Bad exposure from her face…
Lexie tried to let the backhand slide.For some inane reason, her proposal was still of prime importance to her.It could help.“I’ll find out what happened, I swear, but I have an idea that I think will gain us some new business.If we could just get back to the quarterly meeting and show everyone we’re still strong together—”
“I don’t want the kind of business your kind ofmarketingis going to bring.”Her father’s voice lifted again, and Lexie realized his pale hands were shaking.He pushed away the paper on the desk as if it repulsed him.The family name was everything to him.His legacy.
And someone had smeared it using her.
Rowe stepped between them.“This isn’t productive, Julian.”
Her father stared at his right-hand man for a long, long moment.The old guard facing off against the new.“She’s up there for the whole world to see, Cam.”
Rowe picked up the newspaper, studied it and finally shook his head.“She said she didn’t do it, and look at the damn thing.It’s not even her.”
Yes,Lexie thought.Just look at it.Couldn’t Julian see that wasn’t her?Didn’t he know her better than that?
Her hopes fell when her father’s chest puffed out and his jaw stiffened.He hadn’t gotten where he was by being soft.He might trust Rowe’s recommendations regarding the company, but he wouldn’t put up with a direct challenge of authority.
“It doesn’t matter,” Julian said in a clipped voice.“Whether she did it or not, it’s her face up there—and we have to give our report to our investors in two weeks.You know that pornographic billboard will be all anyone wants to talk about.”
It didn’t matter…
This time the verbal backhand was harder to ignore.Lexie flinched as if she’d been struck.
“I’ll go,” she said, her throat constricted.Without thinking, she caught Rowe’s arm.This wasn’t worth him fighting over.At her touch, his biceps clenched.For some reason, the reaction made her lungs, heart and stomach squeeze together, trying to crowd into the same aching spot inside her chest.“I’ll fix it.”
She went to gather up her things but was surprised to find them still in the crook of her arm.Spinning away from everyone, she nearly ran right into Cam.She pulled up short but kept her gaze at tie level.With as much dignity as she could muster, she circled around him and headed towards the door.
“Julian,” Rowe growled.
If there was a response, Lexie didn’t hear it.She closed the door behind her but found herself right back in the mix of things.People stood in the hallway like statues, frozen when she caught them watching her.This time, there was no cover under which she could hide.She wove her way in and out of them, wishing she had a clear path to her office.
No wonder everyone had stared at her before.How many of them had seen the paper?How many of them had driven by that train-wreck billboard?
Which wasnotpornographic.
It was beautiful, in a stark, sexual way.
As horrified as she was, she kept her head high and her footsteps even.It took forever for her to get to the privacy of her office, but when she did, she closed the door behind her.
Air.It was the topmost thing on her mind.Leaning back against the door, she sucked oxygen into her lungs.It hurt.
Everything hurt.
Away from all the hot looks and disapproving frowns, her composure threatened to crumble.She’d spent her life trying so hard to gain her father’s approval.And for what?He hadn’t even been willing to listen to her.It didn’t matterif it was her on that billboard or not.She bet it would have mattered if it was Tara or Blaire.The lawyers would already be on it.
Besides, Tara would have loved to have her pouty puss up there.
Sounds from the offices crept through the door, making Lexie grimace.People were still talking.Everyone had witnessed her humiliation.Even the computers and printers were hissing and clacking away about it.Only it wasn’t her!Why wouldn’t anyone believe her?
She jumped when a knock sounded just opposite of her head.
“Lexie?”
Oh God.The voice drifted practically into her ear.Cameron Rowe.Damn it all to high heaven.She fumbled for the lock, but the handle was turning.The door started to swing open but instead thumped against her.
It was the kick in the drawers she needed.Self-conscious, she wiped her hand across her cheeks but found them dry.Behind her, the door opened more carefully.
She was already halfway across the room to her desk.Grabbing her catchall bag, she pushed her armful of proposals into it.
