SILAS

"The media is digging," a member of the communications team spoke up, eyes fixed on a tablet to avoid Maya’s direction. "They’re claiming they've connected the dots. The narrative is that she got into bed with you to save her father’s business. Some of the nastier threads are saying she must be very good for you to keep her this close. They’re even claiming she dumped her boyfriend the moment you glanced at her."

"It is not just the forums," another woman from the team added, leaning forward. "Some blogs are calling it a transactional romance. Articles are already being drafted about the 'Price of a Blackwood Assistant.' The...