Chapter 5 #2
That didn’t bode well for keeping my interest. Plus, that meant working with the entire team was difficult, not just the werewolf wannabe. Why did I want to deal with a surly, arrogant child on a regular basis?
“What is your role in this?”
“Saint’s father contacted me to try and provide an updated image for his son. From what I understand, beefing up his reputation has the blessing of the Wild Dogs team, including the coach. Cleaning up his act is something Mr. Masters needs to do.”
“Let me guess, or he gets tossed off the team.”
My father’s smile was far too salacious. What did he have up his sleeve? “The playoffs are a less than a week away. If they win their last regular game of the season.”
“And the Wild Dogs are expected to win the whole show. Right?”
My father nodded, pleading with his eyes.
“What do you think I can do?” I asked, praying to God I wouldn’t regret doing so.
“You know the PR business even if you’ve chosen to ignore it.
You have a degree in public relations, and a minor in journalism.
You have an incredible social media presence.
Not too glamorous. Not too risqué. Just right, which means you know what not to post. You know how to spin tales and convince people to do the right thing.
I’ve seen you do it several times when you interned for me. ”
The longest months of my life.
“On top of that, since you’d be spending a significant amount of time with Mr. Masters, the fact you’re entirely different than anyone else he hangs around with will be helpful. You know. You’re sweet and intelligent.”
My dad meant vulnerable and far too na?ve. Not this time. My father wasn’t providing me with all the information. “What am I supposed to do with this man to make him look better?”
“First you clean up his image. He’s not to be seen in bars and getting into fights. You’d handle all aspects of social media for him. Then you test his abilities.”
“You mean since they’re supposed to be more powerful since he’s a werewolf and all?” Just making the statement was ridiculous. How could anyone of any intelligence fall for such a horrible prank?
“You do understand. I knew you would.”
“If Saint is such a bad boy, he’s not going to want a chaperone let alone someone like me, Miss Sweet and Innocent telling him what to do and how to act.” My father was serious. I felt honored and suspicious at the same time. With such an important client, why put the weight on my shoulders?
“If Mr. Masters isn’t desperate by now, he soon will be. He lost his top three sponsors this morning. Millions lost. He needs help, Lily, and you’re the only one who can give it to him.”
“How long are we talking about?”
“If all goes well and you two connect, through the playoffs. Once they’re over, the situation will naturally begin to die down. A lot of people have money on the team.”
Another uh-huh moment. No one wanted their golden boy tarnished. At least not right now.
“How long for real, Dad?”
“Through June. Not that long.”
June felt like a lifetime to me.
“And if we don’t connect?”
He smiled. “You will.”
“Uh-huh.” My guess was the golden boy was a handful.
Dad smiled as if his offer had been accepted. “I assure you that I’ll make your valuable time worthwhile. After you return him to hero status, you’ll have plenty of money to work on your novel. A year or more. You won’t need to worry about taking care of yourself.”
Another slight dig. He’d always wanted someone to take care of me. Too bad, Dad. That just wasn’t going to happen. I had to admit, the thought of earning enough money so I could enjoy writing meant the world to me. And my father knew it. Bribery wasn’t beneath him.
Still, it was worth seriously considering.
However, not until he admitted the rest. “What aren’t you telling me, Dad? There’s always a spectacular ending when you ask for favors or provide news. In other words. Why did you really ask me for this favor?”
He acted wounded and I shook my head. “The money for the firm is fantastic plus the opportunities this could provide us are phenomenal.”
“What else? What do I need to do to ensure the game is bought by everyone?”
As he wrapped his fingers around his wineglass, I braced myself. “The two of you need to get very close.”
“How close?” I felt a nightmare coming on. Maybe it was the nerves or maybe I was angry with myself I was actually considering this.
“You need to keep up a certain facade. That you’re dating. You need to make it believable. You two are madly in love and that’s why he’s calming down. I assure you after some time, they’ll forget all about the werewolf story.”
I burst into laughter. What else could I do? “You’ve said so yourself. I’m sweet and innocent. There is no way people are going to believe a bad boy like Saint Masters would go for a na?ve librarian.”
“Opposites do attract and make for the strongest relationships, punkin. Just look at your mother and me. Fake dating him is the easiest way of being allowed into his world. Don’t worry. The man will feel grateful that you’re in his corner. He’ll be thanking you from day one. I guarantee it.”
I sat back, folding my arms, staring down at his smiling picture as I thought about the offer. “I don’t know a thing about hockey.”
“Even better. You won’t be considered a puck bunny.”
“A what?”
“Female fans more interested in the players than the game itself. The fact you aren’t an aficionado adds credence to the fact you’re dating. Another opposites attract moment. You’ll be fine. Just be natural when you go to a game.”
Great. Now I had to go to a damn hockey game.
“He’ll listen to and take my advice?”
“Yes, without a doubt.”
“No matter what I tell him to do?” I was starting to think maybe this could work. On a temporary basis.
“You can be as tough on him as you feel you need.” Dad was grinning. He knew he’d won me over. “Just remember to debunk every myth out there. You’re creative. You’ll figure out exactly how to handle the task.”
Debunk every myth.
Like the one where he has two dicks? A lump formed in my throat.
I closed my eyes, cringing a little bit inside. I’d sworn I’d never go to work for my dad simply because I wanted my own life, one I chose. But the offer was one I just couldn’t pass up.
I prayed to Mother Nature this time I wasn’t going to regret this.
“Fine. I’ll see if I can make Saint into a Golden Boy.”
“Excellent. I’ll set up a meeting between the two of you. Hopefully that won’t take more than a day or two.” He lifted his eyebrows. “What about my second request?”
My stomach was in knots.
“I’ll pretend to date him, but he better not two-time me. However, I have one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I get to meet him first before I finally decide. No pretense. No fancy bars. Just a location where we won’t be interrupted. If there’s chemistry of any kind, maybe I can pull off the great charade. If there isn’t, people will see right through the lie. That will make everything that much worse.”
He nodded. “You have a good point. I’ll set something up.”
“Make it painful for him. Why not see what he’s made of?”
My father shook his head. “You’re so much like your mother. She tortured me for weeks before agreeing to go out on a date with me.”
“Gee. I wonder why.”
Dad smirked. “And don’t worry, punkin. If he hurts my little girl, I’ll become his worst nightmare, not some crazy video.”
“Speaking of which. You don’t happen to have the link on your phone. Do you?”
“Yeah, I do. I will admit it’s pretty damning. The video was cleaned up a bit, lighting enhanced, but the content hasn’t been disturbed.” He pulled out his phone and I held my breath until he placed it in front of me.
As I watched the story unfold, prickles of heat coursing through my body mixed with one of those what-the-hell-have-you-signed-up-for moments.
Werewolves.
How was I going to sugarcoat what appeared to be the truth?