Power (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 9) Read Online Free

plants, has become a meme. And been shared millions of times already. Jeez, doesn’t anyone sleep?  
    My office phone starts ringing off the hook.  
    Then my cell rings.
      It is another board member, a long standing and vocal one.
      “Hi, Walter,” I say, trying to sound cheerful.
    “You sound too happy this morning. Have you not been online?”
    “I just got into the office. It’s six a.m. in California.”
    “Well, then the whole world knows but you. Let me read you a headline. Captive Films CEO Riley Johnson arrested in Vegas. And another. Riley Johnson, CEO of Captive Films— ”
    “I’m aware of Riley’s arrest. I’ll deal with it, Walter. Thanks for alerting me.”
    “Keatyn, I know Riley is your friend, but this isn’t good for our business. I’ve spoken to some of the other board members and we’re in agreement. You need to ask Riley to resign.”
    “Captive Films is more profitable than it’s ever been because of Riley. You and the board know that.”
    “Does he need to go to rehab? What the hell is going on with him?”
    “It’s personal. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
    After I end the call, I lay my head on the desk trying to figure out how I’ll handle it.  
    I smell Tyler coming long before I hear him.
    “I brought you some coffee,” he sings. “I suspect it’s going to be a long day.”
    My stomach starts to churn.
    “Um, I’ve given up coffee for lent.”
    “It’s not lent. Come on, smell it. You know you love it.” He waves it across my desk, causing me to gag.  
      “Please, don’t ever bring me coffee again! It’s making me sick!” I cry out.
    He narrows his eyes at me, takes the coffee out of the office, and comes back with a cup of lemon tea. “My sister drank this when she had morning sickness,” he says softly. “She said it helped.”
    “I’m sorry I yelled at you, Tyler. Please don’t tell anyone. We haven’t even told our families yet. The crazy thing is I’m sitting here wondering if I announced my pregnancy today if it would give the press something else to think about.”
    “Well, you know how fickle the press is. They’re always moving on to the next big scandal. And if they thought you were pregnant with Knox’s love child while engaged to Aiden that would be a pretty big scandal. Can you imagine the headlines?”
    “It would take the focus off Riley, Jennifer, and Captive. Make the board happy.” I touch my stomach. The thought of using Aiden’s and my baby, my pregnancy, to create headlines sickens me.
    My cell rings again.
    “Shit, it’s my grandpa.”
    “Would you like me to leave?”
    “No, it’s okay, Tyler.” I hand him my laptop. “Look around. Maybe it’s not as bad as I think it is.”
    “Will do, boss,” he says, making himself comfortable on the couch.  
    “Hey, Grandpa,” I say into the phone.
    “It’s a good thing I’m an early riser. Every single board member has called me this morning to raise a ruckus. They all want Riley’s head.”
    “I’ve heard from a few of them myself. You always have good advice. Tell me what I can do to fix this.”
    “You can’t fix it, Hotshot. He has to. I know he’s your best friend, but this is business. Don’t let your relationship blind you to what’s going on. It’d be different if it was a one-time thing but he’s starting to get the kind of publicity Captive doesn’t need. Between his relationship with Jennifer, the way he behaved at dinner and, now, this. You can’t bury your head in the sand. You have to deal with it. And I’m afraid the board is right.”
    While I’m talking, Tyler is printing off pictures and laying them across my desk.  
    Riley shirtless and humping a Greek statue.  
    Riley and Knox with girls draped all over them in a party bus, cheesing for the camera, their eyes bloodshot and bleary.  
    Riley naked, sitting on the edge of a hot tub preparing to dive into the middle of about ten topless women.  
    Knox, wearing a shirt but no