Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

“No!” I said a little too quickly. “I mean. Yes, he’s going to clean up his image. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. Just tell them he’s a new man. He’ll turn everything around during the games. You can’t let him go, Karen.”

“You don’t know how happy I am to hear that. Really, I don’t want to go through the messy business of severing ties with a big star like him. It’s never good for business even when the board calls for it.”

My stomach lurched. “But there is one more thing I need to let you know.”

“What’s that?”

This was the most ludicrous conversation I had ever had with my boss. I couldn’t believe I was going to say it. “In order to make a drastic change to Lachlan’s image, we had to come up with a radical plan.”

“I’m listening.”

“And that radical plan includes me.” I winced.

“I’m not following you, Aspen.”

“Well, what I’m trying to say is that for the rest of the games I’m going to stand-in as Lachlan’s girlfriend.” I sped up the delivery. “It made the most sense that it should be me.”

“Sense? This makes sense? It’s completely unprofessional. I can’t condone these kinds of tactics.”

“Karen, it’s only for the optics. There isn’t anyone we can trust with this kind of responsibility. Lachlan has agreed to take my advice and I have unlimited access to him during the Olympics.” I hit my forehead with my palm. Access wasn’t the word I wanted to use.

“I see.”

“It’s strictly professional. I assure you.” I wasn’t about to tell her how he’d gone down on me this morning before delivering the most powerful orgasm of my life.

“This makes me nervous. He has a reputation. It’s the reason you’re there trying to protect the account. Are you sure you can handle him?”

“Karen, I can handle him.” If she knew our arrangement she might have more faith in me, but that would cost me the last bit of respect I still had from her.

“If you’re sure.”

“I am. I can bring this back around. By the time he leaves Rio, Lachlan will have a completely new image.”

“I’m counting on it. I’m counting on you.”

“I’ve got this. Please tell the stockholders that Lachlan is still the face of our game. He can represent our brand. He has the right delivery. He’ll be edgy and sexy with just enough respectability. I promise you.”

“You’re setting the bar high.”

“I know I am, but I can deliver.”

The truth was I didn’t know if I could deliver. I didn’t know if I could control Lachlan. But I had three weeks to make this plan work. I had three weeks to redesign him. I had three weeks as his girlfriend. Three weeks in his bed.

“I don’t have to run interference with his agent or any other labels. It’s all about how Revolution wants to spin it. I have complete control, Karen. We couldn’t have a better scenario.”

“All right. I’m trusting you with this even though my gut says it’s a dangerous idea. But I know your resume in PR and you’re one of the best. You’ve always had good instincts at Revolution. Call me if anything changes.”

“Thanks, Karen. I will.”

I hung up and headed to my hotel. First thing I needed to do was get Lachlan out of the village. The place was brimming with temptation. I saw the bowls of condoms in the hallways. I saw the women’s Swedish volleyball team. The pools. The rec rooms. There was no way I was leaving him there at the mercy of his own decisions.

I needed him somewhere I could keep an eye on him.

The blast of cold air hit me as I walked into the hotel. The front desk clerk smiled at me.

“Oi brigado.”

I nodded. I knew exactly zero Portuguese.