But Mallory’s little tirade wasn’t over yet. She turned to Felix.
“Do you have any single friends for my daughter?” she asked. “Since it worked out so well with you two.”
“MOM!” Keira cried, almost spitting out her mouthful.
“My best man is single,” Felix said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “We’ve been friends since high school.”
It was clear to Keira that he was just winding her up, playing into Mallory’s suggestion for the fun of it, but she still couldn’t help but be appalled at the thought.
“Since high school?” she repeated. “So for the last hundred years, give or take?”
Felix took the jibe lightheartedly, and let out a chuckle. From the other side of the table, Bryn’s cell phone flashed. Keira looked over.
“Did you just take a photo of me?” she demanded.
“You look good,” Bryn replied, shrugging. “Thought I could send it to Nathan, Felix’s best man.”
“Don’t you dare!” Keira yelled, leaping up from the table to grab Bryn’s cell phone. But her sister shielded her from getting it with her body, leaving Keira flailing. “I’m not going on a date with a grandpa!”
The lighthearted moment ended with Keira’s words.
Bryn cleared her throat, looking unimpressed. “I was only teasing.”
Mallory shifted awkwardly in her seat. From the other side of the table, Felix failed to hide the look of offense on his features.
“I’m sorry,” Keira said, sinking back into her seat. “That went too far. I don’t mean that. I’m just a bit touchy about people trying to orchestrate my love life.”
She thought of Elliot and his overt disapproval of the way she’d ended things with Milo, not to mention Mallory’s bizarre outburst earlier at dinner. It saddened her that her mom was so concerned about her settling down, and that Elliot seemed convinced her readers would hate how things fizzled with Milo. She’d been so certain and confident in her own actions, but everyone else’s opinions were starting to shake her. She reminded herself that every relationship was different, and everyone’s love journey looked different.
The table was silent for an awkwardly long time, with everyone prodding at their dinner glumly.
“How’s the apartment?” Bryn asked finally.
Keira was grateful for the lifeline she was giving her. “Empowering,” she replied. “Actually, empty would be more accurate. I only managed to get a mattress delivered while I was abroad. The rest of my boxes and clothes are here.”
“Do you need furniture?” Bryn asked. “I’m an expert furniture shopper now, so I’d be happy to assist.”
“You would?” Keira asked, grateful that Bryn wasn’t holding any grudges. She seemed to be letting her off very lightly considering, and Keira wondered if she was planning some future dressing down. “I’d really like that.”
“Cool. Let’s go to a store after work tomorrow,” Bryn said.
Keira nodded. “Thanks, sis.”
“No problem,” Bryn replied. “And don’t worry, my taste is very modern. Very young. Nothing vintage. Nothing old. There’s nothing even remotely grandpa about my taste.”
Keira sucked in her cheeks and took a deep breath. Of course. This was Bryn. She was never going to let Keira live her grandpa comment down.
Chapter five
Rather than her alarm waking her the next morning, it was Keira’s cell phone ringing incessantly that pulled her from her slumber. She rolled over on her mattress and grabbed her phone from where it was lying on the floor, plugged into the socket beside her. Elliot’s name was flashing up at her. It was another personal call; not coming from the Viatorum office line but his own number.
Keira groaned when she saw that it wasn’t even six a.m. She was used to early starts for work, particularly when traveling was involved, but Elliot seemed to be crossing professional boundaries more and more often.
Keira hit the green button.
“Have you been online yet today?” Elliot asked immediately, before Keira had even had a chance to speak.
“I haven’t even opened my curtains,” Keira replied a little drily, “so, no, not yet. Why?”
Elliot’s voice came through the other line, fast and somewhat manic. “It’s your article, Keira. The online version went live at midnight. It’s a hit! What do people say these days… it’s gone viral.”
Keira sat bolt upright, completely awake now. “Really?”
“I should never have doubted you,” Elliot continued. “You do know your readers. I suppose the heterosexual female twenty-five-plus demographic isn’t as straightforward these days as it used to be.”
Keira held herself back from saying “Told you so.” Even if she’d wanted to she wouldn’t have gotten the chance; Elliot was still speaking a mile a minute.
“I’m going to need you to commit to slightly longer hours. We have a really demanding schedule. Don’t worry, I’ll compensate you generously. We can talk raises once things have settled down a little, but for now we’re going to have to ride the wave, okay?”
“What wave?” Keira asked, frowning.
“The media have gotten hold of the story. They love the Romance Guru. Everyone wants to meet the real person behind the stories. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing with talk shows wanting to book you, hence me being on my personal line; I didn’t want to clog up the office number.”
Keira shook her head and rubbed the frown from between her eyes. “Are you serious?” she asked. Typically, her first instinct was fear. Where Elliot saw an opportunity, she saw spotlights and scrutiny.
“When it comes to Viatorum, I never joke,” Elliot replied. “Can you get in ASAP? We have so much to get through. Heather’s organizing the press tour as we speak.”
Keira was stunned speechless. It didn’t seem like she had much choice in the matter, and maybe that was for the best. If her instinct was telling her to run for the hills, then she ought to challenge it. There wasn’t a better way to gain independence than to stand solo in front of the world with her story! Besides, if she ever wanted to step away from the company and go it alone, she’d get far more success with a large fan base and exposure than she ever would by simply quitting.
And, Keira thought, a little slyly, she could certainly use this as leverage to increase her salary going forward.
“I’m on my way,” she told Elliot.
She hung up and jumped off the mattress, hurrying over to the suitcase that still contained all her clothing. Without drawers or a closet to put anything in, Keira had opted not to bring any of her stuff back from Mallory’s last night, instead deciding it could wait until after her shopping trip with Bryn. But she was regretting that a little now. She didn’t have anything particularly businesslike to wear. Even if she was just going to her usual office and usual desk with her usual colleagues today, she wanted to present herself a little better than usual. Maybe she’d get some new outfits with Bryn this evening as well as furniture.
Once she’d dressed, she hurried for the door. As she went, her phone began pinging with text messages from friends and family. They must have started getting up for the day and noticed that she was splashed all over social media.
When did u get famous? came a text from Shelby.
Sis, you’re a celeb!! Bryn sent. Followed by: You’d better not upstage me at my wedding!!
Keira smiled to herself as the