give you a portion of my company, yet you refused. Remember? That’s why I don’t think you should Google too often. Tabloid rumors have the ability to hit an individual’s natural insecurities. It can ruin them if they choose to let it. Don’t let the rumors get toyou.”

“I won’t. But I have to say, I was surprised to see how popular I’ve suddenly become. I guess you’re a bigger deal than Irealized.”

Her tone was light, but I saw the wheelsspinning.

“Don’t go there, Krystina. Don’t feed the beast. You know who I am. I just don’t brag about my wealth, that’s all. How much money I have or what properties I own is not their business. Unfortunately, public records make it hard to hide certain things, but all they have is speculation about therest.”

She took a deep breath andsighed.

“I know you’re right. It was just so strange to see my picture everywhere. Now I understand why you want Hale or Samuel with me all thetime.”

My fists clenched. I knew the pictures she was referring to. The intrusion of her privacy was maddening. The fact that her face was all over the internet drove me absolutely insane. And I hated that I had no control over it. The only thing I could do was ensure that she was alwaysprotected.

“Does that mean you’ll stop arguing with me aboutit?”

She smiledsheepishly.

“I suppose I should,” she murmured. She glanced down at the table in front of us and noticed the roll of blueprints for the first time since she arrived. “Oh! Are those the plans? But wait – where’s KentBloomfield?”