Chapter 48
Harrison
I was in full damage-control mode. Calling reporters. Making assurances. Downplaying things and insisting everything was overblown.
These kinds of situations were stressful, obviously. But I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a little bit thrilling. I thrived in this environment, when fires needed to be put out and I had to swiftly exert my power and influence the way a surgeon wielded a scalpel.
Rafael and I drove through the city, stopping every few blocks to visit investors.
A lot of big names had their money invested in Blackstone we had to do our due diligence on every investment we made.
Which we had failed at here.
But we had good lawyers. Brian had a team of bulldogs working for him. And honestly, the SEC didn’t worry me. Most of this was about public perception. Keeping our name clean. Convincing the world—and, more importantly, our investors and trade partners—that we deserved the benefit of the doubt.
So that’s what I did. Driving all over the city, convincing competitors and allies alike that this wasn’t a big deal. Just an unfortunate misunderstanding.
By the time I was done, all I wanted to do was go home and close my eyes. But there was still too much to do, so I had the driver take us back to the office.
“I’m tempted to get an espresso from the break room,” I told Rafael on the elevator ride up. “But I know it’ll keep me up all night. I’m going to need to get my sleep over the next few days. Can’t afford to look tired. It’ll make me seem guilty.”
“Harrison?” Rafael said. “I want to talk to you about something.”
“Can it wait?”
“It’s about Caroline.”
I glanced sideways at him as we exited the elevator. “I thought I detected a weird vibe between you two earlier. You didn’t tell her you love her, did you?”
Rafael, who was always calm and composed, tripped on the rug and stumbled a few steps.
“Oh my God,” I said. “You did, didn’t you?”
“How’d you guess that from a vibe?” he asked.
“I’ve known you longer than anyone. I’ve been waiting for you to drop the L-bomb for a few weeks now. I’m guessing she didn’t say it back?”
He grimaced, then changed the subject. “The thing I wanted to talk to you about didn’t have to do with any of that. It’s about the press release…”
He trailed off as we neared my office. Lucien Moreau was sitting on the edge of my administrative assistant’s desk, chatting her up about something that was making her laugh. When he saw us, he grinned widely.
“Lucien. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I asked.
“No pleasure, I am afraid.” He gestured to my office. “This is best discussed in private.”
Rafael held the door for him, and they went into my office. I glanced at my admin before following them.
“I tried calling,” she whispered. “Your phone is going straight to voicemail.”
Damnit. I’d put it on Do Not Disturb while running all over the city. “Not your fault.”
Lucien had his arms crossed in my office, and didn’t bother to sit. That was a bad sign. “My schedule is a little tight at the moment, so if you wouldn’t mind making this quick…”
“You,” Lucien said gravely, “have a problem.”
I exchanged a look with Rafael. If he was hearing rumors about the gold mine… “Let’s say you’re right. How do you know about it?”
“You’re going to lose Caroline.”
I recoiled in surprise. “What?”
“You and I have often, ah, butted heads,” Lucien said. “But I would like to speak candidly to you now. It is clear something special is forming between you and Caroline. Both of you.”
He glanced at Rafael, whose jaw tightened a fraction of a degree.
“Despite having something special, you have put her in a situation where she is being asked to compromise her values.”
“What…” I said, but then Lucien jabbed a finger in my direction and began scolding us like we were disorderly children.
“You do not value her the way she deserves. Caroline Fairfax is a special woman. Very special. She is more unique than you appreciate! And yet you are trying to corrupt her? To force her to change what makes her special?”
He turned away from me and began cursing in French.
“I don’t understand,” I said slowly. “What, specifically, are you talking about?”
“I do not know!” he practically shouted. “She would not give me details. She only spoke in generalities. But you have given her a job here at the firm, and now you are asking her to do something immoral. And for that, I am not sure I can ever forgive you.”
I started to argue, but stopped.
Then it hit me.
Since news about the gold mine had broken, I had gone on autopilot. Doing all the things we normally did to protect the firm, using all the resources at our disposal. My first instinct had been to shield Parker from blame… and, by proxy, myself.
But I didn’t think about the position I had put Caroline in. Asking her to write a press release that was, to put it mildly, not factual. And she was so conflicted that she went to Lucien, of all people.
“Yes,” he said, nodding. “Whatever it is, you see it now, do you not?”
“I’m a fucking idiot,” I muttered, turning toward Rafael. “Has the press release gone out?”
“Not yet. It’s sitting in your inbox, waiting for approval.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t too late. I could fix this.
Because I would do anything to preserve my relationship with Caroline. Even if it meant burning the rest of the world to the ground.
“Good,” I said, going around my desk and unlocking my laptop. “Because there are some changes I want to make.”