Chapter Four: Damage control and responsibilities

*Liam*

I pulled up to the foundation's headquarters in my sleek, black Tesla Model S, the tinted windows reflecting the morning sun. I stepped out, feeling the warm California air envelop me, and gazed up at the imposing structure. The building's grandeur never failed to impress me - a testament to our foundation's impact and influence.

The Pryce Foundation Headquarters is a striking and iconic building located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Standing 15 stories tall, the building commands attention with its sleek, modern design and impressive scale. The exterior is clad in gleaming glass and brushed steel, creating a striking contrast against the surrounding older architecture.

I stuffed my left hand into my pocket and walked towards the entrance, my footsteps echoing off the marble floors. 

“Good morning, Mr. Pryce,” Lexi James, my capable secretary, greeted with a bright smile. Her working tablet firmly clutched in her hand.

“I have told you to stop waiting for me out here every morning,” I murmured as I pushed through the massive, revolving glass doors and she quickly fell in step behind me.

“I'm just doing my job,” she answered. 

I sighed, already knowing there's no way I'm going to change her mind. “What's the schedule like this morning?” I asked her as I walked past the security desk, exchanging a nod with the familiar face, and made my way to the elevators.

“You have a packed day ahead. A meeting with the board of directors at 8:30 am, a conference call with a potential donor at 10 am, and a photo shoot for our upcoming campaign at 12 pm,” she replied.

“A board meeting?”

“Yes,” Lexi affirmed. “It's an emergency meeting.”

My jaw clenched. I already have an inkling as to what this emergency meeting is all about.

I flashed a look at my watch. “The board meeting is starting in 20 minutes if I'm correct.”

“Yes sir, the members are already seated and waiting.”

I nodded and paused in front of the elevator. “Contact Ryder and tell him to meet me immediately after the board meeting is over.” 

“Yes, sir. Your publicist also left a message for an urgent meeting concerning the scandal,” Lexi informed me as we finally got into the elevator. 

My lips pressed into a thin line. Emily; my publicist is going to have my ass for not responding quickly but I've got important things to deal with right now. “I will contact her myself.”

The elevator stopped at the top floor, the doors opened, and I stepped out into a spacious hallway lined with framed photos of our foundation's achievements. “Have my herbal tea ready by the time I get back,” I instructed her as I veered off to the right and headed to the board room.

The boardroom was abuzz with hushed conversations and the soft rustling of papers as the board members awaited my arrival. I pushed open the doors, a faint hint of apology already on my lips.

"Good morning, everyone. Sorry to keep you waiting," I said, my voice sincere as I took my seat at the head of the table.

As I settled in, the room fell silent, the focus shifting to me. I took a deep breath, my eyes scanning the table. "Thank you all for your patience. Let's get started, shall we?"

“As your secretary might have informed you,” Henry Wright, a prominent member of the board, began. “This is an emergency meeting. So there won't be much long talks.”

I smiled and leaned back in my chair. “I'm very much aware of that, Mr. Wright. Though I'm confused as to what this might be all about.”

“The article that was published by Telltale Herald this morning,” Carolyn Lee, another top member, chipped in. “Rumors have been flying that too much of it is true, and we the members of the board are worried by how this would affect the foundation.”

“To say that the foundation was shaken by the news would be an understatement,” August Flynn, a middle-aged man added. “And considering the precarious situation that the foundation is in ever since the chairman passed away. The shareholders are very worried about how the foundation is being run.”

I chuckled, unable to hold it in anymore. “Forgive me but I am totally flabbergasted at how fast the rumors has spread—”

“It is a scandal, Mr. Pryce,” Marcus West interrupted, his voice a harsh, condescending tone. “One that doesn't seem to be looking good for your position as the Executive director of this foundation. Your inability to also get the media under control is speaking volumes of your management skills.”

My gaze shifted to my number one public board member enemy who has been practically finding opportunities to deem me unworthy of my position. 

I leaned forward, my gaze still locked on him. “Was that a threat, Mr. West?” I asked, my voice chilled and frosty. 

Marcus visibly squirmed in his chair while the rest of the board members awkwardly cleared their throats and looked the other way. 

Marcus straightened in his seat as a measure to look taller. “I was merely giving you advice,” he quipped, unapologetically.

“Advice?” I scoffed. “That didn't sound like an advice to me,” I said, my left brow arching ever so slightly. 

Marcus held my gaze for a minute, a battle of wills at play but when he realized I wasn't backing off so easily, he dropped his head. 

“I apologize if that's the way my advice was portrayed,” he practically hissed.

I smiled. “You don't have to apologize, Mr. West,” I told him, the softness of my voice deeply contrasting the venom in my gaze. 

I leisurely scanned the faces of the members of the board and exhaled. “I am very much aware of the article and the false image that the media is trying to paint of me, my acting career and of course the foundation.” my smile widened. “Be rest assured that my PR team along with my publicist is already working towards resolving the issue.”

“I have been in this position for over two years now,” I continued. “Not only has there been a significant positive change in the foundation but I have always held the foundation's best interests at heart. Also, this is the first time I got involved in such a reckless rumor when all I did was help out a woman.”

“And the kiss?” Henry inquired. 

“That photo was taken from a wrong angle when I helped her up, Mr. Wright,” I explained. “I am a vibrant, active, young man who still has his own needs but acting recklessly in public is not my thing. I've got my reputation and public image to protect…” I paused and purposely met the eyes of everyone in the room. “I hope you all will remember that before jumping to conclusions another time.”

“In any case, I'm sorry for having caused both you and shareholders worry. I take full responsibility for what happened and promise to rectify the issue soon,” I said.

With that said, I stood to my feet and tugged my jacket back into place. “I think that will be all for today,” I announced. “Have a nice day.”

I marched out of the room and was met at the door by Lexi. “Is Ryder here yet?” I questioned. 

“Not yet,” Lexi answered. “But Ms. Emily got here not so long ago.”

I halted in my steps. “Emily is already here?”

“Yes, sir.” Lexi nodded. “And she is not looking very happy today.”

Oh boy!

“Your tea is on your desk and I will be in my office in case you need anything.” Lexi did a mid bow before disappearing into the corner of her office.

I finally arrived at the door to my spacious corner office, my name and title boldy engraved in a stylish font on the surface of the door:

“Liam Ryan Pryce 

Executive Director”

I looked down at the green soft glow emitting from the electronic lock on the door and already knew she was inside.

I pushed the door open and walked into the room, and sure enough, seated on the sofa in the seating area was Emily with a pissed off expression. 

I flashed her my million dollar smile. “Hey, there, Em,” I said, well aware of the charming power that my smile holds.

Her scowl deepened. “Hey, there, Em,” she mimicked, her distaste and annoyance distinctly palpable.

I walked to my massive, custom made desk and settled into my ergonomic leather chair. Emily looked ready to blow.

“What the fuck, Liam!” she finally exploded, her face turning an unusual shade of red. She stood up and stomped her way to my desk before slamming her hands down on the said desk. “You screened my fucking call, you asshole! Knowing fully well the situation that you put us in!”

I winced. “I did send you a message, didn't I?”

Her eyes narrowed and she leaned closer to my face. “One message isn't going to salvage the situation that we are in. Your scandal apparently broke the internet and your fans are in my DM, craving for blood and a god-damned explanation.” she pinched the bridge of her nose. “The PR team has been working tirelessly since this morning and they haven't even made a dent in the heap of calls, enquiries and messages streaming in!”

I pressed my mouth shut, knowing if I opened them to talk, I would be buried six feet under.

“As of the past few hours, your supposed affair is the most searched topic worldwide. It's blowing up the media and fastly becoming the top hot trending topic across all social media platforms. The hashtags are closing up to a billion.” she sank her fingers into her hair and pulled. “And I am running out of my god-damned mind.”

Has the news blown up that much? Sometimes, I do forget how popular I am.

“Here.” I offered Emily my steaming hot tea to help cool her down. She snatched it from my hand with a scathing glare and drank the whole thing in a go.

“So, what do you suggest we do as damage control?” I asked.

Emily raised a finger. “First, we need to confirm the status of your relationship with her.”

I smirked at her choice of words. “Status?”

She shot me a dark look. “Are you fucking her or it's just some platonic relationship?”

I traced my lip with a finger. “What if I said I was fucking her?” I decided to tease her.

Emily blinked and then outrightly looked bored. “I wouldn't be surprised if you are. She is one beautiful lady.”

Beautiful wouldn't be enough to describe that woman.  

The woman I had met was nothing short of a goddess. She was quite tall like most women in LA but she was a whole lot curvier, with breasts, hips and…God! I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to contain the luscious images forming in my head.

I clenched my fists at the sudden zap of lust that speared through my body. I can't even remember the last time I reacted to a woman so viscerally.

I tried focusing on other things… anything to take my mind off her but my mind kept conjuring images of her long wavy dark brown hair, her high cheekbones, her pink lush rosebud lips and her straight nose. When combined with her striking golden hazel eyes, she created this exquisite mesmerizing beauty that you can't help but be drawn to.

Vivienne Reynolds was a mystery. One I wanted to unravel. 

“Liam Ryan Pryce! Are you even listening to me?” Emily's sharp shrill voice yanked me back to the present and I winced. 

“Don't you think you're being too harsh on him,” Ryder Pryce; my cousin and manager, said as he walked into the room.

Emily turned and stared daggers at Ryder. “You! Don't even bother thinking you can escape this. We are in this mess because you can't even look after him properly.”

Ryder rolled his eyes, and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Oh! Please, Emily. Liam is not a child. To even think this is the first time he's appearing in a scandalous article in seven years. The man deserves some accolades.”

Emily's eyes narrowed to slits. “Six,” she corrected.

“It's still the same thing,” I murmured, already getting tired of this banter. I nodded at Ryder. “Did you get the stuff from Julian?”

“Yes, it should be in your email,” he answered. 

I immediately straightened at that and reached for my laptop. “Thanks man.” I looked at Emily. “I will email something to you, use its context and draft an official statement. Release the statement tomorrow morning along with the news of my next comeback. That should be enough.”

“You're going for the damage control and distraction strategy.” Emily nodded. “Okay, I like that but what about the lady in question? Should I contact her?”

“Leave her to me. I will take care of her. She's my responsibility… at least for now.”

“Okay, boys, it seems like I will be on my way. I've got work to do,” she announced and left.

“You think it's going to happen again, don't you?” Ryder asked moments later and I paused, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. 

“Let's just pray it doesn't,” I honestly said. “For her sake and for mine. I can't let that happen to another person again.”

“Liam,” Ryder called me. “What happened wasn't your fault.”

I shook my head. “Yes, it was. I should have paid more attention to them. But I didn't.”

I clenched my teeth hard until it felt uncomfortable. “That's why I have to keep the attention on her. My attention has to be on her.”

And along the way, let's just pray someone doesn't end up dead like the others.