Second Chance Addison

Chance's proud grin softened a bit. "My friend gave it to me."

Fait was fairly certain she knew exactly who this friend was so she let it go. "I'll go get the event information then I'll work on the agendas." She grabbed the stack of folders and left.

A few minutes later, she came back with another folder containing the information for the fifteen year anniversary. There were still many things that needed to be finalized. While the time and place were set way in advance, things like the guest list still needed to be finalized and the invitations needed to be sent out soon.

Lovewell Publishing had the ability to attract the attention of all kinds of celebrities. Even though it was just a small firm, the works they had published were all high quality hits. From novels to cookbooks to children's picture books, they had published a wide variety of content. Authors, producers, directors, actors, singers, so-called influencers, artists, chefs, politicians, historians, the list just goes on. Anyone who might write a book, have a book written about them, or be involved in an adaptation of a book would happily accept an invite.

Of course the invitation list was mostly what Chance was after. He needed to know what kind of adversaries to expect so he wouldn't be caught off guard.

"It truly is convenient that you are interested in this event." She explained as she passed him the folder. "It will be our best opportunity to introduce you publicly as the new leader of LCM."

"LCM?" Chance was certain he had see that acronym appear several times in the agreements he had signed.

"Lovewell Corporate Management, it is the mother company of all of the Lovewell subsidiaries. Like this publishing firm."

He rapped his knuckles on the desk and asked the question that had been weighing most on his mind. "So, considering the current decimated state of my reputation... what are the predicted repercussions of that announcement?"

"Well, if you stick to my plan, losses should be minimal to non-existent." Fait answered confidently.

"You have a plan to salvage my reputation?"

"Naturally." She affirmed without hesitation. "I was going to wait until fewer people are trying to kill you. Then I'll get the public relations team to throw you back out into the public eye."

"People are still trying to kill me!?" He couldn't believe it. Why did they still want him dead?

"Of course. Did you think they'd just give up? It has only been a couple of days and no one knows whether or not you signed the papers yet." She started muttering to herself to do some calendar math. "If you signed yesterday, that was day twenty-four... or was it technically signed this morning, whatever, so that means... ah!"

"What? That means what?" Chance couldn't believe how casually she was treating this. It was literally a matter of life or death. His life! His death!

"You should be in the clear in three or four more days... probably." She added that last bit under her breath, hoping he wouldn't catch it.

"Probably!?" He ran his fingers through his hair and froze. 'Wait, she essentially just said they are actively trying to murder me...'

"Fait, what are you hiding from me?" His brows furrowed as he prepared for her to dodge his question.

"I don't know that I've hidden anything from you." But she knew she'd definitely not told him everything.

"Fait, tell me about the other attempts on my life." This was the first time she had heard him sound so demanding.

"Well, I mean, there's only really been one so far." She looked down at his desk, intently studying the wood grain.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not really."

"Fait!" Chance was losing his patience.

"Fine! It was just now, earlier today when I disappeared for awhile. Happy now?" She took a deep breath. "They sent someone to come up here and poison you but I handled it."

"You handled it? How exactly did you handle it?"

Just then her cell phone rang. She checked the screen and saw that Roy was calling. Never had she been so relieved to talk to Roy.

"I've got to take this. Hello?" She answered the phone and left the office.

As she pulled the door shut, she heard a certain disgruntled man say, "I'm not going to let this go."

Once she was gone, Chance collapsed into his chair.

'Why can't I just live a normal life without anyone trying to end it?' He closed his eyes and leaned back.

'I could use a drink right about now.' Too bad there was nothing in the office. Evidently Mack didn't drink. Now that Chance thought about it, he had never seen Mack touch alcohol at any of the few functions he'd seen him at. After the way Fait treated him the other night, there was no way he could ask her.

He thought about sneaking out but he had no way to guarantee his own safety. 'She'll think I'm an alcoholic and I might die... Not worth it.'

He opened his eyes and decided to go through the information she'd left for the anniversary celebration.

When he realized he'd just read the third page six times, he gave up and decided to work on it later.

As he was putting the papers back into their folder, Fait called him over the intercom again.

"Addison, Roy just called to inform me that your apartment is ready."