Page 57 of Just for the Cameras
“How about we sit down so we can discuss?” She gestures toward the building in front of us that I’ve found out is used for receptions and parties. Maple painfully makes her way toward the building and I hold the door open for her and Gretchen before we find a table off to the left, offering us a little privacy.
I glance Maple’s way as she slowly lowers herself to her chair, her face attempting to remain neutral, but I can tell from the grimace pulling at her lips that she’s in pain. I have an overwhelming urge to help her, to hold her hand while she lowers herself down, but I know for a fact that she would deny it, even possibly swat my hand away.
“Well.” Gretchen folds her hands, looking far too pleased to be here.“This was a pleasant little surprise, waking up to a whole lot of followers on an account with one picture. It’s a great start, but how we proceed is what will really keep people interested.”
I’m not appreciating the words she’s choosing, because it seems like things are about to get way more complicated.
“First of all, I’m holding off on all press requests at the moment, not only because I don’t think you’re prepared for such attention just yet, but also because we want to edge everybody.”
“Edge?” Maple asks.
“Yes, we want to give them little breadcrumbs, small insights into what you’re doing, but not give them the relief they need.”
“Can you not use sexual terms when it comes to this?” I ask.
“Yes, please,” Maple agrees. “Graydon is quite disgusted by being tied to me intimately, so please spare him.”
“I’m not…that’s not what I said,” I almost growl, but it doesn’t get Maple’s attention as she avoids all eye contact with me.
Gretchen pauses and leans back, her black-lined eyes studying us as her red-painted lips purse. After a few seconds, she motions between us. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” I say.
Maple folds her arms over her chest. “Nothing’s going on.”
“I sensed tension last time we met, and I thought that maybe with the success of this account, there might be reduced tension, but that’s not what I’m seeing now.”
I remain quiet because there’s no need to get into this. Gretchen just needs to say what she needs to say so we can move on with the day.
But Maple has other plans.
“He’s upset because people think we’re a couple, and the thought of him being romantically attached to someone like me makes him shiver to the point of vomiting.”
Jesus.
Christ.
“That is not what I said,” I growl.
“Well, that poses a problem,” Gretchen says as she shifts in her seat,crossing one leg over the other. “Because the front office loved thisattention so much, they wanted to discuss a possible PR relationship.”
And there it is, the thing I feared the moment Gretchen sauntered in here with that smirk on her face.
“Wait, what is that?” Maple asks, sitting taller now.
“No.” I shake my head. “Absolutely not. Not happening.”
Gretchen eyes me. “Everyone already signed off on it.”
“That’s fucking great for them, but it’s not their life or their decision and it’s not fucking happening.”
A PR relationship?
That’s just asking for fucking trouble. They’re always messy. Someone ends up getting hurt, and I haven’t seen one where it’s rolled out smoothly in both parties’ favor.
“You don’t really have a choice in the matter,” Gretchen says. “So let’s not make a big deal about this and just lay down the guidelines.”
“Hold on, what are you talking about?” Maple asks, her eyes searching both of us.
