The Woman He Traded Is Now His Equal novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Costello's Mistress

The Costello lobby went silent when I came through the revolving door.

Three receptionists looked down at their screens at the same moment.

Someone's phone was playing the headline aloud, and a man by the elevators switched it off.

I walked to the elevator with my back straight.

Byron was waiting on the fortieth floor with his jacket off and his phone in his hand.

"I have a lawyer on the line," he said. "We can have it down in an hour."

"Don't."

"Natasha."

"It's the photograph from your driveway, and a quote from a man who knows what to say. If you pull it, they print that you pulled it."

He put the phone down on his desk.

His jaw was still swollen, and his eyes were furious.

"Then what do you want?"

"A microphone," I said.

His assistant knocked and put her head in.

"The morning show called again. They want her tomorrow at seven. Live."

Byron looked at me.

I looked back.

"Tell them yes," I said.

At six the next morning a makeup artist put powder on my forehead in a room with a green carpet.

Dee had texted me at five: Wear the gray one. I'll be screaming at my TV.

Rhys had texted: Nobody in the office is working. Everybody has the show on.

Byron stood in the corner of the green room with his arms crossed.

"I can be in the chair beside you," he said.

"No."

"I won't say a word."

"That's why I don't want you there," I said. "They'd ask you everything."

He almost smiled.

Then a producer came in and clipped a microphone to my lapel.

The host was a smooth, pleasant man who had interviewed Porter twice.

"Miss Brennan, thank you for coming," he said when the light went red. "I'll be direct. Yesterday a story said you won your seat on the Costello partnership through your relationship with Mr. Costello. Are you his mistress?"

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