Page 9 of The Problem with Playboys

“I know.”

“You do? How, exactly?”

“I read an interview you did after Marcus got his big contract.”

“But I only hired you this morning and you told me your day was packed.”

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “I found time for due diligence. I had to know what I was dealing with.”

“But you didn’t do this when my father married your mom?”

Chloe sat on the other end of the sofa and that was when she first noticed exactly how good he smelled. Like the richest notes of fine bourbon. “Honestly? It didn’t even occur to me. No offense to your dad, but I didn’t expect it to last.”

“I am not offended. I thought the same thing.”

Forrest showed up at the door. “I have dinner if you’re ready.”

Chloe waved him in. “Parker, this is Forrest, the best admin in the entire world.”

“Nice to meet you, Forrest. You must be amazing. I have a feeling you have a very discerning boss.”

Forrest shook Parker’s hand. “She’s the amazing one. I’m very lucky.” He glanced at Chloe. “Would you like me to unpack the food?”

“I’ve got it,” Chloe answered. “Go home and enjoy your evening.”

“Will do. Nice to meet you,” Forrest said to Parker. “Have a good night.”

Chloe went to work unpacking the food, two beautifully arranged trays of assorted sushi, including Parker’s favorite, the spicy tuna roll. “Please, take whatever you want to drink. We have water, tea, soda...”

“Beer. Perfect.” He plucked an amber bottle from the bucket and wiped it down with the small towel Forrest had left. “You want one, too?”

Chloe was afraid he might suggest that, although the truth was that she could definitely use a drink. “Sure.”

Parker handed over the bottle and popped a piece of sushi into his mouth. “Delicious. You’ve already made my day so much better.”

Chloe couldn’t contain her smile. It did make her happy to know that he was pleased. “Glad to hear it.”

Parker picked up the packet of paper next to his meal. “Is this your plan for taking down Little Black Book?”

Chloe narrowed her sights on him. “You mean rehabbing Marcus’s image. That’s what the plan is about.”

“No. I mean exactly what I said. Marcus’s image should be fine because in all truth, it is fine. If we unmask whoever is behind Little Black Book, isn’t that simpler? Just expose them for what they are, an opportunistic entity trying to stir up trouble?”

“It never works to cast a bad light on someone else in these situations. Plus, you might not like the answer to these questions if we find out.”

Parker shook his head in dismay. “I don’t understand it at all and it’s driving me crazy. How does a social media account break this story rather than a major news outlet? I’ve never even heard of it. Now I’ve been contacted by a million papers and cable news channels breathing down my neck for a comment.”

“I don’t know who’s behind it, but I don’t like to expend a lot of energy on things I can’t control.”

“Is that your thing, Chloe? Control?” He cast her a smoldering look, one that said he wasn’t necessarily talking about work.

She wasn’t about to let Parker derail their discussion. “When it comes to this, yes.”

“Well, I had someone on my staff do some digging today and I found out that several people think the initials ‘SA’ on the cover of the black book stand for Simone Astley. Do you know who she is?”

Chloe did, but only because Simone Astley was a notorious figure in the high-society circles of the American Northeast, the very world Chloe had grown up in. “I don’t know how that could possibly be. Simone Astley died several years ago. I’m pretty sure she had no kids. And I know she never married and was an only child. Her entire family line died out when she did.”

“Doesn’t mean someone didn’t get their hands on her diary.”