And Conrad proved he was more intelligent than other evidence to the contrary because he didn’t make one. “Fine. Fine.” He started taking notes. “‘The Prank That Ended a Friendship.’ I can use that. We can spin the angle even. ‘The Bad Joke That Almost Ended an Engagement.’”
Maddie looked at Vik. “Is he for real?”
Part of her knew this was the way things had to be, that Conrad was just doing his job, but having her life reduced to clichés and headlines was not fun.
“It’s going to be okay, Madison.” Vik pulled her cold hand into his own. “Trust me.”
He had never hesitated to invade her personal space, or to touch her, though she’d never noticed him being so free with others. It was one of the reasons she’d convinced her eighteen-year-old self that Vik might return her feelings.
She’d realized later that the small touches were probably the result of the way his Russian grandparents had raised him. Maddie had figured she hadn’t seen him behave that way with others because he had so few personal relationships.
None but his grandparents and her father that she’d ever actually come into contact with.
That was one thing she and Vik had in common.
A very small inner circle.
She didn’t comment on this now, just gave thanks for the fact he was willing to offer her the kind of comfort she needed and had never been able to ask for.
Vik squeezed her fingers. “Conrad is one of the best in the business. Before this morning I would have said the best.”
Conrad flinched, proving he’d been listening even as he typed.
“And our engagement is the only way to restore my reputation?” she asked almost rhetorically.
She didn’t see another way out, either.
Her father had more leverage for his plan than he could possibly comprehend. The realization of Maddie and Romi’s dreams relied on a reputation Maddie could not afford to lose.
Vik frowned. “I’m sorry, Madison, but nothing is going to make the story go away completely.”
“Why not?” Media fixers worked miracles.
Isn’t that what everyone said? If they couldn’t fix this, her and Romi’s dreams were going to crash and burn. There was no way Maddie was going to let that happen.
Conrad looked up from his tablet. “Some people will always believe that where there is or was smoke, there had to be some ember of fire.”
“But there isn’t one.”
The twist of Conrad’s lips said he was probably one of those people.
Vik’s hand moved to Maddie’s thigh, bringing her attention careening back to him and him alone. “I believe you.”
“No matter what the press has claimed, I’ve never even had a serious boyfriend,” she admitted painfully.
Something flared in Vik’s eyes, but he just nodded. “You’ve been too busy getting into trouble.”
“Not this kind of trouble.”
“I know.”
“And not even my usual in the last six months.”
Conrad’s head snapped up. “Is that true?”
“I haven’t done anything zany or even remotely newsworthy since I broke my pelvis in that botched skydiving landing.”
Conrad narrowed his gaze. “What about parties? Random hookups?”
“Did you not hear her, Conrad?” Vik asked, dropping the temperature in the limo with the ice in his tone. “Madison does not do random hookups.”
“She said she hasn’t had a serious relationship, that the men claiming to have engaged in BDSM encounters are lying. Miss Archer never claimed to be celibate.” Okay, so Conrad had been listening.
Vik didn’t thaw even a little. “You can take no random hookups as a given.”
“Can I?” Conrad asked Maddie, surprising her with his tenacity.
“Yes,” she replied firmly. “I haven’t been out in the evening except to attend charity events since my accident.”
“With Perry as your escort?” Conrad asked, sounding unhappy by the possibility.
Which she could understand, in light of recent events. She wouldn’t call the emotion she was feeling right now unfettered joy, either.
“A couple of times.”
Vik’s jaw hardened.
“Most events, Romi and I go together. Perry isn’t all that interested in helping others.” Maddie felt disloyal admitting that truth, but Romi had always said it.
Perry had never been as interested in the causes Maddie supported as the A-listers and potential business contacts he could meet at certain events.
“You’ve been at most of them, yourself,” she offered to Vik.
He frequently represented AIH at that sort of thing, being an expert at making connections Perry only aspired to. Maddie knew that Vik also supported the causes in very tangible ways, both on behalf of the corporation and personally.
The gorgeous, corporate white knight nodded.
“That could work in our favor, unless you were photographed with your date for the evening,” Conrad mused. “Even then, we could make it work.”
“Vik hasn’t had a date with him at one of these events in over a year.” Knowledge that revealed how much attention Maddie paid to Vik.
A fact she’d done her best to hide even from herself, darn it.
His raised brow and knowing look said he realized that, too.
“That’s good. We can back-engineer a budding relationship you’ve taken pains to keep out of the media spotlight.” Conrad took more notes on his tablet. “This works.”
Maddie turned toward Vik. “We’re really getting married?”
“You tell me.”
“Only it doesn’t seem possible.” Everything since her nearly spilled cup of coffee that morning felt like a dream, at times odd, unpleasant and bordering unbelievable.
“Believe it,” Vik said, unconsciously answering her silent thoughts.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to read him. “How can you take this so calmly?”
“What am I supposed to be upset about?”
“Yesterday you were a free
