An Enchanted Spring: Mists of Fate - Book Two by Nancy Scanlon Page A

temples. “We need to fix this. We need some time to come up with a plan.”
    “We don’t have time,” Emma managed to choke out, trying desperately to tamp down the rising tide of panic. “I…I didn’t…I mean, why would I?”
    The incriminating pictures she had shredded just yesterday were now splashed across every online entertainment news site.
    And her name was attached to them.
    “I know you didn’t release these photos, but…” Josh read the headlines from the screen. “Kincaid gets Kinky with a Convict.” He scrolled down. “Cheater, Cheater, Kincaid’s a Beater.”
    “Oh my God,” Emma groaned, burying her face in her hands.
    Josh continued to read. “The man in the pictures, identified as Benjamin MacDermott, was allegedly engaged to Kincaid’s publicist, Emmaline Perkins of Price Publicity—”
    “Please stop,” Emma moaned, the feeling of nausea intensifying.
    “Perkins—my office—now!” Mr. Price barked as he strode by her cubicle. She looked up at Josh in misery. Even Heinous Heidi kept her mouth shut as Emma passed her desk.
    Emma and Josh followed him into the office, and she managed not to flinch when he slammed the door behind them. She met Josh’s eyes and was grateful for the support—although even he couldn’t get her out of this mess.
    “Let’s review the facts,” Mr. Price said, his voice steady (which, Emma noticed, was in distinct opposition to the color of his face). “Your fiancé—”
    “Ex-fiancé,” Emma blurted out.
    He gave her a withering look. “—was caught with Jenny Kincaid. She has affairs all the time—her husband doesn’t give a rat’s ass, so no divorce necessary. However, the reason why we were hired was to keep evidence of these affairs out of sight. Ms. Perkins, you realize that Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid have a movie coming out…a movie where they fall in love and live happily ever after?”
    “Yes,” she replied miserably. She knew where this was going.
    “You can imagine the calls I’ve been receiving this morning for a statement as to Mrs. Kincaid’s activities. If it were just a rag, we could control this. But it’s not, Ms. Perkins. It’s much bigger than that, because these photos have gone viral. Completely viral…in fact, ‘Kinky Kincaid’ is the top-trending phrase online. The Kincaids— and their lawyers —are on their way to the office now,” Mr. Price exploded, slamming his hands onto the table. “The movie’s producers— and their lawyers —are also on their way to the office now!”
    “We can spin this,” Josh said. Emma was afraid he might rub the skin off his head, he was kneading his temples so hard. “It’s not our fault Kincaid can’t keep her hands off every living male. It’s not the end of her career. We can fix this.”
    “I’m so glad you have such confidence,” Mr. Price said sarcastically. “Need I remind you, her actions are precisely why we are in business. Our asses are on the line here. Linda, Heidi, and Jessica are calming down other clients as we speak. But this is only part of the issue at hand.” He redirected his focus back onto Emma. “You are being accused of deliberately releasing materials to humiliate and defame Mrs. Kincaid, as it was your fiancé she was screwing.”
    “What?” Emma nearly shrieked. “I most certainly did not!”
    “Her lawyers are going to come in here and try to slap you with a lawsuit.” His eyes hardened. “You have worked here for a long time, Ms. Perkins. That is the only reason why our lawyers will step in on your behalf. That suit won’t see the light of day…but you know what has to happen next.”
    “A personal lawsuit? They think Emma gave out the pictures to destroy her fiancé’s reputation?” Josh asked. “That’s just stupid. She’d ruin her chances of ever working in this city—or anywhere in PR—ever again.”
    Emma was having difficulty breathing. This isn’t happening.
    “We don’t have time to fix this,” Mr. Price