The car ride is quiet.
Adrian doesn’t mention Ryan’s article. I don’t mention Vanessa’s call. Both pretending everything is fine.
“Victor’s going to have opinions,” Adrian says as we pull into the garage.
“About the article?”
“About everything.” He parks. “He’ll want a strategy.”
“Do you have one?”
“Not yet. But we’ll figure it out. Together.”
That word. Together.
Victor is waiting, tablet in hand, expression grim.
“Sit. We have damage control to strategize.”
We sit. Adrian’s knee brushes mine.
Victor pulls up Ryan’s article on screen. “This is a problem.”
“We know,” I say.
“Marcus Knight called me at seven AM. He’s seen it. He has questions.” Victor looks at Adrian. “About the timeline. About whether this relationship is what you claim.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That you’r
