Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Spencer
I want to ask what she means by that, but the photographer chooses that moment to interrupt with a million questions.
The next couple of hours fly by as we work. Occasionally, I glance around the room, searching for Shelby. I find her talking to the crew, the models, and the team or sitting against the wall, scribbling in her notebook.Every timeI watch her, she catches me and gives me a shy smile.
And I want to watch her some more.
Finally, we have everything we need and call it quits for the day. After a few final words with my team, I let them go for the rest of the afternoon and stroll over to where Shelby is waiting for me.
“Well, that was intense,” she says as she follows me back to the conference room from the ballroom. She’s clutching her now-empty coffee mug like a lifeline. Her notepad is tucked under her arm, probably filled with scribbled observations and half-formed questions.
She’s one of the prettiest women I’ve seen in a long time. And genuine. I’ve known her for less than twenty-four hours and want to know everything about her. What’s her favorite movie? Her fondest memory? Does she have siblings? What are her parents like? Where did she grow up?
The room feels enormous and silent, with just the two of usin it. She drops into one of the chairs, and I drop my things on the polished table andturn tolean against the edge with my arms crossed, trying for a sexy half-smile, hoping she’ll relax and let me pepper her with my questions in between hers.
She’s got gorgeous eyes. They’re big and expressive. I can see every feeling and thought in there. This woman does not have a poker face.
“Intense is one word for it,” I agree. “Did you find it enlightening, exciting?”
“Definitely. It’s different than what I expected.”She gestures vaguely with her empty mug. “I mean, you weren’t, you know... ordering people around, making outrageous demands, acting like, well, an asshat boss.”
I laugh. “Disappointed?”
“Surprised,”she admits. “Pleasantly surprised.”And, okay, maybe a little disappointed. A small part of me—the part that craves a good story—was ready for some drama, some headline-worthy behavior. But therealSpencer Hollis, at least the one I saw today, is far more complex. And far more compelling.”
“I should hope so. There is that saying—don’t judge a book by its cover. People have been judging me for some time now, without taking the time to get to know me. They’ve made false assumptions.”
“That’s why you want to do this story.”Her sober tone deserves a similar response.
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll promise to start with a clean slate.”
“Thank you. Why don’t we find somewhere a little more comfortable to continue our conversation?”
“I’d like that.”
We end up in a small, secluded alcove in the hotel lounge where two plush armchairs face each other with a small, round marble table between them. Sunlight streams through a nearby window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. The soft murmur of conversation from the other guests blends together, creating a surprisingly intimate atmosphere. I wait for her to take her seat before sinking into mine.
“So,”I begin, wanting to get this over with. I lean forward, rest my forearms on my thighs, and zero in on her mesmerizing eyes. “Ask away, Ms. Bailey. What do you want to know?”
“This is officially the start of the interview. So, no topic restrictions at all, Mr. Hollis?”
“No topic is off limits, and please keep calling me Spencer.”I like it when she says my name in her cute Canadian accent.
“Okay, Spencer,”she repeats, her cheeks pink.
The slight emphasis, the way her gaze intensifies as she says my name, sends a heated shiver down my spine. And it’s a good thing I’m sitting in this position.
“Let’s start with the obvious. Why now? Why this sudden desire to change your public image?”
I fight to keep any hint of anger from creeping into my voice. “It’s not sudden, Shelby. It’s been building for a while. Ever since my father died, and I took over the company, the board has been skeptical. They see me as irresponsible, the kid who’s more interested in models and parties than in running a multi-billion-dollar business.”
“And are they wrong?”She asks, the journalist pushing for honesty, even if it’s uncomfortable. She meets my gaze head-on, her expression earnest.
“They’re not entirely wrong. I enjoy life. I’m single. I’ve dated some beautiful women. I like to have fun every now and then. But that’s not all I am. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I care deeply about this company, about my family’s legacy.”
She makes notes while I try to put order to my racing thoughts.
I glance down at the page, allowing myself a moment of contemplation.
“Talk to me about your family,”she murmurs, slowly raising her eyesbackto mine.
I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “My family is complicated. My father built an empire, but he also left a lot of messes behind. My mother is still grieving, still dealing with the fallout of his affairs. She’s been ill, withdrawn from the public eye.”
Shelby nods, her eyes filled with empathy. “And your siblings? How are they involved in the business?”
“Hayden, my younger brother, well, he’s brilliant, but he’s also reckless. He’s been off ‘finding himself,’traveling, experiencing life. He’s not ready to take on a big role in the company yet, but I know he has the potential to be a valuable asset. He just needs to grow up a bit.”
“And your sister, Piper?”
My heart and voice soften when I think of my sister. “Piper is the baby of the family. She’s only twenty-one, still in school. She’s got a great head for business, but she’s not ready to step into a leadership role yet. I’m trying to give her the time and space she needs to grow, to find her own path.”
“And what about you? How do you balance their needs with the demands of the business?”
I run a hand through my hair, a gesture of frustration and determination. “It’s a constant juggling act. I want to protect them, to give them the best chances to succeed. But I also need to keep the company afloat, right some wrongs, gain back the trust and respect my family name deserves. I want that for my mother. It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m determined.”
Shelby looks up, her eyes filled with admiration. “You’re doing an amazing job, Spencer. It’s clear that you care deeply about your family and the business. Your dedication is inspiring.”
“Thank you. It means a lot to hear that.”
I sink deeper into the chair, the leather creaking beneath me. “I miss my mom though.”I scrub a hand over my face, rubbing away the weariness I know is etched into the lines around my eyes. Lines that didn’t exist before Dad died.
“I understand that feeling more than you think, Spencer. I’m sorry.”
My heart suddenly aches as a moment oftrueunderstanding appears in her eyes. The meticulously constructed wall I usually present to the world cracks. “You do, don’t you?”
“My parents died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
She offers a polite smile. “Let’s get back to you.”
I want to ask more questions. But it let it slide for the moment.
I don’t want to get into the sordid details, but I did say there were no off-limits topics. “My father had an affair, many affairs. His last one caused a significant scandal. Although she never said a word, I think Mom knew. But the one that ruined everything did her in. She became ill. He died. She withdrew completely from her public life, grieving and embarrassed.”
“She still loved him.”
“They’d been together over forty years.”
“When did the affairs start?”
I shrug. I really don’t know. And it doesn’t matter. He hurt the one person he’d promised to love and cherish.
“So, you’re trying to hold the fort until Hayden steps up to help.”Her smile is sweet, conveying genuine empathy for the situation. “Tell me about work. Why do you need to clean up your persona?”
“Everyone—the media, business associates, the board of directors—they all want to lump me in with my dad’s bullshit. They think I’m his clone, and I’m not. I would never do the things he did. I’d never treat women the way he did. Certainly not my wife… when I have one. I’m not him. But they continue to paint me with the same brush.”My words are laced with raw, simmering anger lurking beneath the surface for months.
She pauses, pen hovering above the notepad, and lifts her head. “Keep going.”I can tell she’s treading lightly.
I notice my hands are clenched tight, andmy knuckles are white. Inhaling deeply, I force my muscles to relax and uncurl my fingers. Uncrossing my long legs, I lean forward and look directly into her eyes, willing her to believe every word about to spill from my lips.
“I am nothing like him, Shelby. And I sure as hell don’t operate the way he did.”A muscle ticks in my jaw. “He cheated on everything. His wife, his partners, his employees. From the day I walked through those glass doors, I’ve been spending every waking moment trying to clean up the mess he left behind. I intend to turn things around so my mother can hold her head high again and my brother and sister have a legacy they’re proud of.”
She nods slowly as though the puzzle pieces are clicking into place. “The fact that people are comparing you to him must feel incredibly unfair.”She sets her pen down, giving me her full attention. “Especially when you’re working so hard to be different.”
My shoulders relax a fraction. “It feels like a goddamn prison sometimes. Like I’m chained to his legacy, and no matter how hard I fight, I can’t escape it.”I run a hand through my hair, the controlled facade slipping further. I haven’t even been as forthcoming with Linda. With Shelby, opening up comes easy, almost automatically.
“Let’s talk about Hayden.”
I welcome the reprieve, though I’m not convinced it’s much of one. “He isn’t officially with the company yet.”
“What will his role be when he does join the team?”
“That’s the problem.”I growl.
I can see her journalist senses have officially sparked. “Is this on or off the record?”
“I promised to be an open book. And I trust you to be professional. I know you won’t do anything to hurt me or my family with this article. Right?”I meet her gaze head-on and hold it, searching for any signs she’s not the person I suspect she is. My skin tingles, and my heart thumps loudly in my chest. My cock twitches in my pants because I’m staring into the prettiest eyes.
“I’m not in the business of misusing trust, Spencer,”she says, her voice surprisingly steady. “I’m a journalist. My job is to find the truth and tell it. The truth about you and your company. Not to create scandal where there isn’t any.”She pauses, adding with a small, challenging smile, “Unless, of course, there is scandal to be found.”
I chuckle, the low, rich sound vibrating through me. “I like you, Shelby Bailey. You’re sharp. And you’re honest.”My gaze drops to her lips for a fleeting, heart-stopping moment. “And you’re incredibly beautiful.”
Her breath catches.
This is dangerous territory. This pull, this attraction between us. I sense it. I’m sure she does as well. It’s undeniable.
And it’s completely unprofessional.
“You were starting to tell me about your brother.”
“I was. Sorry. I got distracted.”
She blushes.
“Hayden is twenty-seven and busy working his way through all the single women in Paris.”
“Oh.”
“Exactly. He’s more inclined to be like my father than I am. I’m hoping he gets it out of his system before he returns to New York.”
“Jealous he might tempt a few of the models?”
“Of course not,”I say, a little too quickly, a little too defensively. “I’m just cautious. It’s bad enough I have the image I do. The endless parade of beautiful women my brother entertains would be a feeding frenzy for the paparazzi and give the board members a heart attack.”
“But you date models as well, Spencer. I’ve seen the photos.”
“Sure, I’ve taken beautiful women to dinner. They’ve been my guests at events I have to attend. It’s a part of the publicity factor,”I correct, my tone serious again. “Not the reality. I’m selective, Shelby. I’m not interested in casual flings. I’m looking for something honest. Something real.”My gaze locks onto hers. “Something like what I think we might be finding here.”