"Meridian Media Group. Why?"
"What's their asking price?"
A pause. "Julian, are you asking what I think you're asking?"
"Just find out the number, Martin. And call me back."
I hang up, a plan already forming. It's ridiculous. Impulsive. Completely over-the-top.
One conference call with Meridian Media Group's board later, I'm the new owner of the Daily Exposure. My first executive decision? Kill tomorrow's cover story.
By the time I get back to Tristan's apartment—where we've all been spending most of our time lately—I'm feeling both exhausted and strangely energized. The adrenaline of making such a massive financial move on a whim has got me hopped up.
Alex and Tristan look up from the highlight reel of yesterday’s soccer game. Camille is napping in the bedroom—pregnancy fatigue having hit her hard the last few days.
"You look awfully pleased with yourself. What’s up?" Tristan asks.
I grab a beer from the fridge and drop into a chair across from them. "I may have done something slightly impulsive today."
Alex raises an eyebrow. "Define 'slightly.'"
"I bought a tabloid."
Tristan blinks. "You what?"
"The Daily Exposure. They were going to run a particularly nasty piece about Camille tomorrow. So I bought the whole damn company and killed the story." I take a long swallowof beer, watching their expressions shift from confusion to disbelief.
Alex breaks first, a bark of laughter escaping him. "You bought an entire media company to suppress one article?"
"Yep." I grin. "Planning to sell it off in the next year or so. Though maybe I'll keep it just long enough to run a few stories about what a genius I am."
Tristan shakes his head, but he's fighting a smile. "That might be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"And yet completely on brand," Alex adds, still chuckling.
"What's on brand?"
We all turn to see Camille standing in the doorway, hair mussed from sleep, wearing one of my t-shirts that falls to mid-thigh. Her hand rests on her growing belly.
"Julian has something to tell you," Tristan says, unable to keep the amusement from his voice.
I shoot him a look before turning to Camille with what I hope is a casual smile. "So, funny story. I kind of bought a tabloid today."
Her eyes widen. "You did what?"
"The Daily Exposure was going to run a really ugly story about us—about you, specifically. So I bought it and killed the story."
"Are you crazy?" She stares at me, mouth slightly open. "You can't just... buy a newspaper because you don't like what they're writing!"
"Apparently he can," Alex murmurs. “And he has.”
I get up and move to Camille, taking her hands in mine. "Baby, I'll do anything I have to to keep people from hurting you. If that means buying a second-rate tabloid, so be it."
"But that's—" She stops, shaking her head. "That's not normal, Julian."
"When have any of us ever been normal?" I pull her to me and hug her tightly. "Besides, I also had my lawyers send cease-and-desist letters to about twenty other outlets, and we put out a statement officially telling the media to fuck off—though in slightly more diplomatic language."
She looks around at all of us, her expression softening. "You guys are too much, you know that?"
