Skye was trying to cover a giggle. “I like her,” she whispered.
“I heard that. So, who are you and why do you need help and you’d better be good enough for my nephew. Also, my husband wants you to know that by providing your name you fully consent to him running your name through every database known to man or woman, and some that aren’t known, to find out all your secrets.”
“I’m very good at hiding bodies,” Miles called out and Trent groaned.
“That’s good to know, Mr. Davies. How do you feel about being paid to cut someone’s balls off?” Skye asked as the men crossed their legs and Karri rolled her eyes.
“I don’t do it for the money. I do it for the pleasure of seeing the person who hurt someone I love scream in pain.”
Skye was smiling broadly and she probably thought he was joking, but Trent wasn’t all that sure Miles was kidding. He’d been Special Forces and was a tough-as-nails businessman. Though he did turn to goo when talking about his daughter and her upcoming baby.
“So, what’s going on and how can we help?” Morgan asked, bringing the talk away from actions that would result in jail time.
“Morgan, meet my girlfriend, Skye Jessamine. Skye, my aunt Morgan and uncle Miles Davies.”
The line was quiet until Skye said hello.
“Well, this makes sense now. I can’t believe your PR person is using the leaked pictures to push your new role,” Morgan said calmly and fully in business mode. Gone was the caring aunt.
“I didn’t accept that role and everyone on my team knew I refused to take any part in a Tony Ketron movie. And I’m certainly not exhausted or in a hospital somewhere. I’m pissed off in South Carolina!” Skye’s voice began to rise as Olivia stepped onto the call and filled Morgan in on what had happened so far.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Morgan told her and Trent could see Skye relax a little. “You need a team you can trust. I do things differently. One, I’m not taking new clients. But since you’re almost family, I’ll take you on. However, you hurt my nephew and all I can say is, after thirty years of marriage I know several of my husband’s tricks for hiding bodies. Second, I won’t tell you what you want to hear. I’ll tell you what you need to hear. Third, I don’t do high maintenance. We treat each other with mutual respect and we’ll get along fine. And fourth, I charge a lot.”
“I’m fine with all of those conditions,” Skye said. “Now, I want to make a statement. I’m in control of my own life now and I’m stepping away from the lights to lead a more private life.”
“Will you still be doing movies?” Morgan asked, and Trent could hear her taking notes.
“Yes. I just want to be in control of who my team is, what roles I take, and I am tired of being paraded about like a trained poodle. I want a private life when I’m not promoting a movie. My old team wouldn’t allow that.”
“I have a statement ready,” Olivia said. “I’m emailing it to you. We want it read live on air right now.”
“Got it,” Morgan said. “Let me tweak it while you send a notice of termination to your current PR firm. I’ll handle it from here.”
“Skye, here’s the notice of termination,” Olivia said, sliding a paper over for her to sign.
Olivia scanned and emailed the document. “Done.”
Minutes later, Skye’s phone was blowing up. “Based on the texts I’m getting back, they’ve received the notices.”
Morgan chuckled over the phone, and Skye leaned closer as if she could see what Morgan was laughing at. “This is one hell of a statement. I like it. This is going to be fun. I enjoy these types of campaigns.”
“When my wife grins like this, I almost feel sorry for whoever you’re going after,” Miles said in the background, and that made everyone around the table laugh.
“Leave this all to me, Skye. Trent can share my number and we’ll check in daily. Olivia or I will field all questions that come to you. This will be a bloodbath, but I guarantee we’ll be the ones left standing. Now, I need to get to work.”
The line went dead and everyone was left in silence. “Ryan said his family was different. I am just beginning to learn the depths of that statement,” Castle said into the silence.