“No, it’s not boyfriend trouble.”
I can feel my mother’s scowl on the other end of the phone.
“It has to be your sister then. I told you she would take you down. That—”
“I got fired.”
There’s a pause.
“That can’t be. You’re awesome at your job.”
I sigh. “I know, but that’s why they let me go. They couldn’t afford to keep paying me what I’m worth.”
“Well, it’s their loss then. But it’s actually perfect timing.”
Ugh. I don’t want to hear whatever nonsense my mother is going to say next. This isn’t good timing. This is the worst timing. If they had fired me even six months from now, I wouldn’t feel so lost. So desperate.
“Why is it good timing?”
“You remember Lily Taylor?”
“Yes.”
How could I forget Lily? She was the most popular girl in school. Smart, beautiful. My brother was obsessed with her even though she dated his best friend and my archenemy, Carter Woods, for most of high school.
“Well, she is in need of a fixer.”
I smile. “Really? And how do you know that?” I regret the words the second I ask.
“Cathy told Cindy who told Melissa. Have I told you about Melissa’s botched Botox job yet? It looks hideous. I don’t know what she was thinking or who she went to, but—”
“Mom, I don’t care about Melissa. I care about Lily and why she needs good PR right now.”
“Oh, sorry, sweetie. Lily was engaged to Phillip. But it turns out, she had been cheating on him the whole time.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because she’s running for Senate. It wouldn’t matter that much, but her law firm also just got accused of several immoral acts. I don’t think she was directly involved, but it’s not looking good for her. She’s currently shopping for a good PR firm.”
“There’s just one problem. I don’t run a PR firm.”
My mother sighs. “So, start one. You can do anything you want sweetie. Go convince her to hire you. You know she will pay well, and if you can help her win, you’ll have clients lining up for you.”
I smile. She’s right. I can fix my own problems by helping Lily fix hers. I just have to get to her quickly. Companies will be lining up for a chance to work for Lily Taylor.
2
Carter
My mouth drops as I stare at the television screen, watching the mess unfold before my eyes. I’ve never seen anyone fall apart so completely, so quickly, and I’m in the crisis business. I’ve seen my fair share of meltdowns. In fact, I’ve created plenty of chaos before. But I never thought I would see Lily Taylor fuck up her whole life in a matter of seconds in a single interview. I just didn’t think it was possible.
I’ve known Lily most of my life. She’s smart and beautiful. Her family had money, and she went to the best schools. I even dated her for a year in high school. I was probably stupid for letting her go. I always knew that Lily was going to make something of herself someday. She could be anything she wanted. She had everything going for her. Intelligence, money, and good looks.
She’s decided to go into politics. To become a senator and then make a presidential run.
But, from the look on Lily’s face right now as she stares wide-eyed at the talk-show host, she thinks those dreams are squashed. Over. Gone.
And, if she were any other candidate, she would be. She fucked up, and she knows it. But, lucky for her, I can fix all of her problems.