CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara and Nate had a good time at the gala. They talked with different people from different sectors, and everyone had something interesting to say.

Then, at some point, when the conversation turned towards the usual real estate investments, Lara left to get herself a drink. Not that she couldn't stand there next to Nate, but buying buildings and lands? She couldn't hear one more word about it!

She could also wait for the waiter to pass by them, but they would usually carry only wine. She didn't feel up to it. A sip sometimes was okay, but not glass after glass.

She reached the counter where a bartender was busy with cocktails. She didn't make the same mistake as before - even though it wouldn't make any difference that day - and she ordered a non-alcoholic drink. She didn't even say which one, as long as it was virgin.

She had just accepted the glass with a polite smile when the feeling of deja vu she had been witnessing for a whole minute became more clear: Michael Clarke and Katy Dixon.
Enjoy new adventures at empire

For some reason, she remembered their names well. Even though she was nervous when she had first met them. They were so distracting that she hadn't noticed there was tequila in the drink she was sipping back then.

«Hello, dear!» Katy said, stopping at her right side.

«Hello, Miss Clayton, what a coincidence, a real coincidence!» Michael added from the other side. They had surrounded her, walking in sync and following her.

«You two are still together, aren't you?» she said.

«Always!» Michael exclaimed. «We are inseparable. Don't you know, already?»

«I have to confess I'm not on track with gossip and new faces. I've been busy in the recent years, so... I'm sorry, but I have no clue what you people do for a living.»

«We're models for LY Corp,» Katy explained with a patient tone as if talking with a child.

«But... Is that your main work? Not to mention that I've never seen your picture in the company either.»

«That's the problem. CEO Woods doesn't seem to know what an endorsement is. He sent us clothes and told us to wear them... Well, not him personally, unfortunately,» Michael said. «But someone else for him. However, that's a waste of money!

He should make us take pictures with the clothes, to ensure we really wear them outside. And, also, organise events to make people find out about your brand.»

«You know a lot about marketing,» Lara commented.

«Just what I've learnt by doing endorsements for other companies. We're paid too much to just stand by the side and do nothing.»

«Right now, the company is a busy place. We can talk about it another time, okay?» Lara said, hoping it would be enough to get away from them.

She wanted to go back to listening to boring real estate talk, all of a sudden.

«I mean,» Kady murmured. «I mean, CEO Woods should take the chance and use our names to his advantage!»

Lara already had her ideas clear about what was the matter. Nate had signed two artists, maybe randomly, because every company would do that. But then, to avoid humans roaming around without control, he had never organised anything more than the bare minimum.

It was a pity and a waste of resources. Those two were paid already; they should do their job.

However, it was the wrong moment for that kind of talk.

«Also, we have something to ask you, Miss Clayton!»

«Me?» she said.

«Oh, yes,» the couple replied, nodding their heads in sync. That gesture reminded her of her cubs, so much that she stopped mid-step and waited for their inquiry.

«We would like to ask about the shrink,» Katy said as if there was nothing wrong. «Is it true?»

Lara nodded, pretending to feel nothing but boredom. Yet, her back was straight and crossed by chilly shivers. She had frozen in place, unable to escape those two any further.

She knew there was nothing wrong with going to therapy, and, since her family didn't care, she had accepted it. Yet, she was not ready to be interrogated about it.

«I mean, I knew it was real, right? CEO Woods came to save you when the press didn't let you pass. Isn't that romantic?»

«Sure,» she sighed. What did they even want?

«Well, can you tell us the name? Just a whisper will be fine. We don't want just everyone to hear, after all.»

«What name?»

«The name of the therapist,» Michael explained, clearing Katy's words up.

«Why?» She didn't want Doctor Mason to have any issues because of her.

«What do you mean why? Because we also want to go there!»

«You want... Oh, leave me alone,» she moaned. Why was everything so complicated? «Are you two nuts?»

«Nuts? Oh, dear, you are pale,» Katy said, analysing her face with a complex expression. «Are you worried, perhaps? Oh, you have no reason to be!»

Her companion nodded as well, and he explained further.

«In our environment, everyone has their personal shrink. There are also famous therapists who choose their clients if they are glamorous enough. It's a sign of prestige to have a weekly appointment with one of them. However, we didn't have time for this before. We were busy with work, you know. But now that we're getting paid for doing...

for doing nothing, literally; now, we can afford a session or two. We won't tell everyone about your secret doctor, don't worry! We'll just mention that we're in the care of Nate Woods's woman's shrink. That'll be a boost for us. Every newspaper will feature the two of us, won't it?»

«Oh,» Lara sighed again. So, they were just looking for the name and the phone number. Not trying to make Lara feel bad, unwanted, or wrong. «You could say it immediately!»

«We're not looking for gossip,» Michael confirmed. «We know better than to mess with you. After... Well, after what happened to CEO Polenta, we don't want to be on your bad side!»

«No one is on my bad side,» she pointed out. However, those words improved her mood.

She was Nate's woman in everyone's eyes.