MATTEO
“What’s the status?”
Charles looked up from his tablet. We were in my office, the door closed, the city sprawling below us through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“The rumor is still circulating,” he said carefully. “You’re still trending on multiple platforms. Several media outlets are trying to reach Miss Hartley for comment.”
I leaned back in my chair, jaw tight.
“And?”
“She hasn’t responded to any requests yet. But they’re persistent.”
Of course they were.
Sheila loved attention. Loved being in the spotlight. She wouldn’t rush to debunk anything that kept her name in headlines.
“Do you want me to prepare a statement?” Charles asked.
“We could issue a denial. Clarify that the photos were misleading and—”
“No.”
He paused. “Sir?”
I thought about it. Really thought abou
