Page 71 of The Husband Contract

"I can't just tell them I have to take a little break. They can't just cover for me the entire time. I can't afford to?—"

"It always comes down to money, doesn't it?"

"I can't talk to you.”

“Have a shower, get yourself presentable, and meet me down in the lobby in an hour."

"Fine," she says. "Whatever."

I watch as she heads to the bathroom, and I grab my phone and call Louisa. I'm still slightly pissed off about the naked photo that she'd sent me the previous evening, but it had worked to serve its purpose. I didn’t know what she had been thinking, though.

"Hey, big boy," she says, answering the phone.

"I wasn’t sure of the reason for you sending me that photo yesterday?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you were naked."

"And you didn’t like it? You don’t think I’m hot?"

"Louisa, I’m your boss."

"I know, but we were friends first."

"We were friends first, and we’re still friends,but it’s not appropriate for us to cross those lines. I didn’t realize we had to have this conversation again."

"We don’t. It’s fine.”

“Good. I am calling to find out if you have any more information."

"On what?"

"On Willow."

"Not really, but I did want you to know that journalists have been calling the press department for the last couple of days."

"What are you talking about?"

"Someone notified the media that Sergio resigned from the board of directors and sold his shares, and people are nervous that the company is about to crash. People think that he knows something that the public doesn’t. It’s not a good look. Journalists are calling, asking if you have a press release that you want to put out."

"Fuck. This is the last thing I need right now. We have the merger coming up with Cryon. I know they’re not going to want to—" I pause. "Okay. Do we know who leaked the information?"

"I have no idea, but I mean, I wouldn’t be shocked if it was Sergio’s friend, Willow." She laughs bitterly. "You know how he loves to talk during sex? He’ll release all the family secrets."

"What are you talking about?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said that Sergio loves to talk during sex. Where is this information coming from?"

"Oh, I was just saying he’s so open, and it’s not like he’s one for espionage. He can’t keep a secret, I suppose."

"This is not good, Louisa. You know this, right?"

"I know. What do you want me to do?"

"Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it."