“It has its own merchandise.”
Sophie clicked to another tab.
A T-shirt displayed a cartoon turtle wearing a mayoral sash.
I stared.
“That was fast.”
“The internet has manufacturing relationships.”
Richard rubbed his forehead.
“Savannah.”
“No statement about Ellie. No clarification. No denial. Nothing about why I was there or what we were doing.”
Sophie studied me.
“Are you asking us to confirm a relationship?”
“No.”
“Deny one?”
“No.”
“Then what are we protecting?”
“Her.”
Richard leaned back.
“From what?”
I looked at him.
“This.”
He did not seem to enjoy being included in the answer.
“We have a tour to manage,” he said. “Your personal life affects the brand.”
“My personal life is not the brand.”
“It becomes part of it when you’re photographed in public.”
“I was buying lemonade.”
“You were holding hands with an unidentified woman.”
“She has a name.”
“I am aware.”
“Then stop calling her unidentified.”
Rachel shifted beside me.
