Page 29 of The Price of Scandal

For the first time, Byron smiled in approval. “Jane, you’re looking trigger-happy as always,” he said.

“Always ready and willing to stun gun anyone who requires an attitude adjustment,” Jane shot back with a baleful look.

“Mr. Price, I expect you’ll keep my daughter on the straight and narrow for the next seven weeks.”

“I’ll see that Emily has all that she needs,” I said.

“I should hope so. I admire the way you wormed your way into a position we didn’t know we needed filled.” It was both sarcastic and a compliment.

He offered his hand, and I shook it. We were two brawlers sizing each other up, wondering what the other was up to. I saw my opening when he glanced away.

“You’ve got a few donut crumbs there,” I said, brushing at his jacket.

“What?”

“If you two are done crushing bones, I’ve got a very busy day today,” Emily said, sounding annoyed from behind her monitor.

11

Emily

“Disgraced CEO hires publicity shark Derek Price to repair image”

“Derek Price has hands full with disaster Emily Stanton”

“Alpha Group founder hints at relationship with beleaguered billionaire”

My father stormed out of the office looking for someone else to terrify, and I relaxed into my chair.

“On that note, I’m going to head back to Bluewater and meet with security to find out just how our well-hung Mr. Price got in last night,” Jane announced.

Derek chuckled.

“You could just ask him,” I suggested, scanning the fifty new emails that had rolled in on the drive here.

“It’s much more entertaining this way,” he said, sitting down on my couch and opening his laptop.

“Jane, I’ll call a car for you. You can pick me up tonight—”

“No need, Jane. I’ll see the boss home,” Derek said, without looking up from his screen.

With an elegant flick of my wrist, I flipped him off.

She snorted. “Play nice, you two.”

“Alone at last,” he said when Jane left.

“Don’t you have an unsuspecting woman to show your penis to?” I asked primly.

“Ms. Stanton, what would your HR department say?” he asked, feigning horror.

I didn’t feel like joking with him. His presence was a reminder that my own board didn’t trust me to run my own damn company.

I tapped the end of my pen on the notebook I always kept handy for notes and formulas. “What did my father mean by you wormed your way in?”

“Oh, that. I happened to personally witness those handcuffs snapping around your beautiful wrists. I also happen to be acquaintances with Imani on your board of directors.”

I closed my eyes. “So you called her.”