He grabs my hand and doesn’t let go. “Look at me, Silvie.”
I peer up at him, my chest feeling heavy, and I see flashes through the window.
Cal stalks over and snaps all of the blinds closed. He sighs.
“Unbelievable,” he mutters.
Panic rises in me. “This is what I was afraid of.”
“Don’t go outside,” he says. “I have to go back to the bar and check on my mom.”
I reach for my phone. “I have to call Birdie and Wilby.”
“They’re already coming,” he says, glancing through the blinds.
I look out the peephole and open the door when I see Birdie and Wilby on the porch. Wilby’s on the phone, and they rush inside.
Birdie shuts the door and peeks through the blinds. “Lord, have mercy. I haven’t seen paparazzi like this since we lived in Manhattan and your family was on every front page.”
I sigh. “It’s not fun.”
She softens. “No, sugar. It’s not.”
My phone buzzes and it’s Carly. “Carly? Are you okay?”
She’s frantic. “There are people outside my house knocking on the door and taking pictures. I can’t reach Cal. Is he with you?”
My stomach sinks. “They’re what? And, uh, yes, he’s here.”
“They’re outside asking about you, filming and taking pictures.”
“Tell her I’m calling her now,” Cal says, “and I’ll be back.”
I hang up with Carly so she can take his call. He takes off and runs to his truck, taking a while to back up as they try to block him in.
I stand up and pace. “They’re ruining everything. I hate this.”
Wilby looks up from his phone slowly. “It was Belladonna.”
I close my eyes. Because, of course, it was her doing.
“She leaked a full story claiming your marriage is strategic to steal the family company. It’s everywhere,” he says.
He sends me the link, and I quickly scan it.Heiress Marries Local Bartender in Corporate Power Play.
My stomach turns. I pull up my dad’s contact and hit call.
He answers on the second ring, and he sounds furious. “What did you do, Silvie?”
“Wrong daughter, Dad. You should be asking Belladonna that,” I clip, not having time for his accusations.
“I’ve been on the phone all day with the board.”
“I saved the company, Dad. That’s what I did. Your other daughter gave this story to the press.”
“You brought chaos into this. The board is launching a full investigation. We look ridiculous.”
“I did what I had to do! They were going to take it from us.”
